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behind the scenes NEW FOOTBALL INDOOR PRACTICE FACILITY Filling a need that has long been identified by coaches, the Virginia football team will finally have an indoor practice facility. In September, the UVa Board of Visitors approved the project, and con- struction is expected to start this spring, according to Virginia's executive associate athletics director Jon Oliver. "If everything goes as planned, we will begin construction in the spring of 2012 and the project will be complete by February of 2013," he said. The new indoor facility will place the Hoos on par with many of their ACC brethren. Boston College has covered its Alumni Stadium with a inflatable bubble since 1998 due to the harsh Northeast weather. Duke's Pascal Field House was dedicated on Sept. 2, and Florida State expects to complete its facility by June 2012. Clemson, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech have all announced plans for indoor facilities as well. Maintaining Virginia's facilities compared to other schools is essential, Oliver said. "It is important to have what the other institu- tions we are competing against for recruits have so that ultimately the prospective student-athlete can focus on all that the University of Virginia has to offer instead of what we don't have," Oliver noted. Head football coach Mike London says one of the key benefits, from a practical standpoint, is the If everything goes as planned, construc- tion on the 78,000-square-foot building will begin in the spring of 2012 and be completed in February 2013. IMAGE COURTESY UVA ability to practice full-speed, regardless of weather conditions year around. Like the existing outdoor practice areas, the indoor facility will have FieldTurf. "The obvious benefit is the opportunity to con- tinue to practice in case of inclement weather, to continue to train and develop the players in season and out of season," London said. "I was here before as an assistant coach and I know it's always been something that's always been an issue or some- thing on the forefront for Coach [Al] Groh when I Campus Checking StellarOne makes checking simple for college students! • No minimum balance. • Free StellarOne Visa Check Card1 • No monthly service charge. with optional FREE Rewards Program. • Ooops! Card ~ One Overdraft Item Fee/Return Item Fee or Stop Payment/Renewal Request Fee. Online Banking • Bill Payment • eStatements1 Plus ALL the Extras... All for FREE! • eAlerts • Mobile Banking Plus, we refund two ATM fees per calendar month from that other bank!1,2 StellarOne offers FREE ATM Transactions anywhere! 888.785.5271 • www.StellarOne.com EQUAL HOUSING LENDER 1. Enrollment in eStatements and StellarOne Visa Check Card must occur within 30 calendar days of the account-opening date; otherwise the account will be converted to a standard checking account and subject to the applicable checking terms and service fees and no longer eligible to receive two free non-StellarOne ATM transactions per calendar month. 2. Non-StellarOne ATM owners may impose a surcharge on additional transactions over the two fee-free transactions awarded per calendar month. Valid student identification and $25 minimum deposit are required to open this account; subject to approval. MEMBER FDIC. 10 ◆ CAVALIER CORNER PHOTO COURTESY UVA ◆ Dec. 20, 1986 — The women's basket- ball team beat No. 2 Louisiana Tech, 77-66 at home, which stands as the highest-ranked opponent defeated in Charlottesville. was here, to address where to go when you have inclement weather and not just for football, but for some of the other sports that are here." Discussion regarding the project has been ongo- ing for almost a decade, but Oliver said it was not until London was willing to make some alterations to the original plan and encourage use of the facil- ity for other sports that the university was able to move forward with the project. "All of the previous ideas had the facility located in an area that would have impacted parking," Oli- ver explained. "Constructing a practice bubble was the original idea, and it was viewed as a temporary solution. When Mike arrived he was comfortable locating the facility on the second practice field, and in our early discussions with him the facility was at the top of his priority list." The 78,000-square-foot building is expected to cost $13 million. "We are now in the process of fundraising and we are on a tight timeline. We were able to secure a lead gift of $5 million in support of the facility," Oliver said, "and will need to have $13 million in signed pledges to move forward with the project, and ideally we will have half of that in hand to begin construction." — Greg Waters this month in uva history ◆ Dec. 6, 1963 — The Virginia wrestling program captured its 100th win with a 20-8 victory over Old Dominion. ◆ Dec. 22, 1979 — Cavaliers great RALPH SAMPSON recorded the first of his two career triple-doubles with 16 points, 14 rebounds and 12 blocks against Army. He would record his other triple-double seven days later with 15 points, 22 rebounds and 10 blocks against Old Dominion.