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Championship Vision - Phase I
COMING INTO FOCUS
Five years after the rollout of the Championship Vision Phase I capital campaign, there
are many kudos to hand out... and more work to be done
by Homer Jacobs
On a striking early evening in April 2005, with the shadows of Kyle Field and the
Bright Football Complex creeping toward his backyard patio, Texas A&M University
president Dr. Robert Gates beamed with pride, taking in all that has been accomplished
during his impressive three-year tenure in Aggieland.
From the faculty reinvestment program, which has helped A&M land A-list
academicians from MIT, Harvard and Stanford, to the tangible steps the university
has made in its goal to welcome a more diverse student body, it's obvious Gates
is embracing the future for a school that is so proud of its past.
Yet, Gates knows for Texas A&M to reach new heights, maximize its exposure
and enhance its standing as a well-rounded institution, the rise and resolve
of A&M's athletic programs are paramount for sustained excellence.Texas
A&M to reach new heights, maximize its exposure and enhance its standing
as a well-rounded institution, the rise and resolve of A&M's athletic programs
are paramount for sustained excellence.
"I've said a lot of times that athletics play a huge part in the success
of a large, public university," Gates said. "I believe that A&M
needs to move to a new level of excellence in everything we do
"And I've told (Director of Athletics) Bill Byrne that every one of our
athletic programs needs to be competitive, both in the conference and nationally.
It'll take a little time to get there, but that's where Texas A&M ought
to be. Athletics matters a lot to our former students and our current students."
It matters so much that in March of 2000, the 12th Man Foundation rolled out
the school's first-ever capital campaign-The Championship Vision Phase I - for
athletic facilities construction and improvements.
In the five years since the black-tie affair in the Zone Club to unveil the
campaign, much has changed around Texas A&M in regards to athletic and academic
support facilities.
The Bright Football Complex
 Thanks
to more than 2,000 generous donors to the Championship Vision Phase I, the campaign
challenge goal of $50 million has been exceeded, surpassing the original goal
of $35 million.
"When we first started talking about the need for a major gifts campaign,
none of us really understood all we needed to accomplish to have a victory in
this campaign," said Miles Marks, the Executive Director/CEO of the 12th
Man Foundation. "Whereas most other campaigns have huge lead gifts, our
success came from the grass roots level of involvement. It showed that when
Aggies pull together, anything is possible."
The centerpiece of the Championship Vision Phase I was to be the Bright Football Complex
and Academic Center. And, in the case of this $27 million showcase, the vision
proved to be 20/20.
The complex, which houses the Aggie football locker room, meeting rooms, players
lounge and coaches offices, not to mention its state-of-the-art academic support
arm, has drawn rave reviews from staff personnel, players, coaches and recruits.
In fact, as head football coach Dennis Franchione began to haul in top 10 recruiting
classes the last few years, many of the football prospects claimed A&M was
unmatched as far as its football facilities. It's a far cry from when A&M
players dressed and showered underneath the aging west stands of Kyle Field.
 Jack
Little '60, the chairman of the Championship Vision Phase I, was one of the point
men when the idea of building the Bright Football Complex first surfaced. He,
along with an A&M athletic contingent, toured football facilities at Alabama,
Florida State, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas to help mold the final plans
for building the football and academic facility that now sits at the south end
of Kyle Field.
Back then, it was an eye-opening experience to see what others had constructed
in comparison to A&M's facilities. Five years later, the Bright Football
Complex shines alone.
"From what I saw and what we have now at Texas A&M, we don't have to
take a backseat to anybody," said Little. "This is, by far, the best
football facility of any that I saw as we toured the country. I'm very proud
of what we have here, and I know it will be just one of the key ingredients
to success. But there are others in order to reach the level where we want to
be in football and all the other sports.
"The great thing about this facility is, it's not just a football facility,
but it's an academic facility. It's just incredible what our athletes have available
to them to help them in getting a degree from Texas A&M in addition to participating
in the sport that they choose. I'm as proud of the academic facilities in that
building as I am for the locker room, coaches offices, etc."
The academic center has become a popular destination for hundreds of student-athletes,
and yet, there is room for more tutoring and students to take advantage of the
facility.
The crossover possibilities have Gates praising the many roles the Bright Complex
can fulfill.
"One of the great things about the Bright facility is right now, at least,
there is some excess capacity in terms of computers, tutors and so on,"
he added. "So, the athletic program has come to me and said, 'You are recruiting
a lot of first-generation college students, so can we help? Can we help in retention
of these students? Can we help these freshmen in being successful in moving
on to their sophomore year?'
"So, we are taking advantage of that. There are some students who have
nothing to do with athletics who are taking advantage of the facilities that
are provided by the Bright Complex."
In addition to funding the construction of the Bright Complex, the Championship Vision Phase I has directly affected several new facilities on the West Campus:
- Inside the Carolyn and Jack Little '60 Athletic Complex, new dressing rooms,
coaches offices and player lounges have blossomed for track and field, soccer
and softball.
- A new indoor batting cage sits adjacent to Olsen Field for use by the baseball
and softball teams.
- The George P. Mitchell '40 Tennis Center has recently added a visitors locker
room, a permanent ticket booth and attractive landscaping among other amenities
in anticipation of hosting its second NCAA Championships in three years.
While there have been noticeable improvements for many of Texas A&M's athletic
facilities, there are many more to complete. And there will be many more funds
to be raised over the coming years.
"All people need to do when they travel is to stop in and see what they're
doing at the schools we're recruiting against for other athletes," Byrne
said. "If an athlete would visit Texas Tech, Texas, Baylor, Oklahoma, Missouri,
Nebraska, Kansas State or Kansas, what they would see there for investment in
facilities is more than what we have here. I know we've been doing a lot, but
we have a long way to go."
Added Gates: "If you look at even the Big 12, we still don't spend as
much as many of the teams we compete against in all sports. I think that Aggies
are beginning to step up to the plate and understand that you can't have a conference
or nationally competitive athletic program without significant resources."
A master plan for A&M facilities construction and enhancements has been
in the works since Byrne's arrival, assuring that the foresight for athletic
and academic excellence remains at the top of Texas A&M's agenda.
"While it would be great to sit back and enjoy what has been accomplished,
we know that this is really an arms race to be the best and provide our student-athletes
with the best in academics, facilities and equipment," Marks said. "That
endeavor never ends. The master plan for A&M's athletic future has many
incredible pieces. When complete, it will put A&M on top, where all Aggies
want us to be."
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