Topic: Herald-Dispatch: Flurry of news at Big Green dinner

[W0lfman]

Flurry of news at Big Green dinner
MU officials detail indoor facility, other projects
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/2005/June/10/MUspot.htm

By ANTHONY HANSHEW - The Herald-Dispatch

HURRICANE -- Thursday night’s Putnam County Big Green meeting wasn’t a typical, glad-handing social event.

There was actual news, and quite a bit of it.

Marshall University interim president Mike Farrell and athletic director Bob Marcum detailed several significant projects, including the pending construction of an indoor practice facility, the likelihood of an on-campus baseball stadium and moving the Buck Harless Student-Athlete Program under the athletic department umbrella. It’s been a busy time for Thundering Herd athletics, giving officials and fans much to discuss Thursday at Sleepy Hollow Country Club.

An indoor practice facility has been discussed for several years, and Marshall officials appear close to finalizing plans. Funding is in a developmental stage, and the facility is estimated to cost $6.5 million.

A $3 per football ticket facility enhancement fee was added this year in part to make debt payments on the project. Marcum said once funding is secured, an indoor practice facility could be constructed within seven weeks.

"That was one of the main things we put the facilities fee on," Marcum said. "People right now are working on the finances, looking at how much debt service we can carry.

"Once that’s established, let me tell you, we can move forward with that and I would say that the thing will be up within the year -- easily. And if we can get our funding in place like we want and look at our debt service and make sure we can carry the debt service, I think it’s one more thing we can start … who knows maybe in late fall or early spring."

Marshall athletics certainly isn’t lacking for projects. Joan C. Edwards Stadium is undergoing a makeover with new FieldTurf and a 13,000 square foot weight room is being constructed adjacent to the Shewey Building.

Bidding on the weight room project begins this month and funding is provided by the state.

Also, significant with the athletic department infrastructure is the Buck Harless Student Athlete Program shift. New NCAA rules include scholarship reductions for athletic programs deemed academically deficient, moving Farrell to give the Thundering Herd athletic department added control of its academic success.

"It’s something we’ve been working on for a while," Marcum said. "We’ve moved in that direction a little bit with some of the recent appointments we’ve made.

"If someone’s going to give you that responsibility then you better make sure you’re prepared for it and you accept all the risks involved. The pressure should be placed on us to make sure our athletes perform in a certain way.

"If you don’t get it done there are sizable penalties."

Projects further down the road include building an on-campus baseball facility, refurbishing the softball complex and building an apartment-style dormitory. The combined cost of those projects total an estimated $67 million, but officials said they could be finished within three years.

The flurry of news is well-timed, considering Marshall is in the midst of fund-raising efforts. Big Green membership, within Putnam County specifically, was the focus Thursday night.

Last year’s function sparked 50 new members, upping the Putnam County Big Green total to 125. Big Green board of directors member Geoff Perry estimated a similar membership spike following Thursday’s meeting.

Still, Putnam County remains an area of considerable potential growth. Marshall alumni within county borders totals 2,765.

"We think this is a very fertile recruiting ground for Big Green and Marshall University," Perry said. "I think if we get up to the 250 (or) 300 range of Big Green members that would be a big step in the right direction."

Marshall officials also detailed how its budgets fare against Conference USA rivals. Of the eight C-USA public universities, Marshall ranks fifth in total revenue ($16,461,176) and sixth in total expenses ($15,790,932).