OT: Alabama Unveils New Weight Room
Alabama recently unveiled their new weightroom. The facility cost an apparent $9 million, and, well, looks like what you would expect a $9 million facility would:
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/alabama-weight-room-bec…
February 5th, 2013 at 11:15 AM ^
At least its being used for all sports, not just football. The amount of money schools spend on weight rooms is staggering on the verge of ridiculous. Obviously time in the weight room (and in the community) is important to on-field success. But at some point excess becomes excessive.
February 5th, 2013 at 11:25 AM ^
Isn't this just what Brian has been saying? That if money isn't going towards the athletes, the "haves" will just keep building bigger and progressively more unnecessary things.
February 5th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
Read your Section 1: Title IX is 100% to blame. Haven't you heard?
[just in case: /s]
February 5th, 2013 at 2:01 PM ^
"But at some point excess becomes excessive."
It reminds me of the "Doomsday Gap" scene from "Dr. Strangelove" --
February 5th, 2013 at 11:17 AM ^
February 5th, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^
This will definitely be Saban's Waterloo at some point.
February 5th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
They paid for this with virgin blood.
February 5th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
February 5th, 2013 at 11:23 AM ^
February 5th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
its a nice enough place for the Nerds to live if the football players ever burn their own place down.
February 5th, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^
February 5th, 2013 at 2:13 PM ^
Go ahead, tell me how great oly lifts are...
February 5th, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^
Olympic lifts are great and all, but for the general population at most gyms you want things that have the lowest chance of injuring them. If you don't know what you're doing, it's much easier to hurt yourself with a barbell than a machine that gives resistance when you lift your legs. Plus, all the college weight rooms need someone to buy their used machines.
February 5th, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
I was expecting some sort of gaudy display of wealth.
February 5th, 2013 at 11:50 AM ^
A few of the items not seen in this facility photo are listed here - (link)
It includes a juice room, nutrition bar (I have to think the guy writing this meant "juice bar" and "nutrition room" for some reason) and a full medical suite and runs about 34,000 square feet in size - that's about 4 times larger than the previous facility. The approval for the project was only given this past August too, but I suppose they are willing to expedite things for Nick. At least it is open to the whole population of student-athletes though.
February 5th, 2013 at 12:04 PM ^
a.k.a. The Deer Antler Room
Edit: Sorry for the redundancy...should have read further down.
February 5th, 2013 at 12:30 PM ^
February 5th, 2013 at 11:48 AM ^
Because what Alabama has been lacking thus far is big, strong, fit ballplayers.
February 5th, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
February 5th, 2013 at 11:52 AM ^
The "space" is big but the key too is that it is shared by all sports. There are many equally as nice facilities that are only for the football programs. PSU's, Notre Dame's, WVU's are among some very open and impressive rooms. Michigan's has the equipment, but the weight room's visual impact is not the same with the low ceilings. What you put in the room and how you use it are the key. Alabama could still impress with a pre-fab building with a bunch of iron in it. Juice bars, nutritionists, saunas, etc are all pretty ubiquitous now at this level.
February 5th, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^
Very impressive looking facility!
Not sure if there is adequate shelving for deer antler spray however...
February 5th, 2013 at 12:02 PM ^
When people come to Alabama they expect to get raped
I don't know what this has to do with lifting weights but if Nick said it, it must be true.
February 5th, 2013 at 12:27 PM ^
It doesn't look that impressive. It's nice, but other schools weight rooms look nicer to me. Maybe it's just the school colors. Also: It's a one story facility with two floors, Mr. Writer lady. There is a difference.
February 5th, 2013 at 12:34 PM ^
I guess I just don't have that athlete mentality.
"And hereis where we're going to inflict pain, torment, verbal abuse and general misery on you for the next four to five years. As you can see, we have much more devious equipment available than the other schools you are considering. You'll never have to wait for time in your own personal hell at our schoo!"
February 5th, 2013 at 12:45 PM ^
Kiffin's new digs are football-specific and far more impressive.
February 5th, 2013 at 12:51 PM ^
This is one of the stupidest looking weight rooms I've ever seen! I mean I've seen some stupid looking weight rooms, but this one takes the cake!
February 5th, 2013 at 12:57 PM ^
While I abhor Alabama's recruiting methods, I really can't find anything bad to say about this facility. At least some of the money is going to benefit athletes at the school, and it is being done within the rules.
February 5th, 2013 at 1:50 PM ^
It’s nice but for 9 mill, I was expecting to be blow away by it.
February 5th, 2013 at 2:41 PM ^
Alabama wants MOAR BROTEIN
February 5th, 2013 at 4:05 PM ^
Wish Michigan's facilities were open to everyone.
February 5th, 2013 at 4:06 PM ^
February 5th, 2013 at 4:07 PM ^
Still for plush and pure awesomeness...Texas and Oregon's seem to be tops still...But doesn't matter a weight room is a weight room and as long as you win players come if you win big elite players come. Not a whole lot of care is given to the ameneties....as Usc and Miami's were the worst forever, though I think Miami's is horrible still.....
February 5th, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^
So MANY squat racks! But seriously, as several other posters noted, this is quite large and beautiful but it does not necessarily blow other programs out of the water.