New Student Life Complex Dedicated, Then Praised as a Recruiting Advantage

Nebraska's new Student Life Complex was formally dedicated Friday night to commemorate 50,000 square feet of a renovated West Stadium that will more fully serve the academic needs of 600 Husker student-athletes in 23 varsity sports.

Six sets of scissors were needed to cut pieces from a long red ribbon that now houses the Lewis Training Table, the DJ Sokol Enrichment Center, the Scott Technology Center, the Papik Compliance Center, the Hewit Academic Center and the Abbott Life Skills Center.

Nebraska Athletic Donors David and Peggy Sokol attended the dedication ceremony to unveil the Enrichment Center that is named in their son's honor. Soon afterwards, they attended another banquet Friday night, where they were honored as recipients of the Clarence E. Swanson Meritorious Service Award at the 2010 Nebraska Football Hall of Fame Induction Dinner.

David Sokol saw enough of the $8.7 million Student Life Complex to declare it a recruiting advantage for Nebraska as the Huskers prepare to finish their last year in the Big 12 Conference.

"This is classic Nebraska," Sokol said. "I've been to other universities, and they don't have what we have here. This has been built like a large living room where student-athletes can enjoy their home away from home. The others I've seen are more cafeteria style and don't have the personality this place has."

The Secret to Nebraska's Success: Centralization

That's not all. Unlike Nebraska, which has centralized student-life needs in one major area, others have scattered their facilities, causing student-athletes to spend more time getting to and from the facilities.

"I've been to two Big Ten facilities," Sokol said. "One of them is a great facility, but it's not like this. A couple of athletes told me that the campus is so huge, they can spend two hours a day getting back and forth to the places they need to be.

"You only have a limited amount of time to study and work and practice," Sokol said. "Two hours are a long time. Most student-athletes struggle to get enough sleep."

That's not the case at Nebraska, where the expanded Student Life Complex gives student-athletes one central hub to eat, study, practice and connect quickly to their classes on campus.

Sokol praised the vision of Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne to transform existing space beneath the stadium for a state-of-the-art Student Life Complex.

"Actually, in a way, this is a bizarre place to use," Sokol said, "yet it's the perfect place to make that living room type of environment."

Four members of Nebraska's Board of Regents agreed with Sokol after attending the dedication ceremony.

"It's incredible, amazing even. I'm just in awe of what they've been able to do with this space to serve the student-athletes," said Bob Phares, chairman of the Regents. "It's beautiful, and these student-athletes appreciate it."

Fisher, Kelley See Efficiencies, Recruiting Advantages

Regent Jim McClurg thought injured Nebraska linebacker Sean Fisher and Nebraska women's basketball guard Dominique Kelley "communicated articulately" why the new complex is so important. "They have a fundamental understanding of what it's all about," McClurg said.

Fisher, a 4.0 pre-med student who chose Nebraska over Oklahoma, thanked the donors for their generosity. "The most difficult thing we do is try to manage our time efficiently," he said. "What's really great about this university is that everything is kind of centrally centered around Memorial Stadium, and that allows us not to have to go from one side of the campus to another. Whether you're going to class, practicing, going to the weight room, the training room or the training table, it's all right here. It means so much to have a facility that helps us focus on academics, compliance and life skills. Ultimately, we're only here to play sports a few years, so all of this will help us in our careers after sports."

Kelley, who started on Nebraska's record-setting Big 12 Conference championship basketball team, echoed Fisher's thoughts. "Speaking for all 600 student-athletes, we appreciate having a facility that will help us as we try to excel in all aspects of our lives," she said. "I just want to thank everyone here tonight. None of this would have been possible without you and your support. This facility is also very important to recruiting, and I know everyone on the women's basketball team is excited to be a part of this. It's an awesome facility, and it will help us transition to the Big Ten."

McClurg said that Nebraska student-athletes understand the discipline required and the sacrifices they have to make to excel both athletically and academically. "Student-athletes and prospective student athletes and their parents can't help but get excited when they see this," McClurg said. "I'll tell you, it has an effect on you because it just feels so good to be in here. I look up at the diploma that's wallpapered on the wall, and it's Ndamukong Suh's diploma. I really do think this place will enhance recruiting. It will help us get the kind of kids we want to compete here, study here and succeed here."

Bob Whitehouse, vice-chairman of the Regents, said he saw the "wow factor" the minute he walked into the complex. "It says 'This is Nebraska' and all I can say is how proud can we be, and how exciting can this be to young athletes who will study in this role model type of atmosphere? I can't see how anybody could walk through this and not say Nebraska is a gem academically because we're willing to help these young athletes in every possible way."

Osborne told donors and staff members attending the dedication that Nebraska's tradition of academic excellence had "something to do with our attractiveness to the Big Ten."

Nebraska's athletic director also said the Huskers have come a long way since Bob Devaney earmarked $500,000 from Nebraska's appearance in the Kickoff Classic against Penn State to build its first academic center a quarter century ago.

Doc Sadler: The Proof is in the Academic Stats

Doc Sadler, Nebraska men's head basketball coach, said "having everything you need right here in one place" is a huge recruiting advantage. "All people have to do is look at the success we've had," he said. "Numbers don't lie. We are the best in the country at producing Academic All-Americans. We are the best in the country in our graduation rates. I had a recruit in here yesterday. He spent four hours in this facility, and I can't even tell you what his parents thought. They were speechless."

Regent Tim Clare said the new facility underscores the commitment Nebraska makes to its student-athletes.

"We're interested in what young men and women do after they put the ball away or run their last race or whatever," Clare said. "At Nebraska, we focus on preparing everyone for life after sports. When student-athletes are recruited here, they know that if they do their part, go to class and put in the time, they're going to be successful. It's worked well through all these years and looking at this new facility, it's going to keep working well for many more."

Among others, Osborne praised Maggi Thorne, a former Nebraska track and field letterwinner who helped oversee the capital planning and construction of the Student Life Complex.

"Everyone who was here tonight and saw this for the first time saw a transformation," Thorne said. "I don't think anyone could have imagined an old weight room under the stadium being brought back to life like this.

"It makes you feel like you're stepping on a cloud when you see this facility with the lights, the stone and the granite,' Thorne said. "It has become a beautiful place and such a quiet place to study. It really is a facility that can transform someone's life when they decide to come to Nebraska."