Louisiana-Monroe Approves New End Zone Facility For Football

Whenever UAB shuttered their football program, lots of people did lots of speculation about who, if anyone might be next. The Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks were initially one of those teams, which is why they quickly affirmed that they were fully committed to investing in and improving their athletics, football included.

Now they're putting their money where their mouth is.

ULM announced today the building of a new facility near the north end zone that will house a brand new locker room and coach's office, and which will connect to the existing weight rooms.

This whole enterprise was a bit surprising to some considering that, as ULM athletic director Brian Wickstrom said, "[w]hen Coach Berry first visited with me about this project, there was not much optimism in finding the dollars for it."

"Probably anything I say is going to be understated in terms of what it’s going to mean for the program," said head football coach Todd Berry. "This has obviously been a vision, a dream of ours, for a long period of time and to see it come to fruition is gratifying beyond means because I think, as a staff, we recognize the impact that it’s going to have. These are things that are significant. Facilities are the number one reason why recruits go to a place and this is something that again, we’ve desperately needed. We’re excited."

One great part about the project is that it is 100 percent funded by private dollars. In fact, one of the unique features of the new facility is that, for the right dollar amount donation, anybody can get their name on the lockers and bricks in the center of the front plaza.

Oh, come on, you know you've got $250 in the couch cushions somewhere, right?