University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
RHP/UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
Celebrating 20 Years of Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
5/7/2020 3:04:00āÆPM | Softball
Jane Sage Cowles was walking up for a Gophers softball game when she noticed an elderly couple carrying blankets and pillows. She offered to help the woman as the husband went to park the car.Ā
Through some quick conversation she found out the couple was Maddie Houlihan's grandparents (Maddie played from 2016-19). Maddie's grandmother, Joyce, asked Jane Sage Cowles what she was doing at the game.Ā
"I said, 'actually my name is what is on top of the stadium here,'" Cowles remembered.Ā
Joyce dropped her blankets and pillows right in the moment with a few tears of joy welling in her eyes.Ā
"She said, 'I am just so thrilled to meet you. To find out who Jane Sage Cowles is. Find out you are alive. A real person that we can now get to know," Cowles said of the interaction. "That really moved me to realize both what this stadium has become to mean for families and student-athletes in the community. As well as the importance to let the history come out."Ā
Ā
A year ago, the Gophers punched their first ever NCAA era ticket to the Women's College World Series in front of 1,288 enthusiastic fans. The day before they topped LSU in front of a packed 1,344 fans and the week prior hosted Georgia in front of 1,256 proud Gophers in the crowd. All live on the ESPN family of networks, the vision the Cowles family had for the stadium when it was built in 2000.Ā
The late John and Sage Cowles broke ground on the stadium on July 27, 1999 alongside then Women's Athletics Director Chris Voelz. The first game played at the stadium took place on March 31, 2000 and it was officially dedicated Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on April 29, 2000. The Cowles family donated $1 million toward the funding of the stadium at the time.Ā
Jane Sage Cowles said her father was keen on being involved in the entire process of building the stadium.
"It had to be family orientated, needed to be engaging for folks to come," Cowles explained. "He was big on the entrance, the seatbacks and providing comfort. He also knew the importance of it being built for TV."Ā
Jane Sage Cowles grew up in Minneapolis before moving to Seattle from 1986-2014. She was instrumental in developing a professional softball league, now recognized as National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). Her parents and brother Jay helped develop concepts from 1989 until the first pitch in 1997. To this day, the championship trophy that the NPF competes for is the Cowles Cup.Ā
"My parents loved getting to know the players and families we were asking to try out a pro league and trust us," Cowles said.Ā
John and Sage Cowles have always been heavily involved in the Twin Cities community and the University of Minnesota. They supported the Guthrie Theater, Walker Art Center and the local dance community. The Cowles Conservatory in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and the Cowles Center for Dance were two other areas they supported to go along with the softball stadium. They had always been involved in sports and grew fond of softball after helping the pro league get off the ground.Ā
"They always promoted a strong University presence and believed it was important to a healthy community," Cowles said of her parents.Ā
After working with Chris Voelz, the Cowles realized another way the new softball stadium could leave a lasting impact.Ā
Deborah Olson had just donated money to build Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium for Gopher Soccer in memory of her trailblazing mother. At the time, there were hardly any, if any, women's names on athletic facilities across the country, according to Cowles.Ā
"That really hit home for my parents in terms of absolutely it was time to get women's names up there," Cowles said. "It was about the importance of recognizing women and the idea of creating a legacy for women. They were interested in breaking through cultural norms."Ā
Cowles moved back to Minneapolis in the fall of 2014 and started to attend games at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on a regular basis in 2015. From 2008 until 2012 when her father became ill, she had attended at least one game every season with him. She has seen how much the stadium has meant to the student-athletes, families and surrounding community.Ā
"I got to come in on the tail end of what my parents did, yet I can feel their joy and I am so pleased at how the University has stepped up to their side of developing the programs and maintaining the facilities," Cowles said.Ā
When Cowles looks out and sees the sellout crowds with the games on national television, she knows her parent's vision for what it could become has been fulfilled.Ā
"Goosebumps, tears and a big grin on my face and heart," Cowles said on the Jane Sage Cowles Stadium impact. "To really see the community support is special. None of us want to build something and have it be empty."Ā
With 10 crowds of nearly 1,200 fans or more in the past six seasons, an empty stadium is the last thing Cowles needs to worry about. It is part of the community and has served as the inspiration the Cowles family hoped it would be when they broke ground 20 years ago.Ā
Ā
Through some quick conversation she found out the couple was Maddie Houlihan's grandparents (Maddie played from 2016-19). Maddie's grandmother, Joyce, asked Jane Sage Cowles what she was doing at the game.Ā
"I said, 'actually my name is what is on top of the stadium here,'" Cowles remembered.Ā
Joyce dropped her blankets and pillows right in the moment with a few tears of joy welling in her eyes.Ā
"She said, 'I am just so thrilled to meet you. To find out who Jane Sage Cowles is. Find out you are alive. A real person that we can now get to know," Cowles said of the interaction. "That really moved me to realize both what this stadium has become to mean for families and student-athletes in the community. As well as the importance to let the history come out."Ā
Ā
Not the way we originally planned, but we are excited to honor the Cowles family for the 20-year anniversary of Jane Sage Cowles Stadium!
