March 7, 2003
Dear TCU Horned Frog Fans:
There are many exciting things going on behind the scenes in TCU Athletics. I would like to periodically update you with my thoughts on some of these topics so that you may stay better informed with what's transpiring here at TCU.
The first subject I would like to address is the proposed Basketball Practice Facility. We began the fund raising for this project at the November board meeting. Early returns and support for the project have been fantastic. To date, we have had 22 donors commit around $3 million to the project, or roughly 60 percent of the funding needed before we can break ground.
The structure will match the light brick look of TCU's family of athletic venues. When completed, the 22,000-square-foot complex will feature office space for both the men's and women's basketball coaching staffs, meeting rooms and two NCAA regulation practice courts. The facility will stand southwest of Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, in the outfield of the old baseball field.
It's an amazing sense of accomplishment to see what's transpired in terms of facilities for TCU Athletics over the past several years. Because TCU does not receive state funds, raising money is always a challenge. Despite the difficult economic times, the TCU family and the Fort Worth community have stepped up to the plate, which speaks volumes for their love of TCU and TCU Athletics. And the return on their investment can be seen in the facilities we've built - whether it's the John Justin Athletic Center, the Lupton Baseball Stadium, the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center, the Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium, the Lowdon Track & Field Complex or the new recreational center.
It is critical that we invest in our basketball programs at this time. Conference USA is an elite basketball league. The top C-USA basketball programs are consistently ranked among the nation's best. This facility makes a statement that TCU is serious about its basketball and is committed to putting a quality product on the court. We have a pair of tremendously energetic basketball coaches who head our programs and are blessed with great high school talent in the area. This new facility will give our coaches another tool to recruit that talent and build TCU basketball into a nationally recognized and respected program. A facilities blueprint was laid out in 1999 as a part of the long-range planning for athletics facilities and we have followed it, almost to the letter. The basketball practice facility is the next facility project in line.
Some schools are considered football schools while other schools are considered basketball schools. TCU can be one of those rare schools that are strong in both football and basketball, as well as in all our other intercollegiate athletic programs. This practice facility can do for the basketball program what the John Justin Athletic Center did for the football program - give our student-athletes every opportunity to compete at the highest level, maximize their potential and help them achieve the successes we all desire.
Thank you for your continued support of TCU Athletics.
Eric Hyman
TCU Athletics Director
