Syracuse recently announced the designs for the brand-new indoor football practice facility. Orange Nation is awaiting the new building that is poised to heavily improve recruiting and keep Syracuse’s facilities competitive with ACC schools.
The ACC is a different animal than the Big East, and the types of recruits the Orange want are going to be looking at the bells and whistles of the facilities. In the Big East, Syracuse could get away with practicing at a dated Manley Fieldhouse. However, when recruits see other facilities in the ACC such as the Murphy Center at N.C. State or the brand-new Albert J. Dunlap Practice Facility at Florida State, SU will pale in comparison. Syracuse’s football facilities were near the bottom of the Big East by ESPN last year.
In the preliminary design plans there are aspects the department got right and a few concerns they need to take a look at before construction:
- 44 Plaza.¬†A plaza outside the facility that will have the statues of Ernie Davis, Jim Brown, and Floyd Little. Syracuse loves to¬†push its tradition¬†and past glory on the fan base, so naturally the 44 Plaza would do just that. The plaza provides a good reminder of SU football‚Äôs great past and gives the outside a nice look when completed. It’s a good idea for SU to use the new facility to remind young players how much history came before them. These are two NFL Hall of Famers and a Heisman winner with a major motion picture about his life. Can’t ever honor them enough.
- Low ceiling: The building is only supposed to reach a height of 65 feet on the inside, making it very difficult for the kicking unit to practice punts inside the facility. One solution the department came up with is to practice kicks on the outside fields or inside the Carrier Dome. SU will have to see if there is any way to accommodate kicking. It seems strange to spend $17 million and have a low roof.
- Extreme Makeover Orange Edition? The design pictures left some fans underwhelmed. The facility looks very basic and bland from the outside. If $17 million is being put into the building, fans want to see an eye-popping exterior rather than a facility that could pass for an office building. The university should consider adding some color rather than and all white exterior, similar to the Melo Center.
- Location and Timeline: If all goes right, the facility should be open for the players a year from now. From a recruiting perspective, getting the ball rolling would be important before National Signing Day in February. Recruits love to have something to look at when coaches are boasting about new facility construction. The location next to the Manley Fieldhouse South parking lot also makes the facility very accessible to the players.
It’s great SU has the capability to build a new facility, but it’s important it’s done right. If it is, the Orange program will have a dynamic feather in its cap.
Posted: Zephan Mayell
90 responses to “The Good & Bad of Syracuse’s Newly Released Indoor Facility Deisgns”
The ceiling height should be a non-issue. Most school practice facilities around the country have low ceilings, if not lower, then what we would have. Plus we aren’t looking at blue chip punters. They can utilize the carrier dome and outdoor fields to practice as previously stated. Put more money into other parts of the facility, besides raising the ceiling.
Also not worried about the exterior of the building. Recruits look at what’s inside and what perks there are ( locker room, lounge, weight room, therapy, sports medicine, etc.)
I agree with OC27,I think the exterior look’s great?Too much glitz and color will detract from the no nonsense character of our image!Solid but conservative!!
The “ceiling” of the facility as stated above is the same height or higher than most if not all the IPF’s in the ACC and elsewhere. The cost of the facility is a bit misleading too. The IPF building itself will likely be more like $9-$10 million. The $17 million figure includes lots of other related projects like moving the lost track facilities to Skytop, and adding to the academic wing at Manley for example. I like the fortress of solitude appearance of the design. I think it will look great at night, especially in the dead of winter, covered in snow, but glowing from within. Look at the Jets practice facility and tell me you don’t like the idea of all white. It’s about the only thing that franchise has gotten right in the last five years.
i just hope it works out well for the football team and su. we so desperately need a big splash here and i hope it all comes together.
I don’t believe the facility will house any of the “other stuff” like weight rooms, sports medicine, therapy, locker rooms. I think the intent is to keep the current facilities in Manley. I wonder what will become of the Manley field. Maybe that can be converted into a weightroom and indoor track for training purposes?
For the record, $100/SF is pretty cheap for a new building, especially one with the exterior insulation requirements in CNY. The new building will also house public bathrooms, and I believe a locker/team room for the soccer teams I believe. They are losing some of that due to the IPF too, so it needs to be replaced.
Hey Zeph!Who are the people who think the design of the building is to bland? Are they the people who sink millions into the program? Or are they the over weight people on welfare who set home,watching Syracuse on tv drinking their beers(at our expense)getting fatter,who just like to bitch about everything. The latter has probably never or will ever go to a game to watch them play. Some of the Su Fans expressed their thoughts on the new building on this website last week. We told you that the new building was what Syracuse needed to stay competitve in the ACC. What gets me is you(media)quote all of the want-a-bes in the world and think they know all about everything.
