The Ohio Bobcats soccer field came from humble beginnings.
The field had several holes that would fill with water, a nonexistent drainage system and bleachers that were very close to the sidelines. However, thanks to two Ohio University donors, the program has changed significantly.
Scott and Crista Blower made a donation of $70,000 to Ohio Athletics as part of Ohio University’s Bicentennial Campaign in 2004. Crista is a 1985 graduate of the university.
Sixty-thousand dollars of the donation went toward the renovation of the Shafer Street soccer field now known as Chessa Field. The renovation included a better irrigation system, a press box and realignment of the grandstands.
The field was named after the Blower’s daughter, Chessa, who is currently a freshman studying marketing.
The remaining $10,000 funded the landscaping by ticket booths two and three at Peden Stadium by the Bobcat statue. The area is known as Drew Park, named after the Blower’s son, Drew.
Scott is now a manager and upper-campus supervisor with OU. He was the Athletics and West Green grounds supervisor until 2009. Because of his position, he was able to have a lot of involvement in the project.
Chessa said the dedication of the field in 2002 brought the most people she has ever seen attend an Ohio soccer game. She was 10 years old at the time and remembers kicking a soccer ball at one of the goalies that wandered into the net during the dedications.
She said the field not only means a lot to her, but to her father as well.
“That was kind of his pride and joy when he was with Athletics… He’d always make sure that was what was taken care of and that it was the No. 1 soccer field in the conference,” Chessa said. “So it was kind of his baby.”
Blower said it was always a constant struggle to give the team a good playing surface because of its poor condition.
“I love soccer,” Scott said. “I really felt that both the team and coaches and the athletics department were just the greatest people and they needed help so I just really wanted to try to help them out.”
Scott said he could tell that the players and coaches are grateful for what he did for the program.
“I know just from all the involvement I’ve had with the players and the coaches how much they appreciate having a nice field,” Scott said. “That’s what really makes me feel good, that I was able to have a part of that.”
Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said the Blower family is very important to her and the team because they make sure the condition of the field is always kept pristine.
Strauss said it is nice that Chessa and her family can see the work completed on the field as time has progressed.
“I think it’s nice that she’s here and that Scott still works for the university and that they have the ability to be around campus to see the field and how it’s held up,” Strauss said.
mk277809@ohiou.edu
