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Vols will spend August 9-15 at Milligan College preparing for 2012 season
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (May 17, 2012) — The University of Tennessee football team will spend a week of fall training camp away from campus, as the Vols will train at Milligan College in Elizabethton, Tenn., from Aug. 9-15.
Milligan President Bill Greer said Vice President for Student Development Mark Fox and his athletic staff have been working with the Tennessee staff for several months on plans.
“We’ve developed a good working relationship with the Vols staff this spring and although we don’t have football, our facilities are a perfect fit for their training needs,” said Fox.
The team will be housed on the Milligan campus, which frequently rents its facilities to various summer groups, and will use the college’s athletic facilities, including the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse and Anglin soccer fields.
“We’re looking forward to partnering with the University of Tennessee in this way,” said Greer. “I appreciate our athletic and student development staff for accommodating this opportunity. We will use the revenue from this project to continue additional athletic facility improvements at Milligan, so it’s a win-win for everyone.”
Milligan is a private liberal arts college with 1,200 students. The college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and has 23 athletic programs.
“The week in Johnson City will provide a unique opportunity to build team unity and limit distractions,” said head football coach Derek Dooley. “The opportunity to train away from campus also allows for a more efficient move into our new Football Training Center and will reduce the wear and tear on our practice fields.”
The timing of the week in Johnson City coincides with the projected dates for moving all operations and offices of the Tennessee football program into the new Football Training Center from the Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex. With the football team and most supporting units out of town, the facilities staff will be able to complete the move in a more efficient and organized manner and without the burden associated with having the team currently on-site.
“The decision to train off-campus this year is not only driven by the factor of our move into our new Football Training Center but also by the opportunity to maximize the ability of our coaching staff to become further acclimated to one another and the team in a very controlled environment,” said Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dave Hart. “I support Derek’s decision and feel strongly that we need to make this investment in our football program as we prepare to open our season in Atlanta. This is a one-time situation, and there are no plans to train off-site at any time in the future.”
Tennessee opens its 2012 season in Atlanta against North Carolina State on Friday, Aug. 31. Kickoff at the Georgia Dome is slated for 7:30 p.m.
For additional information, contact Matt Laws, Milligan College Sports Information Director, at 423.461.8980.
Read more about the Vols’ visit to Milligan…