Helping UB Flex Athletic Muscles

BUFFALO, N.Y. – University at Buffalo athletes joined former athletes, coaches and alumni Tuesday morning to dedicate the new Robert and Carol Morris Sports Performance Center and to thank the donors for whom it is named for their generosity.

The 6,000-square-foot metal structure, located adjacent to UB Stadium, is expected to be fully equipped and ready for a crush of student athletes when they return from the mid-March spring break. The facility doubles the university's space for sports performance training.

Guests at the dedication were seated on folding chairs set up next to waist-high stacks of barbell weights and free weights and dozens of large machines designed to strengthen muscle systems crucial to success in athletic competition.

President John B. Simpson, citing earlier gifts from them to establish UB's Signature Center of Excellence in 21st Century Music and a performance by the American Ballet Theater Studio Company for Buffalo Public Schools students of a ballet commissioned by the university, thanked the Morrises for making the new center a reality.

"UB is deeply grateful to Bob and Carol Morris for this most recent demonstration of their ongoing commitment to UB, a gift that will enable our student-athletes to perform to their fullest potential in every aspect of their development as UB students," Simpson said.

"One of the most vital lessons UB teaches our students is the value of committing oneself to achieving one's personal best, whether in the classroom or laboratory, on the stage, or on the field of athletic competition," he added. "That ideal, in essence, is also the spirit that guides the vision of excellence we are pursuing through UB 2020 as we continue to set our sights farther for our growth as an institution. The generosity of Bob and Carol Morris is helping us to realize this vision."

Robert Morris recounted for the guests how he and Warde Manuel, UB athletics director, over dinner in a small restaurant in New York City, sealed the $500,000 financial commitment that made the center a reality.

"I said 'tell me what you need,' and Warde said 'a weight-training facility, that's my priority.' We came up with a number that worked for both of us."

Morris, a 1967 UB graduate, noted that when he was a student, the university had a great football team. "I hope to see some of that greatness come back," he said. "I hope this is just the beginning, and I'm glad I had a little role in it."

Manuel also offered his thanks to the Morris family for its generosity, adding that in his opinion, there is no single greater area of importance for the growth and improvement of a student-athlete in college than strength and conditioning.

"While we want to continue to recruit higher-echelon student-athletes, the growth that occurs within them once they are here is tremendously important," he said.

Ryan Groneman, director of strength and conditioning, said the new center was badly needed and will make a big difference in recruiting. "There's enough space here to accommodate a couple of different teams at once," he said. "It's three times what we had. The teams are very excited. It will build better camaraderie."

A member of the football team, 6-foot-9 Jon Burgio, a junior offensive lineman and marketing major, in comments before the official dedication, called the new facility "awesome."

"On the football field, everyone depends on everyone else," he said. "It's crucial to have confidence in your teammates, and being able to work out together builds unity. Before, only 20-30 of us could work out at the same time. Now there's space here for all 100 of us. Race car drivers have their cars, a chef has his kitchen. This is our home."

Addressing the gathering later, Burgio thanked the Morrises for their "generous and thoughtful gift. It means a lot not just to me," he said, "but to the coaches and all the athletes. It's vital to the success of the football team. We will count the hours, days, weeks and months here, getting bigger, faster, stronger.

"We have a team motto," he continued. "It's 'We believe.' The team believes, Warde Manuel believes, President Simpson believes. And now the Morris family believes."