James Greenwell, Georgia State's executive senior associate athletics director, said the work on the second phase of the football team's new practice facility is slightly ahead of schedule. The second of four phases consists of the delivery of synthetic and natural grass for the playing surfaces. The next phase is to build the field house. The final phase is to expand the field house to include the weight room and coaches offices. Greenwell said the completion of all four phases is part of a three-year program, which is driven in part by fundraising.
“We expect to have the synthetic grass field by spring practice, which is March 17,” Greenwell said. “The grass field will be completed, but it’s a Bermuda grass and that’s dormant in the winter time, and it’s not growing right now. We’ll probably stay off of that until the fall.”
The projected completion date for the second phase was April 1. Greenwell said the development of the football program is progressing the way he expected.
“It’s a lot of work, but when you have a university that is excited about it and so supportive, it makes it all that much better,” Greenwell said.
More football
Keeping with their season-long recruiting theme of looking for defense and muscle, the Panthers received five new commitments from linemen. Jeff Holmes, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive tackle from Cincinnati, played at Independence (Kan.) Community College. Willie Huggins, a 6-2, 285-pound defensive lineman, played at Clewiston (Fla.) High School. LaDeven Kirkland, a 6-5, 340-pound offensive lineman from Miami, played at Yuba College in Marysville, Calif. C.J. Stephens, a 6-4, 255-pound defensive tackle, played at Woodland (Ala.) High School. John Ulrick, a 6-4, 260-pound center, played at Bradwell Institute (Hinesville).
Basketball
The Panthers start a three-game conference road trip Saturday at Delaware followed by games at Old Dominion (Jan. 28) and Virginia Commonwealth (Jan. 30). Georgia State snapped a five-game losing streak with a 79-74 victory against UNC Wilmington on Wednesday. Georgia State used full-court pressure in the second half to force the Seahawks into nine turnovers. Georgia State also outrebounded UNC Wilmington 20-13 in the second half.
Baseball
The Panthers were picked to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association preseason coaches poll released Tuesday. Georgia State received 75 votes behind James Madison (99) and UNC Wilmington (91). Georgia State seniors Bradley Logan (first base) and Ryan Moore (pitcher) were named to the CAA preseason team. Logan batted .309 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs last season and was the most outstanding player in the CAA tournament. Moore was 7-2 with a 4.41 earned-run average last year. Sophomore relief pitcher Justin Malone was named honorable mention. Georgia State set a school record for victories (39), won the conference and advanced to the NCAA Atlanta regional last year.
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