UCLA announces plans for $50 million football facility

Spaulding West football facility map

UCLA officially announced today its plan to construct a new football facility west of Spaulding Field. Projected to cost $50 million, the project will provide new locker rooms, training areas, offices, and meeting, video and equipment rooms.

The project would help put the Bruins on pace with many other programs in the Pac-12 and across the country. UCLA will launch a fundraising campaign to cover the costs.

“There is so much history here and so many incredible players and moments to celebrate,” head coach Jim Mora said in a statement. “I love the challenge to get after this, and I know our donors will step up. … We talk about family within our program, and now, we need the entire UCLA family to join us on this endeavor.”

The football team’s current training areas in the Acosta Athletic Training Center may be converted for use by multiple sports. Changes could be made to the strength and conditioning area, tutoring space and dining hall. Continue reading “UCLA announces plans for $50 million football facility” »

Owamagbe Odighizuwa working ‘cobwebs’ out in first post-surgery action

This past Saturday, Owamagbe Odighizuwa sat in the Rose Bowl stands, high above his teammates. Sidelined after undergoing two offseason hip surgeries, the defensive end watched UCLA pummel Nevada, 58-20 — the first time since 2009 that he watched the Bruins in person from somewhere other than the field.

“It was awkward to be honest,” he said. “For three years, I’ve been playing. To be sitting in the stands, I felt almost like a recruit.”

This time, however, he knew the schemes and playcalls. Through his 38 games at UCLA, he was always locked into his own assignment. Sitting with his brother and his friends, he could look down and see how each piece fit within the defense, watch each play as it unfolded: “It was a little bit weird.”

He’s still itching to go back. After making 44 tackles as a junior, Odighizuwa needed surgery to repair fraying in his right hip. Just before spring practices started, he felt pain in his left hip and went through a second surgery — one that is forcing him to redshirt the 2013 season. Continue reading “Owamagbe Odighizuwa working ‘cobwebs’ out in first post-surgery action” »