2002-2005 Athletic Initiatives

[Zeebart21]

Originally posted by cajun tom
Is it true that UL is getting an indoor practice facility?

This would be a fanstatic benefit to the athletic department.

yes.

Z.

[1stTake]

The state gave the Saints $6 million for their indoor pratice arena. How much will the Cajuns building cost?

[Zeebart21]

Originally posted by Chuck
How much will the Cajuns building cost?

approx. cost 4 million......

Contrary to popular belief, we will not rely on the state to fund this.

We will do it on our own.

Z.

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana Board of Regents'Minutes of April 24, 2003


On motion of Regent Henry, seconded by Regent Brame, the Board voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Facilities and Property Committee to amend its FY 2003-2004 Capital Outlay Recommendation to include $3,602,000 in the Self-Generated Category for the construction of an indoor athletic practice facility at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

On motion of Regent Henry, seconded by Regent D'Aquin, the Board voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Facilities and Property Committee to amend its FY 2003-2004 Capital Outlay Recommendation to include $4,980,000 in the Self-Generated Category for the construction of a new vehicular parking garage at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

On motion of Regent Henry, seconded by Regent Blake, the Board voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Facilities and Property Committee to amend its FY 2003-2004 Capital Outlay Recommendation to include $2,930,000 in the Self-Generated Category for construction of a weight room at Bourgeois Hall and athletic fields at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

The source of the story

[Turbine]

There are other aspects to the endeavor; this picture simply addresses one of the proposed locations of the practice field facility. Right in the heart of Cajun Basin.

[Turbine]

Originally posted by the Big Ragoo
I heard they were talking about putting a 4 lane indoor track around the indoor turf field.

That is great news. Gerald Hebert had told me Reinhardt drive would be cut off as a drive through.

Hopefully I can get my hands on a later drawing.

I wonder what the East side access/departure point to football parking will be. I was thinking the Rienhadrt drive at the end zone would be lost not the Reinhardt drive along the sidelines.

[cajun tom]

I think you are being too judgemental on Nelson. He in my opinion has done a great job on the money he has too work with.

[California Cajun]

At one point I swear he called UL the University of Lafayette. This is the athletic director.

I didn't get to hear all of the interview on Bird's Eye View, but I did hear one reference of University of Louisiana at Lafayette by Schexnayder. I'm fairly certain that's what you heard.

Schexnayder has endeared himself to me more recently because he has answered my last three e-mails. Before then it seemed like everything was in one ear and out the other. I still wish we had an AD that had the background of a Terry Don Phillips, but I agree that Schexnayder does a better job than Phillips in hiring people.

I agree with an earlier respondent that Nelson was kind of playing things close to the vest, but I think the reason is that he doesn't know. I don't think anyone knows.

The most interesting thought in the part of the interview I heard was Jay Walker's comment to Schexnayder that he thought that we were migrating toward affiliation with all football schools and away from the schools that don't sponsor it at the 1-A level. It's been my opinion that at least in the Sun Belt that the football playing schools have more fan interest (and support) in the total athletic program as a whole. One comment made to me was that the football-only schools don't have enough baseball and softball teams, so that's easier said than done.

From memory, it seems to me that placing the facility there would not be big enough, and mess up an outdoor practice field. I would assume that the team would practice outside when the weather permitted to acclimate themselves to the heat and humidity.

How about putting the facility behind the student side at Cajun Field? If we have overflow crowds, we have to have shuttle buses to Blackham Coliseum anyway.

[CrewChief]

Originally posted by geauxboy
As far as an indoor track for competition purposes, it would probably be cheaper and also a better investment in the long run to buy the neccessary surfaces, etc. to use in the Dome. For practice purposes, 4 lanes may be enough, pits & throwing rings are portable, so they could be used int the new facility.

Football Practice Facilities are not used for competitive track meets. First there is no seating. Can't make a buck with no seating. Second for competition NCAA rules require a minimum of 6 lanes with a minimum width of 42 inches per lane. That totals out at 21 feet, and on an oval that is times two. 42 extra feet width and length on a practice field is a project killer. What is wrong with a practice track? My recommendation is you go with a track elevated 12 feet, 3 lanes minimum. It uses the same area over the sidelines. 3 lanes standard width is 10.5 feet a 12 foot width gives the track a 9-inch buffer on both sides. It is a practice facility people, use it as such. I have other ideas on how this facility could be used for spectator basketball and tennis but I think I have bored you enough. Thank you for your time, now run those laps.

[CDeb]

Nothing wrong with a practice track, I was merely curious as to what a competition track would require as I am ignorant in those areas.

Thanks for the post.

[Turbine]

Originally posted by CDeb
Nothing wrong with a practice track. . .

I am ignorant in this area as well. I went searching this morning and found this picture of a practice field with a NCAA 6 lane track. To save on building length it looks like it chops off the corners of the field.

[CajunRebel]

Turbine, where did you get that plan of Cajun Field and the athletic office? I'd like to get a copy of that if you don't mind. I'd like to play around with it.