by JUSTIN WEYMAN
GoPSUsports.com
istory is an interesting thing. We study it, are supposed to learn from it and - if we're in the right place at the right time - sometimes get to be a part of it.
Not many people can say they were there when historic Rec Hall opened or when the first pigskin was tossed in Beaver Stadium. With tonight's first pitch, we have the privilege of witnessing a new chapter in the history of Penn State athletics.
Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, the crown jewel of Penn State's emerging athletic campus, signals a giant leap toward baseball legitimacy on the national stage.
The plan for a new ballpark, still in its infancy when Robbie Wine was hired in 2004, was a major drawing point for the current Nittany Lion skipper.
"Lubrano Park wasn't the sole reason that I came to Penn State, but it signified a commitment to the baseball program." Wine said. "I liked what I heard from (Director of Athletics) Tim Curley and (former Assistant Athletic Director) Bob Krimmel and I think they liked the questions I was asking. We weren't just telling each other what we wanted to hear. At that point, I knew they were serious about the future of Penn State baseball."
With two full recruiting classes on campus and a third group of future Nittany Lions already inked to letters of intent, "The Med" has paid immediate dividends in luring top players from around the country.
Heralded freshman pitcher John Karr said that the promise of playing in one of the nation's top facilities made it an easy choice to attend college close to his suburban Pittsburgh home.
"The main reason I decided to come here was the coaches and current players. But as soon as I saw the new stadium the decision was made," said Karr, who also considered attending UNC-Charlotte, George Mason, North Carolina State and others. "The opportunity to play in the nicest stadium in college baseball was a no-brainer."
The situation was slightly different for the current group of upperclassmen. When they visited campus for their recruiting visits, there were no indoor batting cages or indoor dirt pitching mounds to showcase; no fancy locker rooms or comfortable team lounges to brag about. Instead, they came to Penn State for the opportunity to play the game they love and a chance to earn a degree from one of the most respected institutions in the country.
There always was talk of a new stadium being constructed. To senior infielder Matt Cavagnaro, that's all it ever was. Talk. He held out hope that talk would turn to action during his four-year stay in State College, but he was prepared to play exclusively at Beaver Field.
"When we were recruited, we were told that a new stadium was a possibility, but there were no signs that it was going to happen." Cavagnaro said. "The fact that it happened before I graduated is an incredible feeling. It's a privilege to be part of something that will be remembered for a long time."
It is impossible to know if the addition of Medlar Field at Lubrano Park will directly translate into Big Ten Conference titles and appearances in the College World Series for Coach Wine and company. If it does, this chilly March evening will go down in Penn State history as the day that started it all.
And you were there.