University of Tennessee Athletics
New Era of Tom Black Track Officially Underway
April 18, 2018 | Track & Field
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee recognized the lead donors responsible for the extensive renovations and additions at Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium at a dedication ceremony Saturday.
Opened in 1966, Tom Black Track has undergone extensive upgrades over the last four years to resurface the track surface and reorganize the infield as well as install two new buildings.Â
In addition to the resurfacing of the track, the Boyd Family Track and Field Center, named in recognition of the gift and support from Randy and Jenny Boyd and their sons Thomas and Harrison, is a new building on the Northeast corner of the complex and houses a training room and team room on track level with concessions and fan amenities on the upper level.Â
The Basler Broadcast Center, named in recognition of the gift and support from Wayne Basler, provides state-of-the-art space for meet operations, television and media activities and is located along the homestretch near Volunteer Boulevard. Â
Phillips Pavilion, named in recognition of the gift and support from Sara Phillips, serves as the team gathering location for both meets and practice and is adjacent to the Boyd Center. Â
With the Tennessee Relays in the books, Tom Black Track hosts two more events this spring: the Tennessee Challenge (May 5) and the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships (May 11-13). It will be Tennessee's first time hosting the conference meet since 2010 and the eighth time overall.
Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee Athletics Director
"It's a special day for Tennessee. About 50 years ago this fall, I came here to the University of Tennessee as a student-athlete. Track and field was very important to us then, and it's even more so now. We have a history in track and there are moments where we break a record or events like this morning when a facility comes online that will make a difference in our history. This is one of those mornings. It's great to see the young men and women this morning who will benefit from it. We have a reunion coming up shortly. Those guys will celebrate it, but it is those who will come after you who will celebrate it the most.Â
"Certainly, we acknowledge the LaPorte family of Elizabethon, Tennessee, and Houston, Texas, for their leadership gift going all the way back to 2005 to make our track and field complex what it is today. They could not be here, but we all join in their excitement for this day. I'm proud to say because of the donors here this morning, this project has become a reality. Phase one renovations, including rearranging the infield and resurfacing the running surface, the track now features orange accents and white lines. Pretty appropriate, I'd say.Â
"Phase two was the Boyd Family Track and Field Center, the Phillips Pavilion and the Basler Broadcast Center. I certainly want to acknowledge Randy and Jenny and their family for their ongoing leadership and their belief in the vision of Tennessee Athletics and the future of Tennessee track. Their transformational gift allowed us to move forward with this project, giving our track and field program a great home venue in which we can compete for conference and national championships. Wayne and I go way back, and I'd like to thank him for his lifelong support for our women's program through endowment giving and capital projects such as a the Wayne G. Basler Boathouse. Sara, I want to thank you for your dedication to Tennessee track and your continued support for this project as well.Â
"I believe you'll join me in agreeing that we are fortunate to have a first-class facility for our student-athletes to call home, and we look forward to hosting the 2018 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships this May."
Beth Alford-Sullivan, Tennessee Director of Track & Field/Cross Country
"What a great day to be a Tennessee Vol. I hope everyone here is able to stick around and see another day of competition at this wonderful facility and track. Today is a day I can finally express my true gratitude and appreciation. It's a day of recognition and celebration to where the orange and white loud and proud in our facility.Â
"I'll start by thanking Chancellor (Beverly) Davenport. Joining us today has meant the world for us and our program to hear her speak on all she's been doing since she arrived at Tennessee. It's been a whirlwind since she got here. I think it has been a steadfast strength that she displays for our young people and our community at Tennessee.Â
"Now for my entire program, I have to take a minute and recognize Ms. Donna Thomas. What a great boss I have. Donna shared this morning of her memory of a drawing she had. It really is true. I was here on an interview and she was showing me these hand drawings. I thought, 'Okay, this is something. Here we go.' All the hard work and vision she created are now the actual windows, the graphics, the photographs, the orange colors and all the accents going on. It is a reality to celebrate. Her stamina for this project -- to equate it with track -- is like being a decathlete or heptathlete. She is someone I enjoy seeing every day in the office and her belief that we can take Tennessee back to the top of the podium is why I'm here. It's a true demonstration to her effort as well. On top of that, I've never met an administrator quite her love for track and field; she knows the sport inside out, upside down.Â
"Onto the guys who did the hard work, Kevin Zurcher, Scott Zurcher and their crews have been outstanding to work with. They actually did the brick and mortar that needed to be done. That crew has been outstanding for us. They demonstrated a true passion for us to achieve our end result. I can't say enough for all you have done for us and continue to do for us.Â
"To Coach Fulmer, I'm really glad your leading us. It's refreshing to have an athletic director who can speak coach talk. It's someone who truly knows the pieces of the puzzle that are needed to recruit and to achieve.
