The generosity of Louisiana鈥檚 Ragin鈥 Cajuns fans was felt - literally - at Louisiana-Lafayette鈥檚 athletic complex on Reinhardt Drive Monday afternoon.
A wall dividing the football locker room and a meeting room was torn down as the first phase of a refurbishing project for the complex got under way.
鈥淭his is the first step in a necessary project for athletics,鈥 said Athletic Director Nelson Schexnayder. 鈥淲e have to improve to remain competitive in Division I.鈥
In addition to Monday鈥檚 work, Phase I calls for a training room expansion along with more space allocated for the taping, rehab, hydrotherapy and treatment rooms. These projects will get started in the coming months.
More than $255,000 has been raised already for the $350,000 cost for Phase I. According to Athletic Development Director Gerald Hebert, donors are continually stepping up to help with improvements.
鈥淯nfortunately, progress comes with a price. But our supporters are really standing behind these initiatives and backing them,鈥 said Hebert. 鈥淲e鈥檙e asking for help and so far, we鈥檝e gotten really good feedback from the community.鈥
Among the ways supporters can contribute financially to the refurbishing projects is room-naming and equipment-naming opportunities. More than $115,000 has been raised through these endeavors.
In addition, former football players can help the current team with a locker sponsorship. More than 900 former football players are being sent mailouts describing the project this week. According to Hebert, for $500 former football players can receive individual recognition in a locker.
鈥淭his project will be built by football players for football players,鈥 said Hebert. 鈥淓ach sponsored locker will have the name of the former player, their jersey number and the years they played here. It鈥檚 a great way for these players to leave their mark on the future of Ragin鈥 Cajuns athletics and the sponsorships are totally tax deductible.鈥
Other phases of the athletic complex project includes doubling the size of the existing weight room and providing additional office space and a new Letterman鈥檚 Club addition at the front of the complex.
A few of the recent facility improvements for athletics paid for by donors and the university include:
鈥 Brick wall borders erected on the first and third base side of Tigue Moore Baseball Field;
鈥 New lights installed at Lady Cajuns鈥 Softball Park;
鈥 New $50,000 marquee installed at the athletic complex entrance at the corner of Bertrand and Reinhardt Drive;
鈥 Scoreboard renovation to an information center in the south end zone at Cajun Field;
鈥 Louisiana鈥檚 Ragin鈥 Cajuns logo discs installed at each entrance to athletic facilities;
鈥 New walkway built in the south end zone at Cajun Field allowing fans to walk from one side of the stadium to the other; and
鈥 Additional parking areas added to Cajun Field to better accommodate fans.
Many projects are currently in progress including:
鈥 A $3.5 million indoor practice facility to be built;
鈥 A $1.4 million track and soccer field complex to be built;
鈥 A Letterman鈥檚 Walk to be created in the football tunnel at Cajun Field;
鈥 Nine murals in Cajun Field created by local artists; and
鈥 TV monitors to be installed in the concourse areas of Cajun Field.
鈥淭hese are just a sampling of the many initiatives we currently have going on in athletic development,鈥 said Hebert. 鈥淲e鈥檙e still seeking donors for these projects and others that we have in progress. We鈥檙e hoping as people see the progress we are making, they鈥檒l want to be a part of it.鈥
To make a donation, contact Hebert at the Office of Development at 星空无限传媒 Lafayette at (337) 482-0922 or by email at sports@louisiana.edu. Learn more about giving to athletics at .
Pictured from left are Football Coach Rickey Bustle, 星空无限传媒 Lafayette President Ray Authement and Athletics Director Nelson Schexnayder.