Tag: Woody Hayes Athletic Center

Ohio State in talks to expand the Woody Hayes Athletic Center

Coming to a college campus near you soon? #GoBucks

Just like smart phones and computers, athletic facilities seem to be out of style and almost obsolete almost as soon as you upgrade. Despite recent renovations to the Ohio State football complex known as the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, it appears it may be time to talk about renovating and even expanding once again.

Outgoing Athletic Director Gene Smith participated in a celebration of his tenure in Columbus and was asked about keeping up with programs like Alabama when it comes to its football facilities and said that it’s not really about keeping up with other programs, but a matter of needing more space.

“It’s all semantics. We were in an arms race, but we were just trying to be functional,” Smith said. “You go into the Woody Hayes, and you see how beautiful it is. But we’re putting lipstick on it right now. When I came in ’05, we didn’t have a recruiting department, and we didn’t have a creative services department. We didn’t have the sports science people that we have (now). We didn’t have all the modalities and the training. We need more square footage. That’s practical. That’s not like an arms race. It’s not because Alabama’s got it. It’s just the practical reality.”

USA TODAY SMG

It sure sounds like an expansion is coming, but it’ll have to approved. Smith said that they are still in talks but that a proposal would like be brought before the Board of Trustees in May.

If there’s one thing we’ve become accustomed to in the latest rounds of Name, image and likeness, as well as spending for recruiting, etc., you can bet that whatever is done at the WHAC will be something to behold.

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Early March Ohio State football recruiting update

Recruiting never stops in Columbus #GoBucks

As [autotag]Ohio State[/autotag] football has begun its spring practice, there is plenty of movement regarding recruits. There have been a few offers dished out which we have covered and plenty of visits to establish relationships with prospects.

Even though we are concentrating on the spring position battles, that’s not the only action happening inside the [autotag]Woody Hayes Athletic Center[/autotag].

It’s hard to keep track of what is going on with recruiting, but Buckeyes Wire has you covered.

Here is a recap of some of the latest Ohio State football recruiting news, some insider information on a recruit, more than a few crystal ball selections, and more.

247Sports lists college football’s most lavish facilities. Where is Ohio State?

Is Ohio State keeping up with the college arms race in terms of football facilities? #GoBucks

It is a dog-eat-dog world in college athletics. The arms race specific to the college gridiron is on a level we’ve never seen before, and it’s only going to get worse.

Many times, the first impression a player has is when he walks into the football facilities, so athletic departments and boosters are dropping serious bank to make sure that first feeling is one recruits will not forget.

As a result, 247Sports has released its annual rankings of what they see as the best 25 facilities heading into the 2023 season. The rankings are determined by what 247Sports says are “industry standards, what players have told us, and several in-person visits to many of the sweetest digs.”

So, where does Ohio State rank? Not too shabby actually. The Buckeyes come in as the highest-rated Big Ten school (No. 7). In describing the facility, 247Sports had this to say about OSU.

The Woody Hayes Athletic Center, which houses the Buckeyes’ championship wall in the lobby, features state-of-the-art locker rooms and a strength training area. Its $7.8 million upgrade — the third extensive renovation since it opened in 1987 — was completed recently. There’s an improved 42,000-square-foot players lounge, a kitchen and nutrition area, a barber shop, a basketball court, a golf simulator, an arcade, a cryotherapy chamber, sleep pods and an illuminated waterfall in a locker room filled with lots of steel and lots of scarlet. Ohio State opened its renovated dining facility inside the WHAC in 2019, highlighted by pool tables, Pop-A-Shot basketball games and film rooms where position groups break down footage from games or practices. Last spring, recruits at the Army All-American Bowl voted Ohio State inside the top five nationally for facilities.

Those ahead of Ohio State were

No. 6 LSU

No. 5 Georgia

No. 4 Clemson

No. 3 Alabama

No. 2 Texas A&M

No. 1 Oregon

Joining the Buckeyes from the Big Ten were Illinois at No. 22, Michigan at No. 16, Maryland at No. 15 and, somewhat surprisingly, Northwestern at No. 11. The Wildcats have really invested in their facilities with the opening of a 450,000-square foot football facility on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Surely this list will change year to year as collegiate football programs look to one-up each other on an annual basis. Feel free to see the complete list of 247Sports most lavish football facilities and what they had to say about each.

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Ohio State football sends out a flurry of offers to top prospects

The Buckeyes stay active on the recruiting trail again #GoBucks

The phones at the [autotag]Woody Hayes Athletic Center[/autotag] must be going off the hook for the [autotag]Ohio State football[/autotag] staff. The Buckeye brass has been super active on the recruiting trail the last few days, with one of the highlights being an offer to 2026 quarterback Julian Lewis.

The action didn’t stop with Lewis. Many more offers have gone out over the last day or so. There wasn’t a specific focus on who the offers went out to — or even a specific class. They were all over the board.

Find out below who [autotag]Ryan Day[/autotag] and his staff have recently offered.