Athletic officials at Marquette University in Milwaukee say fund-raising efforts for a new athletic training and support facility have reached the halfway point.
Plans call for building the new $32 million Al McGuire Center north of Gesu Church at 12th Street and Wisconsin Avenue. The hope is to break ground next spring on the 25th anniversary of the Marquette basketball team's victory over North Carolina to win the NCAA championship.
Long-time Marquette fans Ray and Mary Nass hosted a reception in Stevens Point Tuesday night featuring assistant athletic directors Al Frisone and Jim Nasiopolis, and assistant basketball coach Darren Horn.
Frisone said it was only after Marquette assured McGuire of its commitment to future excellence in basketball that the late coach agreed to lend his name to the project. Horn added, "Al would not have let his name be on something unless it was the best." McGuire died of leukemia earlier this year.
Frisone says the new athletic and training support building will be the finest in the nation. Ultimately, it will serve 15 varsity sports, and include a 5,000-seat basketball facility, strength and conditioning areas, classroom space and a hall of fame. Marquette built its present practice facility in the 1920s.
The university now has $16 million in pledges and support.
Horn called his boss, basketball coach Tom Crean, "an outstanding young head coach" and predicted good things for the team under Crean's leadership.
During a question-and-answer period, there were a few suggestions that Marquette dump its "Golden Eagles" nickname (which some have confused with chickens) and return to the "Warriors." The athletic officials quickly noted that they had nothing to do with the name change.