Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Breaks Ground on Sebo Athletic Center
December 02, 2005 | General
Dec. 2, 2005
Sebo Center Webcam -- Click here for a live look at the Sebo Athletic Center site
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - A state-of-the-art athletic center is one step closer to reality at Bowling Green State University. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Sebo Athletic Center took place Friday afternoon (Dec. 2) at the north end of Doyt Perry Stadium.
"There are few events where you look back and think, 'Boy, I remember that day," said BGSU Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs/Director of Athletics Paul Krebs. "This is certainly one of those days."
Bob Sebo of Salem, Ohio, a 1958 graduate of the University, and his wife, Karen, have pledged $3.5 million toward the construction of the facility. The center is named in their honor.
"I can't tell you how proud I am to be a part of what is happening here today," said Bob Sebo. "And, I can't tell you how enthusiastic I am about how this athletic center fits into the entire program.
"In Division I, you have to be strong and well-conditioned in order to compete, in every athletic program. This is very important to me, because a good athletic program benefits the entire University.
"This facility will help us to recruit top-notch student-athletes and then prepare them as both students and as athletes. Having a winning program helps generate happy alums and happy students that become happy alums."
The Sebo Athletic Center, to be built at the north end of the stadium, will position BGSU intercollegiate athletics for continued success and provide the resources needed to be successful, both within the increasingly competitive Mid-American Conference and nationally.
The plan for the Center, will benefit all student-athletes by providing state-of-the-art resources, as well as necessary additional space in the weight room, training room and meeting rooms. The new Center will also include a football complex, coaches' offices and an outdoor balcony overlooking the football field.
"This is a project that has been brought forth from the grass roots," said Dr. Sidney A. Ribeau, the University President. "Every position at the University, all 120,000 of our alums, every student-athlete, every student who has walked through the doors of Bowling Green State University has a vested interest in this facility.
"At BGSU, we develop the whole person; the mind, the body and the soul. This facility will give us an opportunity to take a giant step forward in providing the best resources for our student-athletes, so that they can become the best they can possibly be, in every aspect of their lives as athletes as well as students."
A number of representatives of the BGSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) were on hand, including SAAC President Teddy Piepkow, a senior co-captain on the 2005 football team.
"This is a very exciting day in Bowling Green," said Piepkow. "I couldn't be more proud to call myself a Falcon. I am looking forward to coming back here as an alum, when this facility is completed. This is a great opportunity to help all of our student-athletes to be as successful as we can be."
The projected completion date for the Sebo Athletic Center is February of 2007.
Sebo Athletic Center Fact Sheet
Location: North end of Doyt Perry Field at BGSU
Groundbreaking: December 2, 2005
Projected completion date: February 2007
Cost: $8.7 million
Private fundraising goal: $7 million
Total gifts and pledges for the project to date: $5,218,730
Number of individual and corporate donors so far: 79
Architects: Sink, Combs & Dethlefs of Denver and Technicon Design Group of Ottawa, Ohio
General Contractor: J. L. Judge Construction Services of Detroit
Other Prime Contractors: Warner Mechanical of Fremont (mechanical system); Marlin White & Son of Fremont (plumbing); Romanoff Electric of Toledo (electrical systems), and Shambaugh & Son of Toledo (fire protection system).
Of special note:
