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July 15, 2006
Millsaps, Saints looking for Premium Blend
Transformation under way
By Michael Wallace
mwallace@clarionledger.com
And David Brandt
david.brandt@clarionledger.com
Stuffing the New Orleans Saints into a pint-sized college campus won't be easy.
Just ask Millsaps College officials, who are preparing to host the National Football League team's training camp from July 27 through Aug. 24.
Getting the school ready has meant stretching the cozy campus of 1,100 students wide enough for scores of 300-pound linemen.
The Saints have their share of millionaire players but they'll live a spartan existence during training camp at Millsaps, sleeping in dorm rooms.
It's meant finding space for fans expected to flock to practice to gaze at stars such as Heisman Trophy winner and Saints top draft pick Reggie Bush, quarterback Drew Brees and tailback Deuce McAllister.
Saints officials have said many practices at Millsaps, including the first weekend of workouts, will be open to the public, with free admission. However, Millsaps will charge $5 for on-campus parking. Concessions, including beer, and merchandise will be available. Harper Davis Field seats 5,000, but extra bleachers will be brought in.
It's meant polishing up the campus for national media outlets that will broadcast and file stories from the Methodist-affiliated school, whose teams compete at the NCAA's lowest level, Division III, where financial aid is based on need and academic achievement, not athletic prowess or accomplishment.
This is the blending of two opposite worlds, small-college athletics and the nation's most powerful professional sports organization, the NFL.
"It has taken a lot of time, preparation, details and plenty of professional people to really make this all come together," Millsaps athletic director Tim Wise said.
Wise said preparations include:
Acquiring larger dorm beds;
Turning classrooms into team offices and meeting rooms;
Converting a soccer field into two football practice fields;
Erecting an air-conditioned tent to be used as a weight-lifting room;
Adding lockers, carpeting and a new washer and dryer to the football fieldhouse;
And ordering truckloads of food for meals at the campus cafeteria to serve more than 100 players and support personnel daily.
The Saints figure to eat a lot and also eat well.
Millsaps officials wouldn't say how much the projected food bill is, but the total training camp tab is projected at $400,000. That cost will be shared by the team and the school, Millsaps president Frances Lucas said.
Millsaps head chef David Woodward, charged with keeping the players' bellies full, has a long shopping list.
"The Saints sent us a list of what they're used to having and then we adjusted our meals accordingly," Woodward said. "It's a ton of carbs - turkey, beef, fish, potatoes and pasta. Omelets in the morning. Once or twice - like before the game against the Colts - they might have prime rib or seafood. That's different - it's not like Tuesdays are usually ribs and lobster days at Millsaps."
Delivering new mattresses for players doesn't appear to be a huge problem, but storing them is a whole different animal. The Saints are scheduled to leave the dorms at noon on Aug. 25. Millsaps' staff has until 8 a.m. on Aug. 27 to have the rooms ready for students arriving to begin classes. That's 44 hours.
"That's going to be an incredible undertaking," said Brit Katz, Millsaps' vice president of student affairs. "But we're committed to the fact that the Saints camp will not interfere with our college students in the least."
Neither Millsaps nor Saints officials would discuss specific terms of the four-year deal announced last month, other than to say the contract includes an annual option to renew or void the deal.
"We are working with the Saints on some of the needs and improvements and feel it to be a great, long-term partnership," said Lucas, the school president.
Millsaps is one of at least 10 small colleges scheduled to host an NFL team for camp this month.
Jeff Jenkins, athletic director at Rose-Hulman Institute in Terre Haute, Ind., said his school makes between $30,000 and $40,000 on concessions and parking during the month the Colts train there.
The Colts drew as many as 6,100 fans to one practice last summer and more than 20,000 during the month-long camp, Jenkins said.
"When you're a tiny school like us, that kind of money and that level of exposure goes a long way," said Jenkins, whose campus has hosted the Colts since 1999. "Obviously, it's an exclusive feeling for a school because you're one of only (32) places where NFL teams are training. It's been great for us."
Jenkins said he is curious how Millsaps, a school he has visited for athletic events, will handle security for the team and fan parking.
Jenkins said his school and the Colts worked with the Terre Haute police department to provide security for the football team, particularly at the dorm facilities.
"You'll get some fans or young ladies who are going to want to get around these guys when they're not supposed to," Jenkins said.
Senior lieutenant J.W. Hoatland is in charge of Millsaps' campus security. He said approximately 60 people will be needed each day on campus, 20 for each eight-hour shift. Hoatland said about 75 percent of the security would come from Millsaps while the other 25 percent would come from the Jackson Police Department.
"One thing I think the Saints liked is how our campus is controlled access through a few points," Hoatland said. "We'll be keeping a close eye on who comes in and out of campus during the whole camp."
