JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Jacksonville State is finding out that there are unexpected costs in aiming for big-time college football.
The university faces about $5.25 million in unexpected construction costs related to a major expansion of its football stadium, and some students fear they'll be paying for it with tuition increases.
Officials at the building committee meeting Wednesday said it could cost another $4.5 million to drill holes to support a new section of the stadium and as much as $730,000 extra to repair a recent construction problem that caused a section in the stadium to settle.
Jacksonville State's first home game is Oct. 3.
"We're counting on a lot to be ready by Oct. 1," said President Bill Meehan. "That's a skinny (timeline)."
The additional costs mean Jacksonville State is spending roughly $67 million to build a housing complex and expand Paul Snow Stadium. The project is widely criticized by students and some faculty during the economic downturn.
Students will already pay 9.47 percent more in tuition next year, after the school's trustees approved the measure in April.
"It's going to raise tuition, which puts a lot of more stress" on students, said Mari Turner, 19, an exercise science major.
School officials say shrinking state appropriations led to the tuition hike, not the project.
Clint Carlson, vice president for administrative and business affairs, said a bond issue should cover mostly all the overrun. The school will receive revenue from student housing, the sale of luxury boxes and other athletic fundraising.
JSU launched the stadium project as it anticipates a move to the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A. School officials say the strategy could increase enrollment, better market the athletic program and increase revenues.
"If the program ever wants to move up to 1A, it's got to happen," said Devon May, a former Gamecock player who is now a graduate assistant.
The project hit a snag a few months back when drilling crews disturbed the foundation of southern portion of the stadium and some bleachers settled. Officials said the bleachers have fallen about eight inches since December.
"The rest of the stadium seems to be in good shape," said Leon Barkan, vice president of Volkert & Associates, an engineering firm behind the expansion.
Project engineer Gordon Davis finds it hard to believe there hasn't been more settling. He said some portions of the stadium were seemingly built on peat moss.
"It's almost like it's sitting on a lake and it's floating," he said.
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