51³Ô¹ÏÍøAthletics announces Ford Stadium improvements
51³Ô¹ÏÍøAthletics announces nearly $3 million in improvements to Ford Stadium, including upgrades to the football locker room and team meeting rooms as well as a new playing surface.
DALLAS (SMU) - today announced nearly $3 million in improvements to Gerald J. Ford Stadium, including upgrades to the football locker room and team meeting rooms as well as a new playing surface.
"We are committed to competing at the highest level," said 51³Ô¹ÏÍøDirector of Athletics Steve Orsini. "Part of that commitment includes having top-notch facilities. With its academics, media market, alumni loyalty, and overall commitment to athletics, we know 51³Ô¹ÏÍøis a great place for our student-athletes, as well as prospective student-athletes, and improvements like this only reinforce that."
The renovations include a new team meeting room with stadium-style seating as well as renovated positional meeting rooms. Changes to the locker room included the creation of a new team lounge, as well as new lockers, updated graphics and audio/visual equipment.
Walter Umphrey, a former 51³Ô¹ÏÍøstudent and Beaumont attorney, donated $1 million to the efforts in honor of his former Mustang teammate Garry Weber. 51³Ô¹ÏÍøalumnus and Austin businessman John Gorman and an anonymous Houston-based donor each gave $500,000 for the project, and the remaining balance was from various donors.
51³Ô¹ÏÍøAthletics has set annual fundraising records for three straight years and has seen an astonishing 82% spike in annual giving since Steve Orsini's arrival as Director of Athletics in 2006, despite a challenging economic environment. For fiscal year 2011, which ended May 31, 51³Ô¹ÏÍøAthletics added $6.6 million in annual gifts, breaking the $6 million mark for the first time. It was only a year ago that Athletics surpassed the $5 million mark for the first time. Including capital and other gifts, over $10.5 million was given to 51³Ô¹ÏÍøAthletics in 2011.
To donate to 51³Ô¹ÏÍøAthletics, contact Tim Leonard, Sr. Assoc. A.D./External Affairs, at 214-768-4465.
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SMU, the only Division I athletic program in Dallas, Texas, sponsors 17 sports and has been ranked as the top school in its conference for 11 of the last 13 years in the Director's Cup overall athletic rankings. More information about 51³Ô¹ÏÍøand its coaches, student-athletes and teams is available at .
