In Philadelphia, Mike Jensen noted a 35,000-seat on-campus stadium for Temple "would perfectly hold such crowds for American Athletic Association games and the vast majority of nonconference games." But a "whole different matter is the money." Jensen: "Is the $100 million figure the school has tossed out realistic?" It sure "seemed as if all systems were go for Temple to move on the whole thing until the next mayor reminded everyone that he has a seat at this table now, right up front." Jensen: "Shouldn't a feasibility study be done before preliminary design work, which would have its own costs?" Temple President Neil Theobald "sure has to care what the next mayor thinks if he's going to close a city street and impact a neighborhood" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/15).
STILL RULING THE ROOST: In Columbia, Andrew Shain reports the South Carolina BOT "agreed Tuesday to name" its new indoor football practice facility after former football coach Steve Spurrier and his wife, Jerri. The $14.3M facility, which "opened this summer, was part of [the] makeover of the program under his tenure that ended earlier this year after more than 10 seasons." The BOT yesterday also "gave initial approval" for a new $50M football operations center, which will "have more than 100,000 square feet" (Columbia STATE, 12/16).
LAUNCHING PAD: In Ft. Worth, Carlos Mendez noted the TCU men's basketball team makes its "debut this week" in the renovated Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. The $72M project was done to "spruce up the court, add seating, modernize the concourses, install locker rooms and add a hall of fame" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/15).
