Former BGSU football player Mike Weger has pledged $550,000 for the new Sebo Athletic Center.

On schedule for completion in February 2007, the three-story center will become the new “front door” of Perry Stadium. With about 42,500 square feet, it will provide sports medicine/rehabilitation and strength-training facilities, a balcony overlooking the playing field, team meeting rooms and a coaches’ conference room.

The Weger gift lifts the total raised for the structure past $6 million, nearing the private fund-raising goal of $7 million, said Marcia Sloan Latta, associate vice president for University advancement and campaign director.

Weger called his decision to support the Sebo center “a timely situation, where I was made aware of that effort when I was already thinking of doing something for the University.”

A training room will be named for Weger and adjacent seating for the Falcon Marching Band will be named in honor of his late father Roy Weger, the former director of bands from 1953-65.

Weger was named the Falcons’ Most Valuable Player his junior and senior years, and played in the Senior Bowl and Blue-Gray all-star games. He graduated from the University in 1967, and was a ninth-round draft pick of the Detroit Lions that same year. He played professional football for 11 years including nine seasons with the Lions and two with the Houston Oilers.