Tweet
Panel endorses athletic complex at SDSU
By Terry Woster
twoster@argusleader.com
Comment Print Email PUBLISHED: January 25, 2008
Advertisement
A $6 million student-athlete development center at South Dakota State University won a 9-0 vote this morning in the House Appropriations Committee.
The facility, described as a two- to three-story building to be placed on the east side of the existing football stadium, is being financed with a private donation, SDSU Vice President Mike Reger told the panel.
“It is designed solely to support athletics, and particularly the academic side of athletics,’’ Reger said.
He said the campus is continuing to seek private funding and might build an addition to the structure in the future.
The committee amended the bill to require that the school return to lawmakers for approval of additional spending.
“We are not trying to impede the process,’’ Republican Rep. Jim Putnam of Armour said. The change in the bill will assure that “the Board of Regents or anyone else that builds the building under our rules comes back and asks for additional dollars and, therefore, we are brought up to speed.’’
Reger said, “I think that’s entirely within your scope, and we will abide by that.’’
The structure will include study space for athletes enrolled at the school, he said. It will also provide office space for coaching staff members, weight rooms, athletic rehabilitation facilities and lockers. Existing lockers at Coughlin Alumni Stadium are as old as the stadium, which was built in the 1950s, Reger said.
“I don’t even want to start thinking about replacing a stadium,’’ he said.
By Terry Woster
twoster@argusleader.com
Comment Print Email PUBLISHED: January 25, 2008
Advertisement
A $6 million student-athlete development center at South Dakota State University won a 9-0 vote this morning in the House Appropriations Committee.
The facility, described as a two- to three-story building to be placed on the east side of the existing football stadium, is being financed with a private donation, SDSU Vice President Mike Reger told the panel.
“It is designed solely to support athletics, and particularly the academic side of athletics,’’ Reger said.
He said the campus is continuing to seek private funding and might build an addition to the structure in the future.
The committee amended the bill to require that the school return to lawmakers for approval of additional spending.
“We are not trying to impede the process,’’ Republican Rep. Jim Putnam of Armour said. The change in the bill will assure that “the Board of Regents or anyone else that builds the building under our rules comes back and asks for additional dollars and, therefore, we are brought up to speed.’’
Reger said, “I think that’s entirely within your scope, and we will abide by that.’’
The structure will include study space for athletes enrolled at the school, he said. It will also provide office space for coaching staff members, weight rooms, athletic rehabilitation facilities and lockers. Existing lockers at Coughlin Alumni Stadium are as old as the stadium, which was built in the 1950s, Reger said.
“I don’t even want to start thinking about replacing a stadium,’’ he said.
Comment