Sept. 25, 2006

The University of Tennessee Athletics Board met on Saturday and presented an update on academic and community success of student-athletes, UTAD's budget and several facility projects.

The meeting began with an overview of UTAD's academic and community success in 2005-06:

• 76 student-athlete's were named to the SEC Spring Honor Roll
• 50 student-athlete's were named to the SEC Freshman Honor Roll
• 219 student-athlete's were named to the Thornton Center Honor Roll
• 313 student-athletes volunteered more than 2,500 hours for 72 different organizations.

Following this discussion, was a report on UTAD's budget. For fiscal year 2006, UTAD generated a profit of approximately $6.93 million. Athletics made transfers to support Knoxville campus programs of approximately $2.78 million, which included $1.375 million for academic scholarships awarded to non-student athletes. These funds provided more than 2,400 students with the opportunity to further their education. UTAD paid an additional $400,000 back to the UT System for the Buzz Peterson buyout loan in fiscal year 2005. As a result of these transfers back to campus and the system, UTAD generated a profit of approximately $3.757 million.

The Volunteer Athletics & Scholarship Fund (VASF) had a record-breaking year in 2005-06. Total donations for the year ending June 30, 2006 were $31.86 million - up more than $6.7 million from the previous year. This included $17.56 million in annual gifts and $10.6 million in gifts to capital projects. Additional endowments and miscellaneous gifts totaled $3.65 million. VASF gifts supported athletic scholarships in addition to other on-going operational needs such as recruiting, training, academic support and academic scholarships for non student-athletes.

Giving to capital projects enabled facilities such as the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, the Pratt Pavilion, Phase I of the Neyland Stadium Master Plan, Sherri Parker Lee Softball Stadium, Regal Soccer Stadium, and LaPorte Stadium to begin construction in the last year.

Men's athletics director Mike Hamilton and women's athletics director Joan Cronan presented an update on several facility projects:

• Neyland Stadium Master Plan - Phase 1 of the Neyland Stadium Master Plan was completed in August. This phase included infrastructure improvements to the stadium, the expansion of the lower north concourse near Gate 21 and the addition of the East Club. Funds generated by the sale of the club seats generated enough revenue to cover the cost of Phase 1. Phase 2 is in the design phase. It will include west concourse improvements, field level and locker room renovations, the addition of a Lettermen's Room in the lower northwest corner of the stadium and the addition of LED signage. LED signage should be in for the 2007 season with the rest of Phase 2 being completed for the 2008 season.
• Thompson-Boling Arena - Renovation plans for Thompson-Boling Arena are currently under development. The renovations would occur after the 2006-07 basketball season and include concourse and seating renovations, the addition of 32 suites and 140 loge seats. The suites and loge seats are already sold out.
• Pratt Pavillion Basketball Practice Facility - Construction is underway and the facility is scheduled for completion in October 2007.
• Regal Soccer Stadium - Construction will be completed this fall.
• Sherry Parker Lee Softball Stadium - Construction is underway and should be completed mid-season.