JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Radford University's Dedmon Center is being upgraded with new scoreboards and a sound system. Improvements also are being made on the baseball field.

JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

New scoreboards and a sound system are part of the Dedmon Center's upgrades. "We want to put our athletes in position to succeed," said Radford University Athletic Director Robert Lineburg.

| Chuck Altizer

Special to The Roanoke Times

RADFORD -- People in the New River Valley watched as Radford University replaced the roof on its almost 30-year-old basketball facility -- the Donald N. Dedmon Center.

Improvements included in the $15.7 million project are the roof, new court and state-of-the-art weight room, along with an athletic learning center.

It was the biggest renovation since the university added Cupp Stadium for the soccer and track teams.

These were the first visible signs that the Highlanders were undergoing what the university says in the men's basketball media guide is a "renewed commitment to a strong Division I athletic program."

The changes are not stopping there.

The athletic department is in the process of installing a $450,000 video scoreboard and sound system in Dedmon, while the baseball stadium is undergoing several upgrades with the softball field to follow.

"We want to put our athletes in position to succeed," said Radford University Athletic Director Robert Lineburg.

"Having first-rate facilities is a big big part of that. When we came in as a staff, we recognized it right away that things had to be added to compete at a championship level."

Baseball is seeing the biggest upgrade this season.

Playing in a stadium that was well below Division I standards, the team is in the process of upgrading its playing surface with a new drainage system and dugouts that will meet the needs of the program.

Highlander Manager Joe Raccuia knows the importance of having good facilities.

"The first thing a student athlete sees is the facilities, and they and their parents look at things we don't look at," he said.

"We have been behind the 8-ball for so many years that it was time to focus on the outside facilities to keep us up-to-date with the schools we compete with."

The baseball upgrades are part of a process that will continue over the years, as funds become available.

Two years ago, a new backstop with a net was added, along with an upgraded indoor practice area. In the future, the team hopes to add lights and a new grandstand to give it that collegiate feel.

While the upgrades are needed for the success of the program, several voices have wondered why Radford has spent so much money on athletic upgrades when programs are being cut on the academic side of the university.

Raccuia points out that one needs to look where the money is coming from.

"People need to know that the money we used to make these upgrades was money privately donated," he said. "No state funds were used because I would have a tough time going to my superiors and asking for money when we are cutting programs and having financial problems on the university side.

"I just believe if you want to make your facilities better, you need to get out and work to find donors who want to help the university out."

Softball, which last season hosted the Big South Tournament, also received a new backstop recently, but upgrades to the team's dugouts and grandstands are needed as well.

"The new backstop changed the whole way the game was played," softball coach Mickey Dean said.

"When you are talking about facilities, the most important thing is when you put a Division I athlete on the field you want them to be as safe as possible, and from the warning track in I think we have one of the best fields in our conference.

"Now we need to make some changes cosmetically. The biggest complaints we had when we hosted the tournament were the dugouts need to be bigger with restrooms in them, and they didn't feel that there was enough seating. It would be nice to have a grandstand that stretched from dugout to dugout."

Dean continued on how athletics facilities impact the entire university.

"The athletic department is the face of the university," he said. "People may dislike or be mad at me for saying that, but what do people go and see when they visit a university?

"We are the public face of the university, and it starts with our facilities. Think about Notre Dame: Everybody wants to see Touchdown Jesus.

"If you go to a university and see their athletic facilities are well kept, then you know the other things at the school are well kept."

Lineburg agreed.

"We are trying to chip away at things as much as possible," he said. "If you are staying the same in college sports you are going backwards.

"I think it is important in any organization that you can't stop growing during the bad times so when you come out of the recession you will be poised to take advantage of the strong revenue flow that upgrades can bring."