Field of Dreams: IU Southeast Baseball Coach Plans Unforgettable Proposal
Field of Dreams: IU Southeast Baseball Coach Plans Unforgettable Proposal
NEW ALBANY, Ind. – IU Southeast head coach Ben Reel has been around the Grenadier baseball program for nearly a decade, first as a student-athlete and now as head coach for the past seven seasons; so when he was thinking about how to propose to his girlfriend of four years, Morgan Hayden, it is no surprise that baseball was at the forefront of his mind.
Call it The Proposal: IU Southeast Edition.
Both Reel, who grew up in Dillsboro, Ind. and Hayden, a Spencer, Ind. native, are former IU Southeast student-athletes and Indiana University alumni. Reel earned his bachelor's degree from IU Southeast in 2007 and Hayden was awarded her bachelor's degree at Indiana University-Bloomington in 2014.
Why use the baseball field in your proposal? Well, the answer is pretty simple.
"The field is something that has been in our lives for many years," Ben said. "We spend many hours at the field together; in season, in the summer, as well as the off season. I felt like using the field in the proposal was very fitting because it is a big part of our lives."
Reel decided to incorporate the IU Southeast baseball field as a key part in his proposal. In fact, the field would pop the question for him.
Reel chartered a helicopter from JB Aviation in Sellersburg, Ind. and flew over the IU Southeast baseball field where the infield had the message "Marry Me?" painted from third base to first base.
Ben enlisted the help of sophomore pitcher Ben Drury, a Fine Arts major from Louisville, Ky, to help design the message that would be placed on the field.
"So many great memories have occurred for me on this baseball field, so it seemed appropriate to have one of the best memories I will ever experience here as well," Reel said. "IU Southeast has been and always will be a special place for Morgan and me."
Maybe that would not be the proposal that some women would have dreamed of, but for Morgan it was perfect.
"First, I was full of smiles and laughter from the shock and excitement of him popping the question and then I began to cry," Morgan said. "Reality had set in... I get to marry my best friend and I couldn't be happier."
Morgan said she was very surprised by the proposal.
"I actually had no idea [he was going to propose]," she said. "He had mentioned earlier in the week about us going a short helicopter ride because 'his buddy owned the helicopter' and since it seems like Ben knows everyone in this community, I believed him. When he pulled out the ring, I was so surprised!"
IU Southeast Athletic Director Joe Glover supported Ben's plan from the beginning.
"Coach Reel came to me early in his planning process to see if I would let him incorporate the baseball field somehow into his plans for asking Morgan to marry him," Glover said. "I instantly gave him my full support for the idea, but warned him that he was going to make all of the guys who are already married in the athletic department look incredibly bad with his elaborate proposal plan. He certainly has set the bar high for other bachelors in the department!"
Ben said the day went as planned and there were no issues as the weather was sunny and clear and he was able to keep his plan a secret despite the many moving parts and coordination required.
"Overall, it was awesome experience," Ben said. "The day was more than I ever expected. The weather was great, she said yes, and our family was there waiting for us when we got out of the helicopter. It is an experience we will always remember."
Glover knows it will be a day they will never forget and is happy that IU Southeast served as the backdrop for a moment that they will talk about for many years.
"The entire IU Southeast athletic family supports Ben and Morgan and wishes them many more unforgettable memories together," he said. "IU Southeast is a special place and its athletic programs play an important role that goes far beyond just athletic competition. At the end of the day it is about family, love, and helping others become their very best. Ben and Morgan understand what that is all about already."
The day went perfectly and left both Ben and Morgan with lasting memories that only further connect each of them to IU Southeast and the athletic program that has meant so much to them for the past ten years.
"How did I get so lucky," Morgan said. "Not only did I get to start my day out with a helicopter ride, but the man I love, asked me to marry him while flying over the IUS baseball field. Overall, the day could not have been more special. The experience was incredible and I am so blessed!"
