The South Alabama football program will have to wait a little bit longer for its practice facility to be operational.
After an original completion date was set for later this year, it’s back to the drawing board after facility collapsed while under construction. Acknowledging the accident, but unaware of what caused the collapse, the university released to following statement to the public:
“At approximately 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, the structure of the Jaguar Training Center, a covered athletics practice facility that is under construction on the University of South Alabama campus, fell within the construction limits of the site. No workers were present in that area at the time,” the statement said.
University Athletic Director Joel Erdmann tweeted photo’s of the damage, while being sure to confirm that nobody was injured in the collapse.
Jaguar Training Center collapsed this afternoon – thankfully nobody hurt – incredible site – will be gathering information – Go Jags! pic.twitter.com/gdfdtXS27L
— Joel Erdmann (@WeAreSouth_AD) July 22, 2017
The structure of the facility was already beginning to take recognizable form. The 96,000 square-foot practice facility was being built to house a regulation size football field for use during inhospitable football weather.
Recent weather conditions forced the construction of the facility to be delayed, though it is not yet known how much of a role that played in the collapse.
Here’s a look at what the structure looked like prior to the collapse:
Here is what the Jaguar Training Center looks like as we head into the weekend #JagNation #WeAreSouth pic.twitter.com/UfM3ZS3CPN
— South Alabama Jaguar Athletics (@WeAreSouth_JAGS) July 14, 2017
The Jaguars enter their seventh football season as a program, looking to improve on their 6-7 record from last year. They are yet to notch a winning season in program history.
South Alabama opens the year against Ole Miss on Sept. 2.
Can’t get enough of Campus Sports? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news and exclusive giveaways!
