USC naming indoor practice facility after Spurriers

Former Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier will receive another honor from the University of South Carolina.

The USC board of trustees agreed Tuesday to name the new indoor football practice facility after Spurrier and his wife, Jerri.

The $14.3 million facility, which opened this summer, was part of makeover of the program under his tenure that ended earlier this year after more than 10 seasons.

With Spurrier driving the Gamecocks to three 11-win seasons, USC added a new set of outdoor practice fields, a stadium video board and large tailgating areas. The school also revamped the locker and weight rooms, and created a pedestrian-friendly plaza around the stadium.

On Tuesday, trustees gave initial approval for a new $50 million football operations center.

The idea of naming the facility after Spurrier came from Gamecocks donor Dodie Anderson, USC Athletics Director Ray Tanner said.

Tanner said he told Spurrier the news Monday that the board would vote on naming the facility. The coach told Tanner it was not necessary. The school will hold a ceremony in the spring.

“They were humbled by the attention,” Tanner said.

USC trustee Chuck Allen said he still plans to push for naming the field at Williams-Brice Stadium for Spurrier.

Spurrier is honored inside the stadium for being the program’s all-time winningest coach.

The field in the indoor practice facility is named for Ken Wheat and the 1969 South Carolina team that won an ACC title. Wheat, who played on the conference winners, and his wife helped fund the project.

The football operations facility will have more than 100,000 square feet, and will house the football offices, meeting rooms, weight room, training room, locker room and equipment room. It will be located just south of the indoor practice facility at the west end of Gamecock Park.

The architectural design will reflect the spirit of Gamecock Athletics and will complement the recent improvements at Gamecock Park and Williams-Brice Stadium.

“From everything that I have seen and heard about the facility, it will be state-of-the-art with the latest in amenities for our football team, coaches and staff,” new coach Will Muschamp said. “This is a critical component to moving our football program forward.

“Coupled with the indoor football practice facility, the outdoor practice fields and now, the operations facility, this will be the finest football complex in the nation.”

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 1:50 PM with the headline "USC naming indoor practice facility after Spurriers."