What We Know About Georgia’s New Football Facility
When a program gets new facilities, they usually like to show them off, but Georgia has been unusually quiet about the brand-new $80 million, 165,000 square-foot expansion to the Butts-Mehre complex.
Nothing has been posted about it on social media since May when players reactions to the new building were shown, and for the most part, it has gone under the radar of most fans.
Like everything the Georgia coaching staff does, the silence serves a purpose; the Dawgs were saving the first outside look at the facility for recruits and their families. With on-campus visits being allowed for the first time in 16 months, allowing recruits first access to the facility maximizes its potential to wow them.
However, that tactic does leave fans wondering about what exactly the new facility is.
Here is what we know:
Cutting Edge Training Facilities
Aside from the new amenities, at its heart, the building represents the cutting edge of conditioning and training. The first thing noticed is the brand-new weight room stacked with all the equipment needed to get bigger, faster, stronger with enough speakers and screens to display all the bulletin-board material imaginable.
The new training rooms allow senior associate athletics director Ron Courson and his training staff to provide the best care they can for Bulldog players. An on-site nutrition center gives players access to the nutrients needed to replenish their bodies after long practices and workouts. In addition, new offices and meeting rooms provide a more comfortable space for staff to work.
According to sources, there are data chips in all of the weights inside the new complex in order to track the movement patterns of athletes. In other words, it provides the opportunity for UGA staffers to see how fast and efficiently the weight is being moved.
Home Away from Home
Following the lead of programs like Clemson, the complex includes more than just a new weight room and training facilities. The new space is designed to be where the players congregate outside of the regular training and practice routine. The idea behind it is that by building an area where the team can relax, stronger bonds can be fostered among the players to keep them focused on the team’s goals. The new locker-room design reflects this approach.
Recruiting
Recruiting is the lifeblood of college football, and while facilities may not be the deciding factor for most recruits, it certainly draws the attention of everyone. Georgia has always recruited well under head coach Kirby Smart, but it was always in spite of their facilities, not because of them. In addition to all of the amenities available to players, the building includes a recruiting lounge for recruits and their families to enjoy while on visits.
With the upgrades they’ve made this year, they’ve put themselves on par with the other top programs in the nation, and they can already see the dividends. Georgia is the hottest visit in the country right now, with the Dawgs playing host to over 200 recruits in the first week of June.
Just the Beginning
The upgrades the Dawgs have made are just the beginning. The open section of the new facility represents Phase I of the project. Phase II is expected to be completed sometime in early 2022. The project’s second phase will include more office space, additional dining areas and meeting rooms.
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