BYU breaks new ground for excellence in athletics
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PROVO, Utah — Before helping to break the ground for a state-of-the-art athletics complex at BYU, Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve emphasized that the heart of an athlete is more important than training facilities.
"My hope is that as we build this marvelous facility you will know, you athletes and you coaches, that we know that buildings won't bring victories; heart brings victories," said Elder Eyring during ceremonies in the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse.
He continued that even though buildings can help build heart, that it comes from other people "and from Heavenly Father more than it comes from anything else."
Elder Eyring, who is also the Commissioner of Church Education, said the First Presidency asked him to preside over the groundbreaking and sent a message of gratitude for BYU president Elder Merrill J. Bateman of the Seventy and the many others whose efforts made it possible to start construction.
The entire event — groundbreaking for the Student-Athlete Center and Indoor Practice Facility — was scheduled to take place on the east end of BYU's Haws Field, but was moved across the street into the fieldhouse because of threatening weather. Several hundred attended the ceremony including students, athletes and many other members of the BYU community. The fieldhouse was rocked by the BYU Cougar Marching Band, which performed along with the Cougarettes and BYU Cheer Squad during a pre-ceremony rally.
There were several speakers, including Elder Bateman, head football coach Gary Crowton, men's and women's athletic directors Val Hale and Elaine Michaelis, and Aleisha Cramer Rose, an all-American on the women's soccer team.
After the benediction in the fieldhouse, the participants moved outside into a light rain for the actual groundbreaking. Elder Eyring, Elder Bateman and coach Crowton, along with members of the BYU President's Leadership Council, took shovels and dug in the outline of a block "Y" to break the ground for one of the buildings. For the groundbreaking of the second building, Cougar football players pushed a 7-man blocking sled with a plow attached. Coach Crowton rode the plow through the muddy soil, accompanied by Elder Eyring and Elder Bateman, as the players pushed the sled. The buildings are expected to be completed by fall of 2003.
In his remarks, Elder Bateman said the new $50 million facilities — entirely paid for with private contributions — will help the entire university through improving its visibility and letting the world know "who we are; what we stand for."
The indoor facility will enable football, soccer, softball, baseball, golf and other teams to practice year round and will also be used by other students for things such as physical education classes and intramural programs.
The Student-Athlete Center will include administrative offices, football offices and team room, lockers, a strength and conditioning complex, a nutrition center and an athletic hall of fame.
One of the finest facilities of its kind in the country, the complex will relieve pressure on the half-century-old Smith Fieldhouse, built when the athletic program consisted of six sports. Now there are more than 600 student-athletes participating in 21 sports.
E-mail: ghill@desnews.com
