Jay Jacobs
Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs delivers his 16 for '16 speech outlining the department's goals for 2016 on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016, in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
(JULIE BENNETT)
Gus Malzahn hasn't been shy about his feelings regarding Auburn's athletics facilities. The Tigers' fourth-year head coach has praised them multiple times this offseason, touting them as among the best in the nation -- and he has emphasized their importance in the Tigers' recruiting pitch to prospects.
It's a sentiment shared by athletics director Jay Jacobs, especially when it comes to the program's football facilities, which include an indoor practice facility and weight room at the school's athletics complex. Jacobs doesn't have any plans to let Auburn's standing slide, either.
"In this business you have to be able to see around the curve as competitive it can possibly be," Jacobs said Tuesday before speaking to the Escambia County Auburn Club in Atmore. "You can only sign 25 student-athletes, talking about football, you have to think about what's next because the trees are so tall in this league you have to keep up with the competition because students today are looking at where is your treasure? That's where your heart is.
"I just want to make sure we are providing our student-athletes the best facilities for our student-athletes so we can compete at the highest level."
With the fate of Auburn's potential renovations to Jordan-Hare Stadium likely determined by the end of this year, the school is still exploring plans for a football-only complex on the university's campus. It's a topic that Jacobs discussed last summer, saying that he hoped to have a plan in place "within the next five years."
That doesn't mean that Jacobs is displeased with the program's current facilities. He just recognizes the need to keep up in the arms race that is collegiate athletics.
Auburn recently added its state-of-the-art wellness kitchen, which cost $6.6 million, and a $51 million residence hall on South Donahue, across the street from the athletic complex. The program also completed construction of its $16 million indoor practice facility in the fall of 2011.
"First of all, you can't ever get complacent with your facilities or you will wake up one day and be behind in this league," Jacobs said. "It's why we have to keep pushing to do what's best for Auburn whether it's a football facility, equestrian facility, sports medicine facility. We have to keep working every day to provide the best facilities for our student-athletes so they can have the best experience in the nation. I know we have done a lot. We got an indoor facility, a residence hall, a wellness kitchen -- state of the art -- but you have to keep looking what's next.
"Once you find out what's next, you are already behind. We have a strategic plan for our facilities, our top-10 facilities what they should be today, but that can change tomorrow depending on peoples' gifts, our desires and needs."
While renovations to Jordan-Hare Stadium's north end zone (a project that would cost upward of $140 million) have been at the top of that list, construction of a new sports medicine facility is also a priority. Still, a football-only facility -- or major renovations to the 27-year-old athletics complex -- is certainly on the table moving forward.
"Absolutely it's in the top 10 (on our plans)," Jacobs said. "What that means if it's going to happen next year or 10 years from now? It just depends on everything else that goes on."