TU announces major renovation project at Skelly Stadium

It's an exciting new chapter in the history of the University of Tulsa's football team. In less than a year, they join Conference USA, which is seen as a step up. And Thursday, the school announced

Thursday, November 11th 2004, 10:16 am

By: News On 6

It's an exciting new chapter in the history of the University of Tulsa's football team. In less than a year, they join Conference USA, which is seen as a step up. And Thursday, the school announced that long-awaited improvements to Skelly Stadium will begin next spring.

News on 6 reporter Steve Berg explains how the Golden Hurricane is hoping to begin a new Golden Age.

It's like a kid on Christmas, you feel like you've just gotten this unbelievable gift, and that's really what it is. It is a $7-million plus Athletic Complex which will go into the North end zone of Skelly Stadium. And Santa Claus, in this case, is Michael Case, whose name will go on the building and whose goal is to return respect to TU's football program. "I have tremendous respect for Coach Kragthorpe, both as a coach and as an individual, and I know that given the proper tools to compete in Division-I football, he will be successful."

It's not the first time Case has shown his golden touch with the Golden Hurricane. The Case Tennis Center has gotten rave reviews. And they expect the Skelly improvements will have a similar effect on morale and recruiting.

TU athletic director Judy MacLeod: "Our student-athletes take a lot of pride in the tennis center and the softball field, track, soccer. I think we'll see the same thing with the football complex."

It's remarkable what he's already done on this campus and makes it even more remarkable that he's stepping up again.

The university doesn't say how much Case donated, only that it's significant. And so is the timing. MacLeod: "Our move to Conference USA is a step up and we're trying to prepare all of our programs to ramp up to that competition and we feel like this building gives us a great chance to do that."

The building will have coachesâ€™ offices, luxury suites, locker rooms, training rooms, and an academic support center for all student-athletes.

Construction kicks-off right after football season.