the University and also in hopeful anticipation of what it can become.”
Jan Unstad, the director of development for men’s athletics, said the Sundet family has been donating to the department since the mid-1970s. Money from the Sundets has helped pay for rooms in Mariucci Arena and the Sports Pavilion.
The men’s athletics department, which has revamped the football locker rooms and plans other improvements to the football complex, sought out the Sundets’ donation for the new entryway knowing the two parties were a good fit.
“(Leland Sundet) always talks about remembering coming here when he was in high school, back in the days of Memorial Stadium,” Unstad said. “He has always been disappointed that the football trophies aren’t on display.”
Unstad said the department has only received one other $500,000 donation. That money came from former Gophers All-American George Gibson, one of the two men for whom the football complex is named.
Men’s athletics received $3.5 million in donations during fiscal year 1997. Money from gifts helps the department in its attempt to keep up with other Big Ten schools like Ohio State and Michigan, which have much larger operating budgets.
“This most recent gift will go a long way towards giving us the type of football facilities we need in order to be more competitive in the Big Ten Conference,” said Mark Dienhart, the men’s athletics director.