WEDNESDAY, JULY 25/2007 | SPORTS | WWW.KANSAN.COM THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN | 23
》 ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO COURTESY OF KANSAS ATHLETICS
This drawing shows a proposed view of the rowing boathouse to be built near the Kansas River. The boathouse is expected to house storage areas, along with offices and a locker room. There is no timetable for the completion of the building.
New $6 million boathouse gets city commission approval
By Dylan Schoonover
dschoonover@kansan.com
The Kansas rowing team moved one step closer to its own facility July 17.
The Lawrence City Commission approved a measure that allows city staff to continue negotiations with Kansas Athletics about the planned student-funded boathouse near the Kansas River, which is expected to cost nearly $6 million.
The new building will serve as a storage area for boats and provide a locker room and a training facility for the 72-member team. University leaders promised to build the rowing team this facility when it began competing at varsity status in 1995.
Commissioner Mike Amyx said
completing a new state-of the-art building on the riverfront would enhance the park along the river.
"There is always safety issues by the river and at night it is dark along there."
Amyx said. "The new facility with the new lighting will bring a sense of safety and security to the area."
Construction on the new facility will be funded by a student fee referendum passed in the spring of 2006. Under the terms of the referendum, students will contribute $4 million to the project. That referendum also calls for Kansas Athletics Inc. to cover any additional costs of the construction.
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"It will give a feeling of a home base," Catloth said. "It will serve as a point of team unity and certainly boost our recruiting abilities, which is an ease to running a program."
Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said KAI expects to contribute around $1 million for the project. He said that money would come from private fund raising.
View additional renderings of the proposed rowing boathouse
"It will give a feeling of a home base. It will serve as a point of team unity and certainly boost our recruiting abilities."
Head coach Rob Catloth said having a boathouse will contribute to the team's success for years to come. He said the new facility will have a substantial impact on the women's rowing team as well as the Student Recreation and Fitness Center crew team.
ROB CATLOTH
Rowing coach
Design plans show that the building will have two stories, and has also been designed to handle potential flooding according to FEMA's standards. The first floor will contain boat storage only.
Catloth said the new boathouse would hold 72 boats on its ground level with rowing machines and locker rooms allocated to the second level. The crew team will share the boathouse facilities with the
women's varsity squads, Catloth said.
The next step for the project is for the University to receive approval to lease part of the park. It must also receive approval from the Planning Commission and eventually the city commission. The city commission did not release a date for these next steps but they are expected to be approved soon.
—Edited by Ben Smith
FOOTBALL
ASSSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas football coach Mark Mangino answers questions during the Big 12 Conference media day in San Antonio on Monday.
Mangino promises better season in 2007
Associated Press
Kansas lost twice in overtime and two other times by three points or less last year. The Jayhawks also blew a 35-17 halftime lead against Baylor and gave up 42 second-half points in a loss to Oklahoma State.
"Just like anything else, there's no simple answer," Mangino said.
The finishes were so frustrating coach Mark Mangino and his staff spent a chunk of the offseason breaking down every play. Their conclusions?
"There are situations where we had some physical breakdowns by players, mental breakdowns, coaching decisions. And we put it all together. We say, 'You know, we all share the blame for this thing. Let's make it better."
The Jayhawks finished 6-6 and their inability to finish games cost them a bowl bid. Mangino said all the problems are "fixable" and promised a better season. He said the players showed renewed dedication to their summer training regimens.