If it was me running this website,I would pay more attention to what the fans who contribute their opinions about Syracuse University has to say,rather than someone who has never been to a game or know what the hell their talking about.
syracuse doesn’y need “to push its tradition” The tradition is there to be seen and experienced for those not newborn or living in a cave in Afghanistan.This facility will serve to enhance the superficial expectations of young players being recruited. In the context of recruiting,it can’t hurt.
The architecture program at SU is one of the most prestigious in the nation. I understand they didn’t design it, but when the school chooses to put up an ordinary looking building, what does this say about SU being cutting edge and creative? To me, this looks like something you would have expected to see constructed in the 60’s or 70’s.
IMO we need a functional facility but also a place that will poop open the eyes of recruits & fans. Do it with sparkle and impressionistic notions. How does the current design compare with our ACC competitors? Once it is built we will have to live with it for many many years. Do it right now, even spending more money if necessary, to be the showoff piece in the ACC.
First it seems that the facilities are in motion now=finally. Second the design is always going to be of discussion to administration/players and fans. So we’ll have to wait and see. But the tradition must stay and to also add on traditions as the years go by. But really it all comes down to what it does for the SUFB program. Remember its FB that made this possible. So it’s what inside and outside that effect the program and its moving forward!! ABOUT TIME-DOC GROSS!
There are plenty of Syracuse alums working behind the scenes on this. I think the look is pretty cutting edge especially for the cost Remember that $100/square foot is not a lot.
For comparison, this is the all white Jets facility
http://openbuildings.com/buildings/atlantic-health-jets-training-facility-profile-4748?_show_description=1
Does anyone know if we’ve given up on Mavety and Applefield?
Mavety a no show!! Applefield????
Russ great article in syracuse.com about SU red shirt RBs Morris and McFarland. Both 6’0″ and just over 200lbs. And quick too!! Now THAT’S program beef. Maybe mix in a jitterbug to give the running game flavor, but give me the Mack trucks any day. Even in my HSFB days(played along side Ben Franklin-lol) 200lbs hurts more that 170 to hit-any day. You just have to try it first to understand that. Both of them are exciting!!
Read Yahoo/Rivals there seems that many troubled youth out there playing college FB. Even the recent Heisman winner got busted. They just don’t get it or just don’t want to get it?? Programs major and not are kicking players off right and left. That includes SU as well. SPOILED!!
@Terry;
I just read an article on Kentucky kicking brothers 2012 3* commit LB Kadeem Thomas and 2013 3* commit RB Khalid Thomas off the team and out of school. But your right Terry,it’s happening way to often.
@Malone;
I don’t know if it’s just me,but don’t it seem funny that things are awful quiet on recruiting. I haven’t heard or read a thing on Ollison,Mavety or Holley.
Could there be a chance/possibility that “outside forces” are in play with these three recruits that might be forcing them to rethink the Syracuse offer?
I think that when they looked into other programs and saw the possibility of no playing time until they were JR’s or SR’s and comparing that to playing time almost immediately at Syracuse,might have changed their mind some.
Anyway you look at it,it still feels a little strange that things have been so silent.
I’d like to see pictures of the hall of fame wing at manley. I’ve heard good things about it. Maybe you should show it on tis site. As far as the IPF goes I can’t wait and I hope we start getting better recruits.
@Ron,
I am not sure about outside forces except to say recruiters from other schools. I think the bright lights tend to dazzle these kids. They feel so close to multi-million dollar contracts that they can be blinded. I think Mavety is a kid who was at NCC and now is getting love from ‘Bama, FSU and Ohio State. He is wowed by it and they are likely using his own pride and hubris against him. Tell him he can play if he beats out everyone else and then you put his “failures” on him, not you. If he says no thanks to that, its like he’s telling the world he can’t do it, he’s not good enough. Learning that a lot of that is still out of his control is one tough lesson to learn. OSU may not have room, but Bama never says no it seems, and they are sending NY recruiting expert Cristobal at him. FSU has a O-line guy for a head coach. I heard a rumor that we may indeed get an official visit from Holley. I think there is a lot of recruiting happening behind closed doors with him and we are doing our best to give ourselves a shot. Applefield always felt a long shot to me just because of where he’s from. I know he said he wanted out of Fla, but I fear Syracuse may be too much of a culture shock. Mavety is the one that surprises and will disappoint me most.
