Bruininks comments on practice facility

[gopherfan3]

"We are in the planning stages. You have to do architectural and schematic plans before you build anything at the University of Minnesota. So we are working on that, we've approved it and we found the funding to do the initial work. We're also working on a fundraising plan and strategy. The costs of this have to be largely born by private gifts and contributions. So I am quite optimistic that we will get that done. This will be a facility not just for coach Smith. This will serve our women's basketball program as well. In doing so I think it will provide some opportunities for students on campus. We are really short of practice space on campus for our major teams and also for the students who attend the University of Minnesota. So I think we will get the job done. It will take a little while, because it does take some time to raise private funds in this kind of economic environment. But as the economy improves I think we will have some real success. I am also optimistic about our basketball team and our program in the near-term and the long-term. This may be Coach Smith's best team, at least I think so. That will help increase interest in men's basketball and I hope Pam Borton has an equally good year."

http://1500espn.com/sportswire/QA_with_U_president_Bob_Bruininks_on_the_coaching_search110310

 

[16FeetUnder]

My office is involved in the design of this building, and all I know is that we've been sitting idle for quite some time. I hope they get their funding together.