Written by: Ted Feeley
Media contact: Alicia Rohan, arohan@uab.edu
UAB Athletics announced that former Blazer football players have collectively committed more than $500,000 to the UAB Football Operations Center and Legacy Pavilion.
Since arriving at UAB, head coach Bill Clark has emphasized the importance of welcoming back former players and keeping them involved in the UAB football program. To date, 23 former players have donated to the $22.5 million facility project.
“When we say the word family, we really mean it,” Clark said. “Our former players are the ones who paved the path for our current student-athletes, and we want them to know how appreciative we are of that. Their continued investment into the UAB football program will continue to make an impact for the team on and off the field.”
“Nobody knows the potential of UAB football better than the former players,” stated Justin Craft, former UAB football player and current member of the UAB Athletics Foundation Board. “This a great representation of that and a shared belief in the future of our program.”
Furthermore, three individuals have committed $100,000 each to the B Club naming initiative: Jegil Dugger, Ryan Estes and Drew Lofstad.
Dugger, a former running back from 1998-2001, designs software and technology for Juke Slot, a prominent company in the automated technology industry that holds several government-issued patents. Most notably, he is a leader in designing technology to improve the daily lives of the deaf and hard of hearing.
| “Nobody knows the potential of UAB football better than the former players. This a great representation of that and a shared belief in the future of our program.” |
A former offensive lineman from 1999-2000, Estes serves as a wealth management adviser with Merrill Lynch. He and his wife, Mona Lisa, also own a sheep farm in California and are active in FFA and 4H.
Lofstad, a former defensive back from 1992-1995, serves as principal and COO at PASS Box International Corporation, Synergy Natural Resources, LLC, In Acworth, Ga.
“Keeping our alumni involved in UAB Athletics is tremendously important,” Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said. “UAB is a world-class institution, and our alumni graduate with the tools to make an impact in society. They continue to make us proud, and we want to do the same for them in building a championship-caliber program.”
The B Club, which is the official letter-winners organization for UAB Athletics, will name the team meeting room in the Football Operations Center as part of the commitment. A plaque located outside the room will list each former player who has donated to the project.
Fundraising efforts are ongoing to complete the support for this project. Naming opportunities still exist, including a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to name an individual player locker. For more information or to make your pledge, please contact Blazer Boosters at (205) 996-9969 or blazerboosters@uab.edu.