Friday marked the beginning of a new era in Marshall Athletics as ground was broken for the construction of a new Indoor Athletic Complex next to Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
“I’m so excited about today … a great, amazing day,” former Thundering Herd quarterback great Chad Pennington said.
Hundreds of Marshall student athletes turned out for the ceremony between the east stands and The Herd’s weight room.
The complex will feature a 101,600 square foot indoor practice facility with a 120-yard football field and a 300-meter indoor track. The facility can be used for baseball and softball practice in addition to the obvious uses for football and soccer.
A 1,400 square foot Marshall Hall of Fame will honor the greatest athletes to have competed at Marshall over the years. There will also be a state-of-the-art sports medicine translational research center and academic center.
“What a spectacular day it is,” said Dr. Stephen Kopp, Marshall’s president. “There are few things in life that make you as proud as seeing a collective vision become a reality.”
Marshall officials also announced during the ceremony – Jim Justice, chairman of The Greenbrier and Marshall alum – had donated $5 million to the Vision Campaign.
“My wife, Cathy, and I are proud to be a part of this great day at Marshall,” Justice said. “We met there and our daughter, Jill, earned her degree there. And I mean it when I say I love Marshall more than you’ll ever know. People don’t know how much Marshall means to me and my family.
“These new facilities will not only be an asset to all of the athletes, but a source of great pride to all of us who are Marshall alumni, and Cathy and I would like to show our commitment to this project by pledging $5 million to the Vision Campaign.
Pennington and Herd hoops legend and Los Angles Lakers Head Coach Mark D’Antoni have chaired the $20 million capital campaign. It represents two-thirds of the funding for the project.
Officials say construction on the IPF will begin next month and should be completed in time for the start of football’s regular season. Athletic Director Mike Hamrick is hopeful the Hall of Fame will be done by then as well then followed by the academic center and sports medicine research center.
“It’s one thing to talk about it,” Pennington said. “It’s another thing to be about it.”