ā Minnesota Softball (@GopherSoftball) April 9, 2020
A bump-in with @Madz_Houlihoop's grandma hit home for Jane Sage Cowles. Sharing clips from a wonderful conversation all April. #UMNProud pic.twitter.com/qSoR0lwl4v
A year ago, the Gophers punched their first ever NCAA era ticket to the Women's College World Series in front of 1,288 enthusiastic fans. The day before they topped LSU in front of a packed 1,344 fans and the week prior hosted Georgia in front of 1,256 proud Gophers in the crowd. All live on the ESPN family of networks, the vision the Cowles family had for the stadium when it was built in 2000.Ā
The late John and Sage Cowles broke ground on the stadium on July 27, 1999 alongside then Women's Athletics Director Chris Voelz. The first game played at the stadium took place on March 31, 2000 and it was officially dedicated Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on April 29, 2000. The Cowles family donated $1 million toward the funding of the stadium at the time.Ā
Jane Sage Cowles said her father was keen on being involved in the entire process of building the stadium.
"It had to be family orientated, needed to be engaging for folks to come," Cowles explained. "He was big on the entrance, the seatbacks and providing comfort. He also knew the importance of it being built for TV."Ā
Jane Sage Cowles grew up in Minneapolis before moving to Seattle from 1986-2014. She was instrumental in developing a professional softball league, now recognized as National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). Her parents and brother Jay helped develop concepts from 1989 until the first pitch in 1997. To this day, the championship trophy that the NPF competes for is the Cowles Cup.Ā
"My parents loved getting to know the players and families we were asking to try out a pro league and trust us," Cowles said.Ā
John and Sage Cowles have always been heavily involved in the Twin Cities community and the University of Minnesota. They supported the Guthrie Theater, Walker Art Center and the local dance community. The Cowles Conservatory in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and the Cowles Center for Dance were two other areas they supported to go along with the softball stadium. They had always been involved in sports and grew fond of softball after helping the pro league get off the ground.Ā
"They always promoted a strong University presence and believed it was important to a healthy community," Cowles said of her parents.Ā
After working with Chris Voelz, the Cowles realized another way the new softball stadium could leave a lasting impact.Ā
Deborah Olson had just donated money to build Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium for Gopher Soccer in memory of her trailblazing mother. At the time, there were hardly any, if any, women's names on athletic facilities across the country, according to Cowles.Ā
"That really hit home for my parents in terms of absolutely it was time to get women's names up there," Cowles said. "It was about the importance of recognizing women and the idea of creating a legacy for women. They were interested in breaking through cultural norms."Ā
Cowles moved back to Minneapolis in the fall of 2014 and started to attend games at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on a regular basis in 2015. From 2008 until 2012 when her father became ill, she had attended at least one game every season with him. She has seen how much the stadium has meant to the student-athletes, families and surrounding community.Ā
"I got to come in on the tail end of what my parents did, yet I can feel their joy and I am so pleased at how the University has stepped up to their side of developing the programs and maintaining the facilities," Cowles said.Ā
When Cowles looks out and sees the sellout crowds with the games on national television, she knows her parent's vision for what it could become has been fulfilled.Ā
"Goosebumps, tears and a big grin on my face and heart," Cowles said on the Jane Sage Cowles Stadium impact. "To really see the community support is special. None of us want to build something and have it be empty."Ā
With 10 crowds of nearly 1,200 fans or more in the past six seasons, an empty stadium is the last thing Cowles needs to worry about. It is part of the community and has served as the inspiration the Cowles family hoped it would be when they broke ground 20 years ago.Ā
Ā
ĀWhat an awesome story.
ā Sara Groenewegen (@saragroe) April 9, 2020
I know I can speak on behalf of ALL Gopher softball alums when I say I wish I could give Jane Sage Cowles a big hug and say thank you as well šš https://t.co/H2h4GEgZWC
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