Future Oregon student-athletes will be constantly reminded of Marcus Mariota’s impact in Eugene.
On Thursday, Oregon’s Board of Trustees received the proposal of the Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Complex, which will enhance 29,000 square feet of the Athletic Department’s Casanova Center. On the first floor, the proposal would refurbish the equipment room and transform the existing locker room and storage space into a “state-of-the-art sports science facility.”
The project must be formally approved by Oregon’s Board of Trustees next week. According to GoDucks.com, construction would begin in January 2016 with a projected finish of September 15, 2016.
The project is a direct gift from Phil and Penny Knight named in honor of Oregon’s first-ever Heisman Trophy Winner.
“Thanks to the incredible generosity of Phil and Penny Knight and their commitment to the University of Oregon, we’ll be able to enhance our total commitment to the student-athlete experience with another world-class facility,” UO athletic director Rob Mullens said in a release. “Marcus is the epitome of a student-athlete, and the Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Complex will be an outstanding tribute to his legacy.”
The southeast corner of the Casanova Center will change into a sports science center from overflow storage and lockers. The renovations will include areas for active and passive recovery, 3D motion capture technology and a neurocognitive center.
The Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Complex will also include a new public lobby with an expanded equipment room. The renovations will incorporate a feature of Oregon’s wide array of jerseys and cleats.
Mariota was drafted No. 2 overall draft pick in the 2015 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans.
Read the full proposal that the UO Board of Trustees will vote on next week here.
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne