3 minute read
Built Blue
Titans star Kevin Byard gives back to the next generation of Blue Raiders
Pro football player Kevin Byard has made an impact on and off the field as an MTSU alumnus. Now he’s paying it forward even further by investing in the future of Blue Raider student-athletes.
Byard, a Pro Bowl and All-Pro safety after being drafted by the neighboring Tennessee Titans in 2016, made a significant gift to the Build Blue campaign earlier this year. The gift, along with his accomplishments, gives him naming rights to the strength and conditioning center in the new Student-Athlete Performance Center.
“I am super excited about the future of MTSU athletics and the impact that this new facility will have for not only recruiting, but the development of the student-athletes," Byard said. “I am proud to be an alumnus of this great institution.”
Construction began on the $66 million performance center in April as part of more than $100 million in transformational changes coming to the MTSU athletic facilities landscape. Over 300 individuals and families so far have contributed to the $18 million-plus already secured for the Build Blue campaign. MTSU last fall expanded the goal to $20 million.
“I can’t thank Kevin enough for what he has done and is doing for Middle Tennessee football," Coach Rick Stockstill said. “Kevin will always have a special place in my heart.”
The three-story, 85,500-square-foot center will provide all MTSU student-athletes with new facilities for weight training, nutrition, and sports medicine. It will also be the new home for Blue Raider football, allowing MTSU to relocate its football operations from Murphy Center.
MTSU retired Byard’s No. 20 last fall, only the second football number retired in school history. Last year, during the Titans’ second straight injury-riddled season, Coach Mike Vrabel cited Byard as one of his players who had never suffered a soft-tissue injury, implying his workout ethic was top-notch. Byard and his nonprofit foundation also have been active in the Nashville community.
“During his time at MTSU, Kevin embodied what a student-athlete is all about in the leadership and high character he displayed in all facets of his life,” said Chris Massaro, MTSU’s director of athletics. “This generous gift is another demonstration of his leadership, and we are extremely grateful for all that Kevin has done and continues to do for his university.
“KB was one of the hardest working student-athletes we have ever had, and we are proud to carry that legacy for generations to come.”
