The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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From new bleachers, to an improved concourse and concessions, to the installation of new windows all around the arena, Yost Field House will have the same feel but a better look. doing things that get the fans feeling loud and committed and passionate about what's going on, it translates to the team," he said. "We look at every one of our events to say, how can we get more people in the venue, and once we get those people there, how can we make it an experience that will make them come back? "Also, how can we create an atmo- "In many instances, when you're leaders and best in every way, which is our mission statement, and that means everything a student-athlete ex- periences, from their facilities to their coaches, academic support, all of that. "That costs money. In order for us PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL sphere that will be a competitive ad- vantage for Michigan, where when any team comes to Ann Arbor to play us, they're going to know one of the things they'll have to deal with is our fans? We want our fans to be passion- ate, loud and supportive, and to help our team perform better at home." cheaply, assured Chrissi Rawak, senior associate athletic director for devel- opment. Part of Rawak's job involves making sure potential donors under- stand the completion of huge projects in higher-profile sports doesn't mark the end of Michigan's need for funds. "One of the things we're really Development None of that investment comes working on is communicating to all of our generous donors, and those who have an interest, is need," she noted. "It's not only need but impact, giving people a true understanding of where their gift to Michigan athletics really goes. "At the end of the day, it goes to those 880 kids and the experiences they're having here at Michigan ath- letics. We're relentlessly striving to be 66 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2012 fundraising efforts will be channeled into upgrading those areas of the ath- letic complex allowing the games to go on. "There is no question we have some to stay competitive — which we want, our fans want, and our student-ath- letes want — it requires investment. We've been very fortunate to have the very generous donors we've had, but there is more work to be done." Specifically, Rawak explained, U-M's lion from businessman Al Glick jump- started the push toward the mammoth football practice facility now named for him. The late William Davidson, the former Detroit Pistons owner, gave the Crisler Center project a huge boost as well. "The gift from Al Glick and his fam- phenomenal facilities on this cam- pus, like the Wilpon Complex and Michigan Stadium," she said. "We're working hard on Crisler Center and Schembechler Hall, but all of those had a fundraising component to them, and all will continue to have a fundraising component. Moving forward, our par- ticular focus is on our Olympic sports. "The indoor track is no different than it was when I was a student here in 1992, and it really wasn't in the best shape then. We're really looking to in- vest in all 29 of our sports, not just the revenue-generating sports." It's about all of the 880 Michigan stu- dent-athletes, she stressed, with no one more important than any other. From Brandon on down, the athletic depart- ment team is looking to maximize their experience in the classroom and on the fields and courts. They've enjoyed considerable assis- tance in those efforts. A gift of $8.7 mil- ily was phenomenal and incredibly helpful for us in getting that done," Rawak said. "Most recently, we were very fortunate to get a gift from the William Davidson Foundation, which was a $7.5 million naming gift for the Player Development Center. That's of- fering our basketball student-athletes an opportunity to practice." The upgrades represent more than just an eye-opener for recruits coming on campus, Rawak stressed. In the case of Michigan's basketball facilities, they allowed for some very practical an- swers to troubling logistical dilemmas. "Many people are aware that they had to share Crisler," she said. "Prac- tice times were crazy. Sometimes they were in the IM building; sometimes they were practicing at 9 o'clock at night. When you're here at school, that's tough." The Crisler overhaul certainly won't hurt the effort to attract top talent, Rawak acknowledged. "Having to recruit against some of those other phenomenal programs out there that have practice facilities, we're not going to get the kids," she said. "Facilities aren't always going to be the number one reason they decide to come, but there is no question it mat- ters. We want to be leaders and best in every way."