By Harry Minium
Old Dominion President John R. Broderick wasn’t a history major in college. He studied English, as you can probably tell whenever you hear him speak.
He chooses his words carefully.
But he’s a history buff and sensitive to the historic nature of Foreman Field, something that was apparent when ODU played its last football game at the 82-year-old stadium on Saturday.
The 20,118-seat facility is named for A.H. Foreman, the former attorney and businessman who played a key role in founding the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary, which eventually became ODU. Foreman also procured the federal funding that paid to build the stadium.
So although Foreman died 60 years ago, Broderick sensed that he deserved recognition when ODU played its last game at Foreman Field, which will be demolished and replaced with a new stadium.
Peggy Bartlett and Herbert Foreman Hargroves turn out the lights at Foreman Field for the final time.
It will be known next season simply as S.B. Ballard Stadium.
ODU could have quietly announced the change. Instead, the University very publicly embraced it.
ODU invited Foreman’s two living grandchildren, Herbert Foreman Hargroves, a Richmond businessman, and Peggy Bartlett, a retired Portsmouth principal, and their children to Saturday’s game.
They spent most of the game in a luxury suite. Then, at game’s end, they were among a host of people honored during a short ceremony at mid field.
While a video of Foreman Field’s history was being played, they were led by Broderick and First Lady Kate Broderick into a closet of a room underneath the ancient west stands. They were joined by coach Bobby Wilder and Lisa B. Smith, rector of ODU’s Board of Visitors.
As the 8,000 or so people who remained from the sellout crowd watched on the scoreboard via a camera in the room, Bartlett and Hargroves turned the key that turned off the stadium’s old lights for the last time.
While fireworks were going off in the stadium I pulled them aside and asked them what it meant to them.
They were very obviously moved.
“I’m impressed that ODU honored someone who had such a history in making this happen,” Bartlett said.
“They didn’t have to do this. They could have not recognized my grandfather at all. I think it's really special they did this.”
Hargroves said it’s been years since he’s been to the stadium, and understands why it needs to be torn down.
“The new stadium will be so much better and nicer for fans,” he said.
The helmet ODU football players wore for the final game at Foreman Field.
“But it’s just a building. The spirit will still be there.”
So will the Foreman name. He will be honored in the new stadium, as will the stadium’s history.
The day was full of nostalgia and the game took a back seat. ODU won, crushing VMI, 77-14, even though Wilder stepped on the brakes after the Monarchs led, 49-0, at the half. Even with Wilder clearing his bench and running a conservative offense in the final two quarters, it was the most points ODU has ever scored.
The day began with a festive tail-gate party at Kaufman Mall. Thousands were there to watch the Deloreans, an 80’s hits rock band, play in front of the Webb Center. The Khedive Shrine Temple, this was the Oyster Bowl after all, had a tail-gate area, as did VMI and ODU alumni.
About 40 former players, including Craig Wilkins, Jack Lowney, Josh Mann, Jared Brown and Chris Burnette were honored on the field at halftime. Hundreds of fans lined up to get autographs in the third quarter.
There was a place to snap selfies with a backdrop dedicated to the last game, and lines were long throughout the game.
The game wasn’t artful. It was apparent even before kickoff, as you looked at the size difference between the two teams, that the Keydets were outmanned.
But Wilder said his players have a lot of respect for VMI.
He told his players about a conversation he had with former VMI coach Sparky Woods after ODU defeated the Keydets, 42-35, in 2009.
Justin Noye, one of ODU's 21 seniors, returns an interception for a touchdown against VMI.
“His players went on an 18-mile hike the next day,” Wilder said. “I told our players about the rat line at VMI. Our players have tremendous respect for VMI.”
As Wilder has for Foreman’s grandchildren.
“It was a special moment," when they turned out the lights, he said. "I could see how much it meant to them. When we were back there and we were waiting, we got to talk very briefly. You could see in their eyes how special this was to them.”
It was special to me as well. If read my recent column on the stadium you know Foreman Field holds some of my dearest childhood memories. It’s where I watched so many games with my Dad, Harry Minium Sr.
When I was done interviewing Bartlett and Hargroves, the fireworks were still under way, so I walked back onto the field to take it all in.
“Closing Time,” the song by Semisonic, was playing. I turned on my IPhone to capture the moment, but was crying like a baby.
Wilder said he didn’t shed a tear, but that he, too, was moved as he watched the fireworks. He thought back to ODU’s first game in 2009 against Chowan.
