Facilities: Louisiana State University christened its new Academic Center for Student-Athletes in a ceremony November 15. The dedication culminated a three-year process that saw the old Gym Armory Building on the LSU campus transformed into a permanent home for student-athlete academic pursuits. The $12 million project was spearheaded by the Tiger Athletic Foundation, the chief fund-raising organization for LSU athletics. The center includes a 1,000-seat auditorium, 40 computers, a 2,800-square-foot library, private study rooms and a communications studio to provide interviewing and public relations training for LSU student-athletes. "The concept behind the Cox Communications Academic Center has been developed over the past 20 years," said Roger Grooters, executive director of the center. "This fills a huge need for a facility devoted to helping our student-athletes reach their full potential academically." The center provides a tutorial staff to work directly with students, a supervised study hall, career counseling, time management and study-skills counseling, as well as training in compliance with rules governing the university, the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA ... George Mason University's Raymond H. "Hap" Spuhler Field has been selected as the 2002 Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) baseball field of the year in the college/university division. According to the STMA, a nonprofit international association of more than 2,400 sports turf professionals from schools, colleges, municipal facilities and professional stadiums, the commitment to excellence in overall field quality, safety, playability and appearance earned the honor for Spuhler Field. It is the third honor in as many years for the facility, which placed second nationally in the Beam Clay College Baseball Diamond of the Year Awards in 2001 and was third in 2000. The STMA Field of the Year Award, the association's highest honor, is presented annually for top maintenance of natural playing surfaces and support facilities in baseball, softball, football and soccer. Spuhler Field has been the home of the George Mason baseball team since 1986.

-- Compiled by Gary T. Brow