"I wanted to recognize Randy and Jenny Boyd. It's been so fun to get to know this couple that bleed Orange and White, run a lot of miles and carry that orange and white flag with them. Their great support demonstrates their belief in the track and field program and we can achieve at the highest levels. Randy and Jenny, along with Wayne and Sara, thank you for all you've done for us. Your belief in us brings us closer and closer to the top of the podium, which is where we're headed."
Donna Thomas, Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator/Chief of Staff
"It's an incredible privilege to come to campus and somehow make a difference in the lives of young men and women who wear our uniform. To the student-athletes, all of this is for you.Â
About six years ago, I stood about where Coach Fulmer is seated. I was standing looking toward Pat Head Summitt Street. There was a hill full of crabgrass and pine trees and lots of mud. I was standing with my arms crossed and just looking. I guess I looked really confused because Brian Russell was in the Thornton Center and he called me and said, 'What are you doing?' My answer was simple, 'I'm looking at a building that does not exist.' Then I turned and looked toward Volunteer Boulevard, and I saw another building.Â
Coach Sullivan often says, 'Teamwork makes the dream work.' Today, thanks to the generous support of our team members, Randy and Jenny Boyd, their sons Thomas and Harrison, Wayne Basler, Sara Phillips and countless others who supported this project and this team, the dream worked.
The dream team made the made the transformation of Tom Black Track and the additions of the Boyd Family Track and Field Center, the Basler Broadcast Center and the Phillips Pavilion passible. The result of their contributions is the envy of every coach visiting this campus."
Opened in 1966, Tom Black Track has undergone extensive upgrades over the last four years to resurface the track surface and reorganize the infield as well as install two new buildings.Â
In addition to the resurfacing of the track, the Boyd Family Track and Field Center, named in recognition of the gift and support from Randy and Jenny Boyd and their sons Thomas and Harrison, is a new building on the Northeast corner of the complex and houses a training room and team room on track level with concessions and fan amenities on the upper level.Â
The Basler Broadcast Center, named in recognition of the gift and support from Wayne Basler, provides state-of-the-art space for meet operations, television and media activities and is located along the homestretch near Volunteer Boulevard. Â
Phillips Pavilion, named in recognition of the gift and support from Sara Phillips, serves as the team gathering location for both meets and practice and is adjacent to the Boyd Center. Â
With the Tennessee Relays in the books, Tom Black Track hosts two more events this spring: the Tennessee Challenge (May 5) and the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships (May 11-13). It will be Tennessee's first time hosting the conference meet since 2010 and the eighth time overall.
QUOTES
Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee Athletics Director"It's a special day for Tennessee. About 50 years ago this fall, I came here to the University of Tennessee as a student-athlete. Track and field was very important to us then, and it's even more so now. We have a history in track and there are moments where we break a record or events like this morning when a facility comes online that will make a difference in our history. This is one of those mornings. It's great to see the young men and women this morning who will benefit from it. We have a reunion coming up shortly. Those guys will celebrate it, but it is those who will come after you who will celebrate it the most.Â
"Certainly, we acknowledge the LaPorte family of Elizabethon, Tennessee, and Houston, Texas, for their leadership gift going all the way back to 2005 to make our track and field complex what it is today. They could not be here, but we all join in their excitement for this day. I'm proud to say because of the donors here this morning, this project has become a reality. Phase one renovations, including rearranging the infield and resurfacing the running surface, the track now features orange accents and white lines. Pretty appropriate, I'd say.Â
"Phase two was the Boyd Family Track and Field Center, the Phillips Pavilion and the Basler Broadcast Center. I certainly want to acknowledge Randy and Jenny and their family for their ongoing leadership and their belief in the vision of Tennessee Athletics and the future of Tennessee track. Their transformational gift allowed us to move forward with this project, giving our track and field program a great home venue in which we can compete for conference and national championships. Wayne and I go way back, and I'd like to thank him for his lifelong support for our women's program through endowment giving and capital projects such as a the Wayne G. Basler Boathouse. Sara, I want to thank you for your dedication to Tennessee track and your continued support for this project as well.Â
"I believe you'll join me in agreeing that we are fortunate to have a first-class facility for our student-athletes to call home, and we look forward to hosting the 2018 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships this May."
