The Univ. of Memphis last night unveiled the “Vision for Victory, a $10 million capital campaign for the football program, $8 million of which will be used to build a 74,000-square-foot indoor practice facility on the Park Avenue Campus,” according to Phil Stukenborg of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL. The remaining $2M will be “allocated for improvements to the existing facility's meeting rooms and locker rooms and to resurface the grass practice fields.” UM AD R.C. Johnson said that “slightly more than $1.3 million had been raised” for a campaign scheduled to run through Dec. 31, 2012. He “announced the formation of a 21-person executive committee to oversee the campaign” and named former Memphis football players DeAngelo Williams and Isaac Bruce “honorary chairmen at the national level” (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 6/15). UM football coach Larry Porter said, "I truly believe this will revolutionize Memphis football.” But in Memphis, Geoff Calkins writes $10M “won't revolutionize anything in college football these days.” Calkins: “Nothing about Tuesday night was revolutionary. But it was refreshing. It was good to see. It was well-conceived, smoothly executed and heavily attended” (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 6/15).
ON THE PROWL: In New Orleans, Nakia Hogan reports although there are “no definite plans, LSU and the Tiger Athletic Foundation are surveying season-ticket holders to measure interest in two potential expansion projects at Tiger Stadium.” LSU Senior Associate AD for External Affairs Herb Vincent yesterday confirmed that the university and its athletic department's fundraising arm “are interested in adding club seats and/or suites on the south end of Tiger Stadium, or perhaps a club section within the existing structure on the east side of the stadium.” LSU also is “considering adding a club lounge below the east side upper deck that would be accessible to fans on the east side of the lower bowl, for an additional fee.” The 92,400-seat stadium is “among the 10 largest on-campus stadiums in the nation” (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 6/15).
