FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

One last time before the New Year, Milton Overton Jr. was peppered with questions from the 220 Quarterback Club.  Overton, who started as FAMU’s athletic director on Aug. 3, said he wants to begin work on a new athletic performance center to replace the Galimore-Powell Field House by next year. The field house hasn’t been renovated since it opened in 1983. He said recruits must see something new when they come to FAMU. Over each of the past two weekends, the football staff has brought in about 20 recruits to visit FAMU’s facilities. “You all call it a field house, I call it a sports performance facility,” Overton said. “It’ll have an academic center in there for all student-athletes and a new training room for everybody and new weight room for everybody and new locker rooms.” He added, gesturing to the crowd of 55, “If we’re not turning dirt next year, I’m a failure. If we are not turning dirt next year, not you, but I am failure in this job.” Overton detailed the numbers after revealing plans to almost double FAMU’s athletic budget to $15.7 million in four years. The department’s current budget is $8,717,500. “When I say we can go up to $15 million, you actually have to believe that. You’ve got to believe it. Don’t believe just based off what I say. Ask me to prove it. If everybody is on the same sheet of music and we all support each other, we can do this.” Overton said he plans to make two more hires by year end to complete his executive team. -Jordan Culver, Tallahassee Democrat, Read More