July 15, 2006
Millsaps, Saints looking for Premium Blend
Transformation under way
By Michael Wallace
mwallace@clarionledger.com
And David Brandt
david.brandt@clarionledger.com
Stuffing the New Orleans Saints into a pint-sized college campus won't be easy.
Just ask Millsaps College officials, who are preparing to host the National Football League team's training camp from July 27 through Aug. 24.
Getting the school ready has meant stretching the cozy campus of 1,100 students wide enough for scores of 300-pound linemen.
The Saints have their share of millionaire players but they'll live a spartan existence during training camp at Millsaps, sleeping in dorm rooms.
It's meant finding space for fans expected to flock to practice to gaze at stars such as Heisman Trophy winner and Saints top draft pick Reggie Bush, quarterback Drew Brees and tailback Deuce McAllister.
Saints officials have said many practices at Millsaps, including the first weekend of workouts, will be open to the public, with free admission. However, Millsaps will charge $5 for on-campus parking. Concessions, including beer, and merchandise will be available. Harper Davis Field seats 5,000, but extra bleachers will be brought in.
It's meant polishing up the campus for national media outlets that will broadcast and file stories from the Methodist-affiliated school, whose teams compete at the NCAA's lowest level, Division III, where financial aid is based on need and academic achievement, not athletic prowess or accomplishment.
This is the blending of two opposite worlds, small-college athletics and the nation's most powerful professional sports organization, the NFL.
"It has taken a lot of time, preparation, details and plenty of professional people to really make this all come together," Millsaps athletic director Tim Wise said.
Wise said preparations include:
Acquiring larger dorm beds;
Turning classrooms into team offices and meeting rooms;
Converting a soccer field into two football practice fields;
Erecting an air-conditioned tent to be used as a weight-lifting room;
Adding lockers, carpeting and a new washer and dryer to the football fieldhouse;
And ordering truckloads of food for meals at the campus cafeteria to serve more than 100 players and support personnel daily.
The Saints figure to eat a lot and also eat well.
Millsaps officials wouldn't say how much the projected food bill is, but the total training camp tab is projected at $400,000. That cost will be shared by the team and the school, Millsaps president Frances Lucas said.
Millsaps head chef David Woodward, charged with keeping the players' bellies full, has a long shopping list.
"The Saints sent us a list of what they're used to having and then we adjusted our meals accordingly," Woodward said. "It's a ton of carbs - turkey, beef, fish, potatoes and pasta. Omelets in the morning. Once or twice - like before the game against the Colts - they might have prime rib or seafood. That's different - it's not like Tuesdays are usually ribs and lobster days at Millsaps."
Delivering new mattresses for players doesn't appear to be a huge problem, but storing them is a whole different animal. The Saints are scheduled to leave the dorms at noon on Aug. 25. Millsaps' staff has until 8 a.m. on Aug. 27 to have the rooms ready for students arriving to begin classes. That's 44 hours.
"That's going to be an incredible undertaking," said Brit Katz, Millsaps' vice president of student affairs. "But we're committed to the fact that the Saints camp will not interfere with our college students in the least."
Neither Millsaps nor Saints officials would discuss specific terms of the four-year deal announced last month, other than to say the contract includes an annual option to renew or void the deal.
"We are working with the Saints on some of the needs and improvements and feel it to be a great, long-term partnership," said Lucas, the school president.
Millsaps is one of at least 10 small colleges scheduled to host an NFL team for camp this month.
Jeff Jenkins, athletic director at Rose-Hulman Institute in Terre Haute, Ind., said his school makes between $30,000 and $40,000 on concessions and parking during the month the Colts train there.
The Colts drew as many as 6,100 fans to one practice last summer and more than 20,000 during the month-long camp, Jenkins said.
"When you're a tiny school like us, that kind of money and that level of exposure goes a long way," said Jenkins, whose campus has hosted the Colts since 1999. "Obviously, it's an exclusive feeling for a school because you're one of only (32) places where NFL teams are training. It's been great for us."
Jenkins said he is curious how Millsaps, a school he has visited for athletic events, will handle security for the team and fan parking.
Jenkins said his school and the Colts worked with the Terre Haute police department to provide security for the football team, particularly at the dorm facilities.
"You'll get some fans or young ladies who are going to want to get around these guys when they're not supposed to," Jenkins said.
Senior lieutenant J.W. Hoatland is in charge of Millsaps' campus security. He said approximately 60 people will be needed each day on campus, 20 for each eight-hour shift. Hoatland said about 75 percent of the security would come from Millsaps while the other 25 percent would come from the Jackson Police Department.
"One thing I think the Saints liked is how our campus is controlled access through a few points," Hoatland said. "We'll be keeping a close eye on who comes in and out of campus during the whole camp."