McNabb celebrates future training facility

McNabb celebrates future training facilityMay 25, 2005Sue Cornelius Edsonsedson@syr.edu

On May 13, Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor, Director of Athletics Daryl Gross, Head Football Coach Greg Robinson and SU Trustee and former Orange standout Donovan McNabb held a groundbreaking ceremony for the multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art footballstrength and conditioning training facilityat the Iocolano-Petty Football Wing.

“This facility is part of our SU AthleticsTomorrow plan, which is designed toput Syracuse Athletics on the forefront ofstudent-athlete facilities for the nation,”says Gross. “We have to provide the bestfor our student-athletes to assist all of ourprograms in the effort to compete on thenational level. We are thrilled that Donovanremains involved with the Orange footballprogram and that he has stepped forward with a major gift for this project.”

“When we all sat down and talkedabout something in which we could takeanother step forward and the weightroom came up, I jumped right on it,” saysMcNabb. “This is something we all need tobe excited about. Not just because this is aweight room, but this is a building block towhere we want to go.”

Says Robinson, “A state-of-the-artweight room will be a great asset for ourfootball team and a great start in the overalldevelopment of our athletics facilities.”

The 11,200 square-foot strengthand conditioning training facility will beconstructed as an addition to the Iocolano-Petty complex, built off the existing footballtraining room. The lower level of the complexwill be dedicated to free weights andweight machines. The balcony level will be used for aerobic equipment.

The gift from McNabb is the secondhe has given to the SU football program. In2000, McNabb made a contribution for thenew football locker room.

During his time at SU, McNabb led theOrange to three BIG EAST Championships,four post-season bowl games and arecord of 36-14 on the Field. Off the Field,McNabb and his classmates gained recognitionfor the University, earning the 2000AFCA Academic Achievement Award forhaving 100 percent of the class leave SUwith a degree.

McNabb established Orange recordsthe most career touchdown passes, totaloffense in a career and in a season, and totaloffensive yards per game. The three-timeBIG EAST Conference Offensive Player ofthe Year is the only person in the history ofthe league to earn all-conference honors forfour years. During his rookie season he wonthe 1996 Gator Bowl Most Valuable PlayerAward after leading the Orange to a 41-0victory against Clemson.

McNabb earned his degree in speechcommunications from the College of Visualand Performing Arts.