Jeremy Foley met with reporters during halftime of the Florida-LSU game to discuss the new O'Connell Center renovation. He also answered a few football-related questions as well during the interview.
On the O'Dome progress...
"Obviously we are excited. We told you a year ago when we postponed it we were totally committed to the project. Obviously we were and the University was. We figured out the financing and the design. We are doing a little bit of work now and March 15 we will be full speed ahead. We are excited."
"Yes, that is the target date, but obviously there is a lot of work to be done between now and then. But, this institution has had a pretty good track record of getting things done when we were supposed to. Commencement is pretty important."
On it being a smaller venue now with 1,000 fewer seats...
"I think so, the main reason ours has shrunk by a thousand seats is because we’re going chair back in the whole arena. There will be no more bleacher seating in the lower bowl. That being said, I think 10,500 is a pretty good number. Cozy, loud, we have the most special environment in college basketball here and this will certainly enhance that.
"We’ll get some (flack), especially in the lower bowl because we had 1,000 seats in the lower bowl and now we have 570. There have been people sitting there since the building opened. We had a meeting with boosters before the game today trying to explain to them. I think the majority of them understand. This arena has been good to us for 35 years, but it’s old and tired, and it’s time to move into the 21st century so to speak. To do that and have chair back seats and club levels and all the things you see in other arenas, there is a price we have to pay. I am sure somebody that has been sitting there for 35 years and suddenly their seat doesn’t exist, I get that. Obviously we are going to try and make it work for everybody."
On if McElwain will receive an extension this offseason...
“He had a six year deal coming in and that is because we knew he had work to do. He obviously had a great year and we’re very proud of the job he’s done.”
On what is next on the facilities plan...
“We have a master plan that is being developed for us right now by an architectural firm. We hope to have that master plan here in February that looks at not only our football facilities, but every facility we have. What can be done, what kind of price tag are we talking about? We’ll sit down and figure out what the priorities are. ... We have some stuff we want to get done in football. What that is, what it looks like, and how much it costs? It is too hard to tell. Once we get the master plan and a chance to discuss it with you, we will.
“There are some things that will enhance what we are doing in football, but obviously softball is a priority for us too. That is a back-to-back national championship program. That stadium was built 20+ years ago, it’s a little small, and the press box is a little small. That is a huge priority for us.”
On if McElwain's success in his first season exceeded expectations...
“We never put wins and losses expectations on our coaches, we just want them to get the program headed in that direction. It would be hard to sit here and say it isn’t moving in the right direction. Obviously, it didn’t end the way anyone wanted, especially for Coach Mac. To sit here and look at a team that won 10 games, made it to Atlanta, and to a January 1, bowl game in his first year with probably some holes… I think that is a reflection on Coach Mac and his staff.”
On multi-year deals for Florida's assistants and how they've paid off...
“Knock on wood. Obviously there are some NFL jobs out there. You never know what the domino effect is there, but right now our staff is here. I think it is as good a staff as I have been around, not only as coaches but the kind of people they are. I give all the credit in the world to Coach Mac. He thoughtfully and deliberately found those guys and they’re all good Gators and right now they are still Gators. I’m confident that (they will be).”
On the O'Dome progress...
"Obviously we are excited. We told you a year ago when we postponed it we were totally committed to the project. Obviously we were and the University was. We figured out the financing and the design. We are doing a little bit of work now and March 15 we will be full speed ahead. We are excited."
"Yes, that is the target date, but obviously there is a lot of work to be done between now and then. But, this institution has had a pretty good track record of getting things done when we were supposed to. Commencement is pretty important."
On it being a smaller venue now with 1,000 fewer seats...
"I think so, the main reason ours has shrunk by a thousand seats is because we’re going chair back in the whole arena. There will be no more bleacher seating in the lower bowl. That being said, I think 10,500 is a pretty good number. Cozy, loud, we have the most special environment in college basketball here and this will certainly enhance that.
"We’ll get some (flack), especially in the lower bowl because we had 1,000 seats in the lower bowl and now we have 570. There have been people sitting there since the building opened. We had a meeting with boosters before the game today trying to explain to them. I think the majority of them understand. This arena has been good to us for 35 years, but it’s old and tired, and it’s time to move into the 21st century so to speak. To do that and have chair back seats and club levels and all the things you see in other arenas, there is a price we have to pay. I am sure somebody that has been sitting there for 35 years and suddenly their seat doesn’t exist, I get that. Obviously we are going to try and make it work for everybody."
On if McElwain will receive an extension this offseason...
“He had a six year deal coming in and that is because we knew he had work to do. He obviously had a great year and we’re very proud of the job he’s done.”
On what is next on the facilities plan...
“We have a master plan that is being developed for us right now by an architectural firm. We hope to have that master plan here in February that looks at not only our football facilities, but every facility we have. What can be done, what kind of price tag are we talking about? We’ll sit down and figure out what the priorities are. ... We have some stuff we want to get done in football. What that is, what it looks like, and how much it costs? It is too hard to tell. Once we get the master plan and a chance to discuss it with you, we will.
“There are some things that will enhance what we are doing in football, but obviously softball is a priority for us too. That is a back-to-back national championship program. That stadium was built 20+ years ago, it’s a little small, and the press box is a little small. That is a huge priority for us.”
On if McElwain's success in his first season exceeded expectations...
“We never put wins and losses expectations on our coaches, we just want them to get the program headed in that direction. It would be hard to sit here and say it isn’t moving in the right direction. Obviously, it didn’t end the way anyone wanted, especially for Coach Mac. To sit here and look at a team that won 10 games, made it to Atlanta, and to a January 1, bowl game in his first year with probably some holes… I think that is a reflection on Coach Mac and his staff.”
On multi-year deals for Florida's assistants and how they've paid off...
“Knock on wood. Obviously there are some NFL jobs out there. You never know what the domino effect is there, but right now our staff is here. I think it is as good a staff as I have been around, not only as coaches but the kind of people they are. I give all the credit in the world to Coach Mac. He thoughtfully and deliberately found those guys and they’re all good Gators and right now they are still Gators. I’m confident that (they will be).”
