“This project is truly a team effort,” said WKU head coach David Elson to open the event. “I mean a very, very large group of people, a team that is made up of WKU students, friends, alumni and donors to the school, and of course, the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
The renovation to the Hilltoppers’ football stadium began prior to the 2006 season with improvements to the existing structure. Now, work has begun on the construction of the West grandstand, which will not only include approximately 5,000 seats along with concessions and restrooms, but will also house football offices and locker rooms, a weight room and a training room.
“We just finished the recruiting process with Signing Day on Wednesday, and we are bringing in 31 newcomers who I would say are as talented as any group that we have brought in here in my 11 years on the Hill,” Elson added. “There’s no question that being able to talk to them, to come to their schools and show them pictures of a $37.5 million stadium expansion and renovation, and then invite them to campus and show them bulldozers literally moving the earth, was a huge part in us being able to put together the type of class that we did.”
Other features of the project include the development of the South end zone as well as improvements to the existing structure to locker rooms for men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s track, and renovating the current weight room as well as office space and classrooms for the physical education department.
“This stadium is tired, it’s run down and it’s long overdue to be renovated,” WKU Director of Athletics Dr. Wood Selig said. “It speaks to the great job that our coaches have done over the years to sell the program, it’s history and tradition, to get the caliber of student-athletes that we have right now. But, I promise you their job is going to get a whole lot easier with this brand new side and renovated Smith Stadium.
“I know that one day everyone is going to remember that they sat here on this cold February day and watched a pile of dirt moved expecting it to become one of the finest stadiums in America.”
Other speakers at the event included WKU President Dr. Gary Ransdell, Robbie Rudolph, secretary of the governor’s executive cabinet, State Senator Brett Guthrie, and House Speaker Jody Richards.
