Temple nears completion on renovations to football practice facility

The upgrades include a hydrotherapy area. "It's got a big effect on recruiting, but it's also functionality," Addazio said.
The upgrades include a hydrotherapy area. "It's got a big effect on recruiting, but it's also functionality," Addazio said.
By Keith Pompey, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: May 12, 2012

While it's nice, Temple's Edberg-Olson Hall isn't on par with some of the nation's premier college football practice facilities.

But once the $10 million expansion and renovations are completed July 1, there likely will be plenty of satisfied people at 10th and Diamond Streets.

The upgrade "is twofold," Owls coach Steve Addazio said Friday amid the construction.

"It's got a big effect on recruiting. But it's also functionality. You need a state-of-the-art training room to give your players the best opportunity for rehab and to be able to come back from injuries and protect their bodies."

Temple's strength and conditioning area has expanded from 2,500 square feet to 10,000. An indoor turf surface stretches close to 40 yards near the window.

There will also be a hydrotherapy area, an enlarged sports medicine office, a renovated team meeting room, and a remodeled locker room.

But one of Addazio's favorites is the Owl Club room that's next to his office.

"It's kind of a great room," said Addazio, who had final say in the renovations. "It's got a catering kitchen off of it. I kind of took it off of the Gator Room at Florida.

"It's a room that will seat around 140. Wood finishes on the wall . . . drop-down screen."

The Owls will use the room for team meals, presentations, and recruiting functions. In all, the building, erected in 2000, has been expanded 15,000 feet from its original 24,000 square feet.

Owls to volunteer. Temple's football team will volunteer for Sunday's Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure for the seventh straight year.

Players and coaches will motivate runners and hand out water bottles, among other things, during the 5-kilometer race/walk event that raises money to fight breast cancer. . . . Former Owls offensive tackle Pat Boyle, who graduated Thursday, is a member of the 2012 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame's Hampshire Honor Society.

Contact Keith Pompey at 215-854-2939, kpompey@phillynews.com, or on Twitter @pompeysgridlock. Read his blog, "Owls Inq," at philly.com/owlsinq

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