The Houston football team’s locker room and training facility –– known as the “Big Red Building” –– is undergoing a facelift this summer.
First-year coach Billy O’Neil is making several dramatic changes to not only make better use of the space, but also generate some excitement for the players and program.
The Tigers’ locker room, which has been in the south part of the facility, is moving to the opposite north end. The old wooden lockers have been removed and will be replaced with new ones.
The weight room will switch locations with the old locker room space. The walls have been painted red, and new equipment will be added to the old gear.
O’Neil said the move made sense for two reasons. First, the new locker room area is bigger than the old one. Secondly, the room can be secured during the day when students are using the weight room and bathrooms. There was previously no way to lock the players’ dressing room because students needed access to the bathrooms.
The middle area between the football locker room and weight room will serve two purposes. It will be a dressing room for both male and female athletes during the school day. O’Neil said classes fall in such a way that both genders will never need the area at the same time. The room will also serve as the dressing room for opposing football teams.