This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Logan • Utah State opened renovated Maverik Stadium on Thursday night, starting with a ribbon-cutting on the new west concourse 2 1/2 hours before kickoff.
School president Stan Albrecht and athletic director John Hartwell addressed a small group of dignitaries and boosters during the ceremony, including Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson.
Hartwell called it "a tremendous day in Utah State history, certainly in Utah State football history. We could not be more pleased to unveil this … project.
"It has been quite a task, with many hands pulling on the same end of the rope to get this project done in such a short time-frame. But it's a magnificent facility."
Hartwell called the completed expansion project "one of the shining moments" in Albrecht's tenure as president.
Albrecht replied, "A lot of credit has been given in my direction, but this is a team sport."
The $36 million construction project included new suites, loge seating, new concourse facilities and two video scoreboards.
"When we came into the conference, we came in wanting to do it right," Albrecht said. "We came in wanting the facilities to be as good as any in the conference and to put the kind of teams on the field that the conference would be proud of. I think we've done what we said we'd do."
Mission accomplished, according to Thompson.
"I am so excited for Utah State University and, personally, Stan Albrecht," he said. "When we talked about this deal and Utah State joining the Mountain West … I remember looking at all pictures and drawings. Now they're buildings. It's here. It's done."
Thompson praised the vision of those behind the stadium expansion.
"They are do-ers," he said. "I don't know that anybody has been as aggressive and come through with pledges and commitments to do what they said they were going to do. … We're just thrilled to death with what Utah State has been able to accomplish in a few short years."
Nose guard Seefeldt back in action
Utah State senior nose guard Travis Seefeldt missed last season after being seriously injured in an SUV crash.
When he took the field against Weber State, it was Seefeldt's first game since the Aggies' 21-6 win over UTEP in the 2014 Gildan New Mexico Bowl.
Asked about being able to return for final season at Utah State, Seefeldt said, "It's hard to put it into words because — just looking back a year ago — I was sitting there hoping I could take a step or brush my own teeth. It's crazy to think now I'm going to go out there and bang heads. … It's wild."
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