A new article has been posted onwww.latechsports.com:
Tech to build new Assembly Center
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The final remnants of the Thomas Assembly Center were cleared Monday to make room for a new sports arena to be built on the same hill above Joe Aillet Stadium for the basketball teams at Louisiana Tech University.
The TAC demolition was funded with monies left over from the tearing down of Neilson and Caruthers dormitories across the railroad tracks.
Tech president Dr. Les Guice said construction on the new arena cannot come soon enough. “You know basketball season is just eight months away.
“Athletics Director Thomas McClelland and I have come up with a plan for a new Assembly Center, but we could not wait for the normal approval process. So, hey, why fool around when we can use those monies left over from the dorm demolitions? Their equipment was still on campus and the men needed the work,” said Guice, who awaits his official anointment and incarnation as the new Tech president in an official ceremony April 8. “Yeah, we had to move my anointment over to Howard Auditorium. I hope we can get all the politicians in there who have helped higher education in Louisiana the last few years.”
McClelland said the new arena, which will seat 11,894 for games and graduations, will feature luxury suites at the top of the bottom level. “The students are really going to like it,” T-Mac said. “There will be the Johnny’s Pizza party center at one end of the bottom level. The students will be able to enter and go right to the party center and then view the game from that end. Unfortunately, we cannot seat the students near the floor because Coach Michael White’s new contract extension allows him to sell seats in the ‘old’ student section and on the floor to our new boosters . . . you know, the ones who can’t get seats in Section 107? Our wine and beer consumption by the floor people this past Dunkin’ Dogs season was really flowing for those ground level front row seat holders, so we’re thinking about doing the same for the student pizza place at the concourse.”
“The season ticket holders have complained about restrooms, concessions, souvenir areas, the location of the band, the new sound system. Actually, they’ve complained about everything in the building but the Paul Millsap/Community Trust video boards . . . so while the NIT was going on I suggested to Dr. Guice we just tear down the TAC and start over,” McClelland said. “Oh, and Paul’s having a good year. He’ll buy us a bigger and better scoreboard!”
And, a new basketball floor?
“Oh, I know a disgruntled postal worker who really wants to help us and be supportive of his alma mater,” McClelland said.
Coach White arrived at his temporary Scotty Robertson Memorial Gym office Monday morning to work on the layout plans of the new TAC. He was surprised the dumpy TAC had been torn down
“Tech said they would do everything in their power to keep me here,” said Coach White. “I mean we averaged 4,186 at home this season, highest in history. Our team set a ton of records; we won back-to-back conference regular season championships; back-to-back NIT appearances; 28-1 record at the TAC; and 29 wins each of the last two years.
“We do need to set the date for a ground-breaking ceremony. You know those types of ceremonies do take a while to plan and set up around here.
“Rebuilding the TAC is the least the administration could do,” added Coach White. “I mean, it’s now all about the Dunkin’ Dogs!”
Former Lady Techster coach Teresa Weatherspoon couldn’t be reached for comment, BUT former AD Bruce van de Velde could. "I am proud to have accomplished this – and another men’s basketball championship, the first in our rookie C-USA year -- even though I was in Wisconsin for the past few months,” BvdV said. “Some of the credit for the new building and the basketball success should go to …… Wait a minute: who am I fooling? All of the credit should go to me.”
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Originally Posted by qng001
