Despite several recent facility projects for Univ. of Georgia athletics, there is a concern among some donors if UGA is "spending enough to keep up in the SEC and national facilities arms race," according to Seth Emerson of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. The "overarching concern is whether there is a master plan, or whether the school [is] simply playing whack-a-mole, moving deliberately from one project to the next." UGA's administration, with AD Greg McGarity as the point man, have "defended themselves by pointing to what they are spending now in facilities." Three major projects since '10 "centered on football," totaling around $121M. That began with a $31M renovation to the Butts-Mehre building, then the $30.2M just-completed indoor facility, and now $63M committed to a Sanford Stadium renovation. Just over $21M was "committed this year alone for other projects, including Stegeman Coliseum getting a long-awaited center-hanging scoreboard." It seems "inarguable that spending has increased in recent years, and not just on facilities." However, the concern is that the school was only "playing catch-up with these latest projects." UGA Athletic BOD member Jon Stinchcomb said, "We were the last in our conference (building an indoor facility) with something that can be deemed a necessity. ... The University of Georgia has too good of a fan base, too good of an athletic department and we’re in too good of a financial situation to be last in areas of need." UGA officials have confirmed that the athletics department has just over $77M in reserve funds, including about $45M "listed in the most recent treasurer’s book." Stinchcomb said that fans "want to give and they support the school." Stinchcomb said they just want a “clarification and understanding as they write these sizable checks" what previous donations have gone to and "how this fits in a much bigger picture" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 3/21).
