In West Palm Beach, Brian Biggane reported the Florida Atlantic BOT yesterday voted to "name the field at the FAU stadium after Howard Schnellenberger, the legendary coach who founded the program and led the effort to build the stadium." FAU on Sept. 13 will "host a ceremony before the home opener against Tulsa," and FAU President John Kelly also will "make a presentation at halftime" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 8/20). FAU BOT Chair Anthony Barbar confirmed that a donation was made by an FAU football fan who "agreed to the gift only if the school's board of trustees voted to name the field" after Schnellenberger. In Ft. Lauderdale, Cristina Ledra notes the name of the venue "will remain Florida Atlantic Stadium" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 8/21).
EDDIE MONEY: Grambling State interim President Cynthia Warrick yesterday said that one of her primary goals is "to improve the facilities at Eddie Robinson Stadium." Warrick: "We have got to do something about that stadium. We have got to renovate that stadium. We need a Jumbotron. We need new turf. We need a new drainage system." She added that she "hopes to launch a national campaign soon to start the funding process" (Monroe NEWS STAR, 8/21).
DAWG DAYS ARE OVER: In Atlanta, Chip Towers reports AT&T has invested $10M to alleviate issues with "connectivity, or rather the lack of it," at Georgia's Sanford Stadium. More than 400 antennae "have been installed throughout the stadium and are designed to handle to demand of phones in specific areas." AT&T Regional Dir of External Affairs Paul Chambers said that the company also "doubled the wireless capacity outside the stadium and in and around Athens to improve coverage as spectators tailgate and drive into the stadium area" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 8/21).
HOOK 'EM HOOPS: In Austin, Brian Davis reports Texas booster Marian Dozier "has made a 'significant gift' to the athletic department" that is "earmarked to rename the basketball offices after the Dozier family and renovate the basketball practice facilities inside Cooley Pavilion" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 8/21).
