The University of South Alabama held a free, public groundbreaking ceremony for its new Student Recreation Center recently at the corner of Old Shell Road and Jaguar Boulevard, across from Stanky Field. The first 500 people at the ceremony received free USA Football T-shirts. Also, USA Head Football Coach Joey Jones autographed free photos. After the groundbreaking, a free dinner of hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts and drinks was provided. The state-of-the-art, 116,000-square-foot center will include aerobic rooms, weight rooms, spinning rooms, basketball and racquetball courts, an indoor track, indoor and outdoor pools, saunas and a rock-climbing wall. Wellness evaluations and baby-sitting services will be offered. An adjacent outdoor recreation center will loan students camping equipment and canoes. USA officials anticipate the new center will be completed in late 2009 or early 2010. It is expected to cost approximately $30 million. At the groundbreaking were, USA President Gordon Moulton, USA mascot Southpaw, Student Government Association President Jennifer Edwards, USA Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. John Smith, and Dr. Philip Theodore, director of campus recreation.