Beth Alford-Sullivan, Tennessee Director of Track & Field/Cross Country
"What a great day to be a Tennessee Vol. I hope everyone here is able to stick around and see another day of competition at this wonderful facility and track. Today is a day I can finally express my true gratitude and appreciation. It's a day of recognition and celebration to where the orange and white loud and proud in our facility.Â
"I'll start by thanking Chancellor (Beverly) Davenport. Joining us today has meant the world for us and our program to hear her speak on all she's been doing since she arrived at Tennessee. It's been a whirlwind since she got here. I think it has been a steadfast strength that she displays for our young people and our community at Tennessee.Â
"Now for my entire program, I have to take a minute and recognize Ms. Donna Thomas. What a great boss I have. Donna shared this morning of her memory of a drawing she had. It really is true. I was here on an interview and she was showing me these hand drawings. I thought, 'Okay, this is something. Here we go.' All the hard work and vision she created are now the actual windows, the graphics, the photographs, the orange colors and all the accents going on. It is a reality to celebrate. Her stamina for this project -- to equate it with track -- is like being a decathlete or heptathlete. She is someone I enjoy seeing every day in the office and her belief that we can take Tennessee back to the top of the podium is why I'm here. It's a true demonstration to her effort as well. On top of that, I've never met an administrator quite her love for track and field; she knows the sport inside out, upside down.Â
"Onto the guys who did the hard work, Kevin Zurcher, Scott Zurcher and their crews have been outstanding to work with. They actually did the brick and mortar that needed to be done. That crew has been outstanding for us. They demonstrated a true passion for us to achieve our end result. I can't say enough for all you have done for us and continue to do for us.Â
"To Coach Fulmer, I'm really glad your leading us. It's refreshing to have an athletic director who can speak coach talk. It's someone who truly knows the pieces of the puzzle that are needed to recruit and to achieve.
"I wanted to recognize Randy and Jenny Boyd. It's been so fun to get to know this couple that bleed Orange and White, run a lot of miles and carry that orange and white flag with them. Their great support demonstrates their belief in the track and field program and we can achieve at the highest levels. Randy and Jenny, along with Wayne and Sara, thank you for all you've done for us. Your belief in us brings us closer and closer to the top of the podium, which is where we're headed."
Donna Thomas, Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator/Chief of Staff
"It's an incredible privilege to come to campus and somehow make a difference in the lives of young men and women who wear our uniform. To the student-athletes, all of this is for you.Â
About six years ago, I stood about where Coach Fulmer is seated. I was standing looking toward Pat Head Summitt Street. There was a hill full of crabgrass and pine trees and lots of mud. I was standing with my arms crossed and just looking. I guess I looked really confused because Brian Russell was in the Thornton Center and he called me and said, 'What are you doing?' My answer was simple, 'I'm looking at a building that does not exist.' Then I turned and looked toward Volunteer Boulevard, and I saw another building.Â
Coach Sullivan often says, 'Teamwork makes the dream work.' Today, thanks to the generous support of our team members, Randy and Jenny Boyd, their sons Thomas and Harrison, Wayne Basler, Sara Phillips and countless others who supported this project and this team, the dream worked.
The dream team made the made the transformation of Tom Black Track and the additions of the Boyd Family Track and Field Center, the Basler Broadcast Center and the Phillips Pavilion passible. The result of their contributions is the envy of every coach visiting this campus."
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