Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Rave Over Champions Center Facilities
August 10, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — They knew it would be nice. They knew it would be an upgrade.
But members of the Colorado football team had no idea exactly how nice their new digs in the Champions Center would actually be until they finally stepped foot in the building Sunday night.
Monday morning, after their first fall practice in full pads, players were still gushing over their new home. Their space includes spacious locker rooms with high-tech lockers (plug-ins for phones and iPads), a players lounge with a theater and state-of-the-art training facilities, including recovery pools.
Buffs head coach Mike MacIntyre called the players' initial reaction “awesome.”
“They were jumping around and hugging each other and screaming and yelling,” MacIntyre said after Monday's practice. “We had to kick them out of there because they just kept wanting to stay in there, in the lounge and everything. It was really exciting and they really love it.”
MacIntyre said the coaches will move in later this week, but the coaches are still able to work out of their offices in the Dal Ward Center.
Making the move even sweeter for the Buffs — and perhaps making them even more appreciative — is that the players have been without lockers for most of the summer. Coinciding with the construction of the Champions Center has been a renovation of the Dal Ward Center.
“They didn't have a locker room all summer,” MacIntyre said. “They had to carry all of their stuff in their backpacks and shower in the Rec Center. It was great for them because it made them realize the greatness of what we're going to have and they're going to take ultimate care of it.”
Buff linebacker Kenneth Olugbode raved about the facility.
“When you see pictures, you know it's going to be nice,” Olugbode said. “But then you actually walk in and it's breathtaking. Shock and awe when you walk in.”
For the juniors and seniors on the team, the new facility comes just in time. They've been patiently waiting, and now that far-off vision has finally materialized.
“It gives you a sense of gratification,” offensive tackle Jeromy Irwin said. “You want to thank the staff, the athletic director, the people who donated. It gives you confidence that they believe in us.”
And with that trust, Irwin said, comes a responsibility.
“Now we need to give back,” he said. “We need to bring in more money, more fans. We need to bring back the tradition of winning.”
The Buffs' introduction to their new home even garnered some national publicity. A video produced by CU's Sports Video department was posted on ESPN's Pac-12 blog.
“It's spectacular,” MacIntyre said. “I think they liked all of it. A lot of them told me they weren't ever going to go home, they were just going to stay in there. That's not a bad thing at all.”
