In previous Florida football seasons, a rainy day like Monday meant practice would be in the O’Connell Center or Florida Gym — not exactly an ideal situation.
But with the team’s new indoor practice facility, such problems are a thing of the past.
"It’s something that’s been long overdue," coach Jim McElwain said of the complex. "What it does is show a commitment — a commitment to this organization and this football program."
When the University of Florida announced its plans to build the facility on Jan. 21, the goal was to have the project finished by October.
But more than seven months and $17 million later, the football team has already been making good use of the building the construction crew worked on around the clock to complete ahead of schedule.
In addition to rainy days, the Gators practice inside every Thursday and Friday with the goal of lessening the impact of the Gainesville sun on the player’s bodies.
"Anytime you can just take the heat drain off, it just helps you in the long run," McElwain said on Aug. 14. "It helps you be a little fresher at the end of the year."
The facility includes a full 120-yard synthetic turf field plus extra room for drills, complete with scoreboards and a goal post on one end. Having that type of space allows the team to make the choice to practice indoors without sacrificing any freedoms — except punting.
With the height of the facility’s ceiling, punters are forced to take the day off whenever they are unable to practice outdoors.
But kickoffs and field goals have no such issue, and redshirt junior kicker Austin Hardin says it actually gives him more freedom than before.
"It’s been pretty awesome actually," Hardin said. "It gives us a lot more field space so I’ve really been able to put in extra work and put in extra time.
"When they’re using the two fields outside, or they’re using the indoor field, I’ve been able to go outside and work on post and work a lot of different aspects of my game that were kind of difficult to work before given the limited field space."
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All recommended charges are for third-degree felonies.
Nine players are facing a combined 62 possible third-degree felony charges, per UPD.
Reporters talk with Chip Howard (center), an executive associate athletics director for internal affairs, inside the UF indoor football practice facility on Saturday.
Pictured is the south side of UF's indoor practice facility. The Gator head logo lies at midfield while a field goal post stands in the end zone.