Terry nope wrong again Devonte McFarlane is listed at 5’11” so he’s more than likely 5’10” at best!!I’ll bet George Morris ain’t quite 6′ either or he’d be listedata more impressive 6’1″…remember little grasshopper in today’s world whatever their listed is most likely slight exaggeration!!
Malone,RU seem’s pretty confident about Applefield and Holley’s mom might have a say in where he goes?Ollison is 1 quiet guy!!Ron,outside force’s?Spies?UFO’s?Spooky…sounds a little like Terry with the paranoia?Its just a slow time in the recruiting process Ron!!
Terry,want to know what hurts even more than getting hit by 200 lbs?Not being able to even get your hands on 180 lbs till their in the end zone!!
@Russ Everything I am hearing is that Cuse and Rutgers split Ish and Ollison. I think Ollison has been warming to the SU idea. First I’ve heard Applefield with Rutgers, but I wouldn’t put it past them. That said, all our recruits are locks at Rutgers until Rutgers “backs off”. RU has been pressing Fla a lot this year.
@Russell MacEachern;
Russ,I was part of the 007 group. I learned from the best you know!!! With that being said,when I mentioned “outside forces”I was thinking more along the lines of circumstances. Once the recruit gets on campus and finds out the program isn’t what was promised to him,is when the second guessing starts to kick in and starts thinking of getting playing time early.
Lets take a close look at the Mavety situation. Do you actually think that he’s gong into a program and start over a player that’s started for 2 years? Remember Mavety only has 2 years of eligibility left. At some point reality sets in and a person has to make decisions,do I want to play immediately or do I set the bench for 2 years.
I find it interesting to say the least,that we haven’t heard a thing on Holley or Ollison. Could their silence indicate the both are think real hard about Syracuse University?
I liked the “point counter point” between you and Terry.
@Malone,yes I agree on Ollison/Witter I also think it’ll bea split but his father (Ollison’s) is the decision maker and he really trusts someone at RU but who is it?
Either way I can’t see RU taking more than 1 more RB!!
Ron,247 sports has Juwan Winfree 100% RU?
@Malone,of the 2 as much as I like Witter I have this feeling about Ollison!!Dare I say it?(JB)
@Russell MacEachern;
Russell,is there a chance RU backs off Winfree and he commits to us? What’s the chances if he does go to RU,that he’s going to get immediate playing time?
Juwan Winfree was one of the early recruits that I hoped would commit to Syracuse.
Ron,Winfree seem’s to not seek out the limelight to much?Ollison either!!I think in Ollison’s case if were quietly showing love we can convince him to come here!!Quiet is good in his case!!After listening to coach Moore (NY/NJ recruiter)I’m not confident this year in to much SU action in North Jersey this year but were making progress further down in South Jersey!!Timber Creek area!!I think we’ll get 1 or 2 surprises in recruiting tho this year!I just don’t know who yet?Mavety?Hopefully!!
Russ,I haven’t given up hope on any of the kids from Jersey yet.
Two recruits that I would live see come to Syracuse are Winfree and Kurt Holuba. I know that you’ve said in the past that neither is coming to Syracuse,but the way I’m looking at it is,neither has signed/commited to a school yet and that alone is giving me hope that both are still thinking about Syracuse.
I agree that high end punters have alternative sites to practicr their craft. Kickers would seem to have more than enough space to practice.As matter of fact if punters were trying to perfect directional punting in order to put the ball out of bounds deep into the opponents territory the facility i just fine. The “coffin corner specialist has gone the way the dinosaur. Its a great offensive tool Or defensive if you prefer. Putting the ball deep in their territory is good football that isn’t practiced near enough.
One way to make the crowd presence seem larger on tv is to make the new area smaller. It seems as though the thinking now is that a smaller capacity arena be the future consideration Thattyplifies the backward thinking of administration officials who control; the progress of the school and the city. I include Mayo Miner in this because putting a brake on the progress under the pretense of caution is just another typical ploy to enhance the “concerned aspect of her term in office.Small minds always translates to small and little progress. The city and school can be so much more in importance to the state and to its own citizens were it not for the butt covering myopic views of the future possibilities.Geography alone says to me that the region has been held back by small minded leaders and the constituency that allows the status quo to crawl at the pace it has done so for the last 50 years.Giant corporations have left Syracuse. GE Carrier are now gone. Which companies have been brought into the city? The city is in the geographic center of the state and close enough to a foreign country to our north to inspire possibilities thus far ignored by our “leaders”
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