Three years of planning and almost nine months of construction has culminated into a frame that will soon be the Sebo Athletic Center.
The center, located at the north end zone of Doyt Perry Stadium, is not slated to be done until February 2007.
‘It’s been cool watching [the Sebo Center] go up, especially watching the progress to know that it’s more than just talk,’ said Kory Lichtensteiger, a captain and starting center on the football team.
The center will be home to 42,000 square feet of weight and strength training areas, a sports medicine and rehabilitation facility, meeting rooms and football offices that will be available to use by the University’s athletes, said Jim Elsasser, assistant athletic director for internal affairs.
‘Construction is progressing, but we did encounter a delay with an elevator shaft and walls,’ Elsasser said. ‘[Some] walls have to be totally replaced.’
The band stands will not be completed in time for the football season because of other construction that must be met first.
‘We can’t pour [the concrete] until other milestones are met,’ Elsasser said.
About $6.35 million in donations has been made for the $7.5 million facility, said Marcia Sloan Latta, the director of development. The largest donation, $3.5 million, was made by Bob and Karen Sebo.
This donation of half of the original estimated cost of construction gave the Sebos naming rights.
Bob Sebo, a BGSU alumnus and Board of Trustees member, said the donation is to help provide what is needed for the University to have a good athletic program. He explained that attractive facilities bring more notoriety to a school, which in turn, will attract students to the school.
Football coach Gregg Brandon said the facility is needed in order for BGSU athletics to stay competitive.
‘I’ve seen it done, what a [facility such as the Sebo Center] can do for a program,’ Brandon said. ‘I think it will get us to a point on the same level as other Division I programs. If we want to remain a first class Division I program, we need to step up.’
The Sebos have been a part of the design and construction processes. Their ideas have been used for the design of the building to the color of the walls and carpeting inside.
‘The Sebo Center will give BG a nice cornerstone to walk student athletes through,’ Elsasser said.
Bob Sebo said that a facility such as the Sebo Center will generate a sense of pride in the BGSU community.
‘It will get students to come, and alumni are proud,’ he said. ‘Happy, proud alumni donate. It’s one big, fun circle.’
Brandon is looking forward to the space that the Sebo Center will provide. Currently there is no meeting room for the football team, so meetings occur in Olscamp, the Union and in the Math and Science Building.
Lichtensteiger is anticipating the bragging rights that will come with the new facility.
He said one of the main differences between Mid-American Conference and Big Ten schools is the facilities. Now there won’t be that distinction.
In addition to this donation, the Sebos provide money for many scholarships at both the collegiate and high school levels.
‘At a younger point in life, it would have been easier had I had scholarships,’ Bob Sebo said.
Now he has the ability to assist others with financial need.
‘I took it upon myself to give help,’ Bob Sebo said.
One of his high school scholarships is for students at Salem High School who participate in two or more extracurricular activities.
‘I think it is very important that a student at the high school or collegiate level have exposure to more than grades and books – working with people, for people and leadership,’ Bob Sebo said.
