From the Desk of Tommy McClelland: #RustonStrong

Tech Family,

We talk about the Louisiana Tech Family constantly. Whether in interactions with potential recruits and their families or talking to colleagues at other institutions, the Tech Family is on top of the list of things we boast about in our everyday conversations with other people.

Never has the Tech Family and the Ruston Community shown its strength, unity and compassion for its fellow neighbor than it has over the last three weeks. I cannot put into words the appreciation that our Tech Athletics Family has for the outpouring of support in response to the April 25^th tornado that hit our community and our school.

We are so thankful for our passionate alumni, fans, and donors who have united together to be #RustonStrong during our continued efforts to clean up our athletic fields, our campus grounds and so many of our residential areas. The more than $1.2 million raised on the inaugural Louisiana Tech Giving Day on May 1^st was a prime example of the Tech Family’s passion for this University. And although the cleanup process will continue for some time, we have been tirelessly working and planning on what comes next when we begin to rebuild.

Before I go any further, I want to take the opportunity to thank our athletics staff, coaches and student-athletes for their part in the cleanup and recovery process. Many of our athletic teams had already completed their competitive seasons, but hundreds of our student-athletes, coaches and support staff members have found so many ways to show support.

On the playing fields, our baseball and softball teams have carried the torch and given us something outside of the tornado aftermath to rally around. I hope everyone will join me in wishing Mark Montgomery and the Lady Techster Softball Team the best of luck as they open up NCAA Regional play at 2 p.m. today against Texas Tech in Baton Rouge. What an inspiration those young ladies have been for all of us, overcoming the adversity and distractions dealt by Mother Nature in order to capture both a Conference USA regular season and tournament title.

We also want to wish Lane Burroughs and the Bulldog baseball team all the best as they wrap up the regular season this weekend in Miami before opening up Conference USA Tournament action in Biloxi next week. They too have been faced with more than their fair share of adversity over the last three weeks and have handled themselves in a first class manner on and off the field. Good luck, men.

As we move through the process of figuring out what is next, I feel it’s important that we communicate to our alumni and fans and provide an update for plans to rebuild those facilities impacted by the tornado.

In regards to the future of our athletics facilities, we have met daily to begin the process of developing the future homes of Louisiana Tech baseball, softball and soccer. We are also working on fully restoring the tennis courts and track and field complex as well as other damaged facilities affected by the tornado.

We will share all of this information with our head coaches as it is received and certainly ask for their input as it relates to the designs of these state-of-the-art facilities.  This will allow them the opportunity to share this information with recruits as they continue to attract first-class young men and women to represent Louisiana Tech in the future.

I ask for patience as we move through these unchartered waters together. We, as a University, await information from FEMA, the state government, and insurance providers that will help us with the future of these programs. I stand fully committed to carry out a standard of excellence that these teams have set in the classroom and on the playing fields.

Those interested in supporting the rebuilding efforts for Louisiana Tech Athletics can give directly to the Athletics Disaster Relief Fund. This will have a positive impact on our teams displaced from their facilities by the tornado and will directly support the future facilities. You can do so by visiting ltu.al/rebuildathletics or calling our athletics fundraising office at (318) 255-7950.

In times of trouble we turn to our families. And although we know we will come out of this even stronger than we were before the tornado hit Ruston, it’s nice to know we have such an unbelievable family – the LA Tech Family – in our corner.

Ever Loyal,

Tommy McClelland