Hornets' nest: New Alabama State football complex creates buzz during recruiting period

Every recruiting class is important, but as Alabama State rebuilds its program from NCAA sanctions and losing records, head football coach Reggie Barlow has felt the need to put the program's best foot forward when it entertains recruits.

"In the past, I thought our presentation to our recruits was outstanding," Barlow said. "They'd stay in a nice hotel, we'd feed them a nice meal, our campus is always nice, but you could feel the energy being sucked out of them when we had to pull up to the trailer."

"The trailer," as he calls it, has been home to the football program for the past several years. But those days are nearing an end as the university puts the finishing touches on its sparkling new $7 million football complex. The building was originally slated for completion in January, but delays pushed the opening back a month. In the meantime, recruits tour...

PHOTO GALLERIES

• ASU's Football Complex

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Alabama State football: Deal for Barlow is near

The winter recruiting period can be the most challenging time for a head football coach, especially for one working without a contract.

"That's how you lose them," Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said. "I've been asked about that in almost every home visit I've been on. I'm thinking, I know you 18-year-olds aren't reading the newspaper, who's been telling you this?"

Both sides have completed their negotiations to extend Barlow's tenure as the Hornets' head coach, a move which would end any advantage opposing coaches might have in the recruiting field and turn it into an advantage for the Hornets. The paperwork currently is in the hands of Alabama State's attorneys, who are finalizing details on a new contract for the Montgomery native.

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Videographer: UrbanSportsITG

New ASU athletic director takes over

Stacy Danley was certainly aware of Alabama State's revolving door in the athletic department. The university has had six different athletic directors since Rob Spivery left in 2002, seven if you want to count execu tive vice president John Knight, who has run the department since interim direc tor Sterling Steward resigned in June.

Danley, a former star running back at Auburn in the late 1980s, served as Tus kegee University's athletic director in 2008 and 2009 so he couldn't help but no tice the turmoil of the Hornets' program as it went through coaching transitions, NCAA sanctions and constant changes at the top of the athletic department.

Danley also noticed other changes on campus. New baseball, softball and soccer facilities as well as a football complex were the latest developments for a pro gram trying to put its chaotic struggles in the past.

"It was very clear to me they were at a position where they were ready to transform this athletic department," he said. "They made a commitment to me that they wanted me here and they wanted me here for some time. I'm not going any where any time soon. We've got a lot of work to do. It's not going to happen over night but we're going to get it done."

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