HSU Football Locker Room Transformation Project Underway

(Abilene, Texas) After seeing the accumulation of 25 years of wear-and-tear on the HSU Football Locker Room, Coach Jesse Burleson knew it was time for an upgrade.

After all, the locker room is not just a place to store cleats, helmets, and shoulder pads. It’s the team’s home – a place for team meetings, revving up before a game, regrouping after a tough game, and celebrating a win.

“This is where the relationships are built. This is where the memories are,” Burleson said.

The discussion started about three years ago, with Burleson and several former players spearheading the renovation idea. Once Burleson received the go-ahead for the project this spring, the fundraising began in earnest and continues. (Visit the FundHSU page for more info on locker sponsorships opportunities http://ow.ly/LB4Z303muWg)

The locker room went under construction in June 2016 with the goal of all 189 lockers replaced by the time the team came back in August.

New custom oak lockers welcomed new players back in August 2016. Unlike the old lockers, the new lockers have a home for everything: shelves for helmets and shoulder pads, device storage, and extra storage at the bottom. Other upgrades included new flooring, new folding chairs, and new locker room signage.

“It’s a night and day difference,” said HSU Graduate Assistant, J.J. Elkins. “It’s awesome. We’re excited and we know the kids are going to be excited for it.”

He said the coaching staff kept the locker doors locked during summer construction to keep players from getting a sneak peek.

Defensive end Donavan Hailey, an exercise science major from Corsicana, Texas, first saw the renovated locker room at the reveal in August.

“When I came in and saw the lockers, it was amazing. It was like Christmas all over again as a kid,” he said. “It was just an amazing experience and I was glad to be a part of it.”

He said the best things about playing football at HSU are the family atmosphere and the community both inside and outside of the locker room.

“It’s a true brotherhood, everyone cares for each other,” he said. “We have such strong support from alumni, professors, student body, and just everyone in the community.”

Hailey said he loves HSU’s tradition-rich atmosphere and supportive alumni.
“The tradition never dies. Hardin-Simmons is full of tradition,” he said. “They pass it on to us and it’s our job as present Cowboys to pass it down to the future Cowboys.”

When wide receiver Garret Martin, a social studies composite major from Abilene, Texas, walked into the new locker room, he said he immediately loved everything about the new lockers and what they represented.

“When I saw the locker room for the first time, just so much pride ran through my body, he said. “I was so happy to be here, to be part of this program.”

Martin, whose grandparents and parents all attended HSU, said the University is a huge part of his family and said he is honored to be part of the Cowboy football program and its long legacy.

“I’m tremendously proud to be a Cowboy,” he said. “It’s every part of who I am. I’ll take that with me when I leave. I respect this program so much and what it’s done for me. I wouldn’t be the same person without it.”

Burleson said the locker room unveiling was a big boost for players to start the season.

“They know this is where they are going to change, this is where they’re going to make lifelong friends, and all those things, and we’re just really excited about it,” he said.