Army West Point Athletics
Foley Center Officially Opens Its Doors
March 06, 2007 | General
Foley Athletic Center Photos
March 6, 2007 - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
WEST POINT, N.Y. The Foley Athletic Center officially opened its doors at West Point to rave reviews from players, coaches, administrators and dignitaries.
The Foley Athletic Center, Phase II of the “Margin of Excellence” facility upgrade that began in 2001, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday with Superintendent Lt. Gen. Franklin Hagenbeck, Director of Athletics Kevin Anderson and William Foley doing the honors.
A 1967 graduate of the Academy, Foley and his wife pledged $15 million towards the “Margin of Excellent” facility upgrade. It was the largest single donation in service academy history.
The Foley Athletic Center is a massive, 77,000 square-foot structure across the street from the Holleder Center and will provide Army athletics teams with a state-of-the-art indoor practice facility. Teams will be able to practice in a climate-controlled environment and it was needed as winds howled and temperatures dipped into the single digits during the ceremony. The facility houses a full 100-yard football playing field, along with full 10-yard end zones on each ends. A five-yard buffer encircles the Field Turf playing surface that covers 130 yards in length.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am to be here,” Hagenbeck said. “This facility changes the landscape for us, literally. This is the kind of facility that can really make a difference and help us build upon our winning tradition.”
Construction began on the project last spring and it has already been utilizes by the football and lacrosse teams. In addition, the women’s soccer, softball and baseball teams will also use the facility, which has three video taping stands and measures 65 feet from surface to roof in the middle.
“In the past, when we wanted our quarterbacks to throw, we had to find a space underneath the bleachers, tarp it and bring in space heaters for a small area to throw,” head football coach Stan Brock said. “Now, we have this great facility and there is none better anywhere in the country.”
Mike Viti, a fullback on the football team, also praised the facility. “I thought about this and in the past, there were two or three player-led practices that we never had. Now, we gain 50 practices and when you start to add the small details you see a big difference.”
“This great facility has already had a big impact for us,” lacrosse team captain Eddie Clark said. “The week of our first game, the weather was bad and we were able to practice indoors. We won our game against Marist by a goal. They weren’t able to practice and we were able to and that preparation was the difference in the game.”
The “Margin of Excellence” project has produced world-class facilities that include the Kimsey Athletic Center, Hoffman Press Box and Randall Hall. Phase III of the venture will consist of constructing the remaining practice fields around Howze Complex.
The Foley Athletic Center will have nets installed at each end and at the 50-yard line and the outer walls will be lined with eight-foot high pads.