TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — While we don't know the fate of college football just yet, when Florida A&M football players arrive back on campus they'll have some brand new equipment to work with and a new locker room to suit up.
The Rattlers football operations center and field house renovation started earlier this week.
The locker room will be expanded and have new lockers, the weight room and training room will both be upgraded and expanded, and the coaches offices will also receive a face lift.
It's a project everyone is excited to see finished.
"One of our priorities as an administration is the student athlete experience," said Kortne Gosha, the director of athletics at FAMU. "Part of that is the places they touch every day. Their locker rooms, their training rooms, their medical facilities and strength and conditioning spaces. We're aligned with the University that that student experience will be second to none here at FAMU, and it starts with the facilities being all-in to help us strike from the top."
Gosha added the renovations were made possible by the Rattler Donation Fund. With the uncertainty of athletics in the fall, and potential loss of ticket sales, he's asking fans to donate in this time of need.
At Leon High School in Tallahassee the Lions are receiving an upgrade of their own.
A little over a month ago a new turf field was started, and it should be finished soon.
Leon athletic director Mark Feely said they were told there was a six week timeline from start to finish. There was a little delay, but things are moving along.
Hash marks, numbers, and that Lion have been stitched into the turf. Next week they'll lay the rubber in-fill and the new field, used year round by several Lion JV and Varsity sports, will be ready to go.
"To have it come to fruition and for them to do it as quickly as they've done it, I think it's going to be a real saver for the District," Feely said. "I applaud Rocky Hanna for helping us get those in. When I was the head coach here, I used to stand underneath the goal posts and look up at the school. You're always surveying your field and what not. I can't imagine what it's going to be like standing underneath the goal posts when this is finished and really seeing how the field pops. You drive by, you see it, it's right in front of the school. It's really cool."
Feely said the coolest thing about the project is seeing it progress day by day. He said he's excited to see the finished product.