“I had a moment to myself where I looked around and took it all in,” he said. “I tried to just close my eyes and put it in my head one last time.”
ODU coach Bobby Wilder speaks to the crowd at the closing ceremony for Foreman Field.
S.B. Ballard construction will begin tearing the stadium down Tuesday morning. Asked if he will watch, Wilder said he’ll take a pass.
“I honestly don’t want to see it get torn down,” he said. “I don’t want to be around it. I just wasn’t to remember it the way it was.”
I talked to a lot of fans and Raul Escalante seemed to express the opinion of the majority. He played soccer for Guenther Dietz, a popular coach from Germany, at ODU, and has been a football season ticket holder for ten seasons.
“I remember so many good times here,” he said. “But the stadium needs to be upgraded. We need to keep up with the times.
“What they’re planning is a good thing.”
S.B. Ballard will tear down the old east and west sides in a month, then replace them with much taller and better facilities. There will be 15,000 new seats, all with back support and much more leg room.
There will be a new press box, updated restrooms and concessions facilities and a state-of-the-art sound system.
As I wrote last week, change is sometimes painful, even when it is necessary.
The postgame fireworks, just before the stadium's new lights were turned on.
Everyone I spoke to had memories.
Peter G. Decker III, whose father, Peter Decker Jr., worked behind the scenes to help bring football to ODU, shares a luxury suite with Mike O’Toole of the Norfolk Sheriff’s office and Matt Hales, a member of the Norfolk Planning Commission.
There’s a photo of the senior Decker, who passed away in 2012, in the suite.
“My Pop used to bring us to every Oyster Bowl game,” said Pete Decker III. “It was always a huge event for me and my brothers and not just because of the big crowds and parade atmosphere, but because there was always a huge gathering of family and friends.
“That’s why Pop wanted a luxury suite. For family and friends. And to help ODU football. He loved ODU."
Former Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, who was among those honored at game’s end, grew up in the Riverview neighborhood and attended Norfolk Catholic. He’s been going to events at the stadium for more than 50 years.
“As a young boy, we visited Foreman Field for high school games and the Oyster Bowl,” he said. “I played here for Norfolk Catholic. I’m seen so many games here.
“It’s a great part of Norfolk’s historic past.
“I’m glad to see a renovation coming. It’s really needed. I think the new stadium will be wonderful. But there will be something lost in the transition.”
Saturday was Senior Day, and 21 seniors were honored before the game. Senior center Nick Clarke said the post-game ceremonies were the perfect sendoff.
“It was awesome,” he said “As it should have been. It was a great way to close down the stadium. I’ll be back next year to see the new stadium. I can’t wait to see it.”
Clarke and others said that Wilder was tougher on them this week than he has been all season.
“I wanted them to appreciate and respect last game at Foreman Field,” Wilder said.
President John R. Broderick and First Lady Kate Broderick with Oshane Ximines and his family during Senior Day ceremonies.
“Last night, I showed the players videos of our former teams, of what they accomplished.”
Among them was a video of James Edwards, who made the team after showing up for a tryout camp, running a fake punt for 45 yards and a touchdown at VMI in 2009.
“I wanted the seniors to remember the last game at Foreman Field as special,” Wilder said.
As Wilder headed back onto the field from his post-game interview, he sprinted out on the field to speak briefly with broadcasters Ted Alexander and Andy Mashaw, then sprinted toward the locker room door.
Before entering, he turned and took one last look at the stadium where he has coached 10 years. He did so for perhaps 30 seconds, and then went inside and departed out the back way.
Hours later, I departed the press box with Eric Bohannon, assistant athletic director for athletic communications. I took one last look around and like Wilder, tried to seal in my mind how the stadium looks.
Unlike Wilder, I’ll be there Tuesday when the demolition begins. It’s part of my job to report on the reconstruction of the new stadium.
There will be good news to write. After the fireworks were done, the stadium’s new lights came on. That was a surprise ending to the ceremonies, and one that gave us a glimpse into the future.
New lights turn on at Foreman Field.
The lights are 140 tall, 60 feet taller than the current lights, and a whole lot brighter. I could envision just how the new stadium will look.
Yes, savor those memories of Foreman Field. The old girl gave us so many great memories.
But also look forward to a future with a bigger, better and more comfortable S.B. Ballard Stadium.
Contact Minium: hminium@odu.edu