Greg McGarity, Jere Morehead believe wait for Georgia's indoor facility will be worth it

ATHENS -- Georgia is the last SEC team to construct an indoor athletics facility.

But the wait could prove beneficial based on conversations and observations the athletics department has had with other universities that previously undertook the large construction process that coincides with a project of this magnitude.

Georgia is spending $30.2 million to build a facility that will house a 100-yard football field, a track runway, jumping pits, batting cages and other equipment to assist multiple sporting teams. The construction will take a year, with the building scheduled to be completed in January of 2017.

As far back as 2008, former head coach Mark Richt publicly stated the need for his program to have a large-scale indoor facility to practice at in case of inclement weather, which is something rival schools have had at their fingertips.

Sometimes it was even used as a recruiting tool against Georgia, which is something former defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt pointed to in a news conference during his first season with the program. At some point in 2013, Georgia's athletics officials decided there was a true need to build the indoor facility. The timing made sense and the funds were available.

And with the previous coaching staff advocating for one, McGarity and the athletics board decided to get started on the process. McGarity said he isn't sure what went into the decisions not to build an indoor facility prior to his arrival to Georgia in 2010, but that one item may not have been observed like it should have been from an administrative standpoint.

"So many people relay just the practice part once you're in season," McGarity said. "What might have been missing in the discussion of it was out of season."

In the winter months, Georgia's football team will have access to voluntarily work on football-related activities on fields instead of braving the cold outdoors. Other sports, such as baseball and softball, will be able to take swings in batting cages when the weather gets rough. Track and field will benefit by being able to practice in dry conditions at all times.

While some might argue that Georgia waited way too long compared to its peers, university president Jere W. Morehead said the good that can come out of it is ensuring that Georgia doesn't make the same kind of mistakes other institutions have made when it came to their buildings.

Morehead and McGarity have spoken with other universities about their facilities to get a grasp of what to do and what to avoid.

"I think in many ways by waiting, by looking at the mistakes other schools made in building their facility, we're now building a facility that's going to be second to none," Morehead said. "In many ways, being prudent, being thoughtful about it, looking at what other schools have done, learning from their mistakes, I think that's all positive. Now we'll open a wonderful arena in the next year."

McGarity said Georgia has raised $20.3 million for the project, which is well beyond the $15.1 million fundraising target it set in September. Both McGarity and Morehead expect to cover the $30.2 million cost entirely with fundraising efforts, leaving the $15.1 million allocated from the athletics association's reserve for other projects.

Georgia is still waiting on receiving sizeable donations from donors to place their names on both the indoor practice field and the facility itself. Feelers have been placed, and if those two donations materialize, Georgia will be over the $30.2 million marker.

McGarity credits the fundraising action to the football program's buzz, especially with football head coach Kirby Smart in place.

"Some people who have never been involved before have stepped up big time," McGarity said. "Then we've got a significant group of donors who have dug down deep and helped us because they all believe in Kirby and they all believe in the way the program's headed. There's a tremendous feel-good sense of environment out there. It's hard to put your finger on it but you know when you walk in the building, you sense it."

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 9:51 PM with the headline "Greg McGarity, Jere Morehead believe wait for Georgia's indoor facility will be worth it ."