In Houston, Joseph Duarte reported Rice’s BOT on Thursday "gave the green light to begin construction" on a $31.5M end zone facility. The 60,000-square-foot student-athlete performance and development building "will be located on the north side of Rice Stadium." Construction "is scheduled to begin early next year." The school said that the project "is set for completion in time" for the '16 season. Rice AD Joe Karlgaard said that the facility "will be the first major upgrade in decades and the 'first in a series of improvements.'" Dallas-based HKS "will serve as the architect" (CHRON.com, 12/18).
INSIDE VOICES: In Atlanta, Mark Bradley noted the lack of an indoor practice facility "has become a flashpoint for Georgia coaches, who believe they really, really need one to keep up with ... the SEC." UGA AD Greg McGarity said, "Georgia spent $33 million on the addition (to Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall) that was completed in 2010. That was four years ago. That would have been the perfect time ... to do it." He added, "We’ve selected an architect; we’re in the programming stage right now. When we meet with our board in February, we should have more information on cost and location so we can start the fund-raising" (AJC.com, 12/18).
YAGER BOMB: In Ohio, Mark Schmetzer noted Randy and Vicki Gunlock are donating $6M to Miami Univ. (Ohio) "to help build the Gunlock Family Performance Center, a facility that will include a weight room, football locker room, coaching staff offices, a players’ lounge, team meeting rooms, a hydrotherapy area, student-athlete rehabilitation center, recruiting and equipment rooms and a reception area." MU AD David Sayler said that the two-story structure "will be wedged" between Yager Stadium and the $13M Indoor Sports Center, which is "expected to be finished in late January or early February." Sayler said that he is "working with a rough estimate" of $20M for the Gunlock facility. Sayler: "Hopefully, we'll have it all done and built in the fall of 2016" (DAYTON DAILY NEWS, 12/17).
