Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, home of the Gators football team since 1930. (Photo: Emma Bissell/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Stricklin Addresses Future of 'The Swamp,' Toney Reportedly on Move
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin provided some tangible details this week on an issue the University Athletic Association has explored in-depth in recent years: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium's future.
The home of Florida's football team — nicknamed "The Swamp" – opened in 1930 and remains one of the college football's grand cathedrals. However, the UAA has studied various options for the program's home stadium and is planning to embark on a massive refurbishing to ensure its place in the 21st Century.
"That is going to be by far the most ambitious facility project not only the University of Florida has ever done from an athletic standpoint, but it might be the biggest in SEC history, maybe even as big as any nationally," Stricklin said Monday on the "Sportscene" radio show hosted by Steve Russell. "It's going to be, my guess is to fully renovate the Swamp, you're looking at a few hundred million dollars."
You can listen to Stricklin's entire interview here.
The revamping of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will be the largest since a $55 million project 20 years ago added 34 luxury suites and 2,900 club seats on the stadium's west side.
Stricklin, who replaced former AD Jeremy Foley in November 2016, has led several facility projects in his time at UF, including the building of Condron Ballpark, the Heavener Football Training Center and a facelift of Kate Seashole Pressly Stadium, home to UF's softball team.
"That takes a lot of planning and a lot of careful thought," Stricklin said. "We've done two separate studies, a kind of initial renovation study. We've dug in a little bit more. We just wrapped up a second study, and it's perfect timing now because with President (Ben) Sasse here on campus, get him involved in that conversation.
"Really what you want to do is you want to make sure Ben Hill Griffin Stadium extends its useful life for several generations. Not a 10- or 15-year fix but a 75-year fix."
REPORT: TONEY TO NFL
Gators head coach Billy Napier is preparing to fill a crucial opening on his defensive staff according to a report from longtime college football reporter Chris Low.
Toney arrived at UF from Louisiana, where he served as Napier's defensive coordinator. In his first season with the Gators, Toney was named co-defensive coordinator along with veteran defensive line coach Sean Spencer.
The home of Florida's football team — nicknamed "The Swamp" – opened in 1930 and remains one of the college football's grand cathedrals. However, the UAA has studied various options for the program's home stadium and is planning to embark on a massive refurbishing to ensure its place in the 21st Century.
"That is going to be by far the most ambitious facility project not only the University of Florida has ever done from an athletic standpoint, but it might be the biggest in SEC history, maybe even as big as any nationally," Stricklin said Monday on the "Sportscene" radio show hosted by Steve Russell. "It's going to be, my guess is to fully renovate the Swamp, you're looking at a few hundred million dollars."
You can listen to Stricklin's entire interview here.
The revamping of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will be the largest since a $55 million project 20 years ago added 34 luxury suites and 2,900 club seats on the stadium's west side.
Stricklin, who replaced former AD Jeremy Foley in November 2016, has led several facility projects in his time at UF, including the building of Condron Ballpark, the Heavener Football Training Center and a facelift of Kate Seashole Pressly Stadium, home to UF's softball team.
"That takes a lot of planning and a lot of careful thought," Stricklin said. "We've done two separate studies, a kind of initial renovation study. We've dug in a little bit more. We just wrapped up a second study, and it's perfect timing now because with President (Ben) Sasse here on campus, get him involved in that conversation.
"Really what you want to do is you want to make sure Ben Hill Griffin Stadium extends its useful life for several generations. Not a 10- or 15-year fix but a 75-year fix."
Gators head coach Billy Napier is preparing to fill a crucial opening on his defensive staff according to a report from longtime college football reporter Chris Low.
Toney arrived at UF from Louisiana, where he served as Napier's defensive coordinator. In his first season with the Gators, Toney was named co-defensive coordinator along with veteran defensive line coach Sean Spencer.
Patrick Toney, @GatorsFB's co-DC and play-caller last season, is in negotiations to join the NFL's Arizona Cardinals as a defensive assistant, sources tell ESPN, and Florida's Billy Napier is targeting newly hired @AlabamaFTBL assistant Austin Armstrong as Toney's replacement.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) February 22, 2023
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