I’ve spent perhaps 100 days in the last 9 months on site as the new Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium arose from the rubble that was once Foreman Field.
I saw the old stadium demolished and have toured the new stadium six times, including the last tour on Thursday afternoon.
So nothing much should have come as a surprise to me when the Monarchs cut the ribbon on the new stadium with a 24-21 victory over Norfolk State.
But to see the sellout crowd of 21,944, the largest home crowd in ODU history, finally fill the seats, smell the food in the concessions stands, watch players run and tackle and to sit in the Ballard Stadium press was a bit of a shock to my system.