ATHENS — The Georgia football program is growing, even as players have gone home for the weekend for much-needed breaks.
The Bulldogs have made progress, coming together as a team and learning one another’s athletic potential under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff the past three weeks.
Georgia has made progress facilities-wise, too, with the latest and most notable UGA football building taking shape.
The $80 million football building has its frame in place, adding to the Butts-Mehre Building’s space-station looking skyline.
“The teamwork on our project has been fantastic,” Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said. “The DPR team, UGA architects and our staff are clicking on all cylinders.
“Great progress is being made!”
Positive momentum is a big thing for collegiate athletics as they move forward amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The SEC has allowed for students who want to opt out to have another year of eligibility while maintaining their standing.
To this point, however, none of the Georgia football players have opted out, their eyes firmly on the prize of a national championship.
The construction staff, meanwhile, has been running ahead of the scheduled Phase One completion target of next spring.
The entire project, which includes a “Phase Two” of connecting the new structure to the existing football facilities, is expected to be completed before January of 2022.
The Bulldogs have been playing catch-up in the football facilities game since Kirby Smart was hired before the 2016 season.
More than $170 million has been spent on facility additions and upgrades since Smart’s hire, including a new indoor football building and West End Zone hospitality area.
Georgia most recently ranked No. 8 in the SEC in football facilities, per 247Sports ratings.
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