BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY Salem's Sebo pledges $3.5 million for center

The Sebo Athletic Center is expected to be ready by February of 2007.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOWLING GREEN -- Thanks to alumnus Bob Sebo of Salem and his wife, Karen, Bowling Green State University will be getting a state-of-the-art athletic center which already is under construction.
The Sebos have pledged $3.5 million toward the construction of the Sebo Athletic Center, which is expected to be completed in February of 2007.
The project was announced Oct. 16 and groundbreaking ceremonies at the north end of Doyt Perry Stadium took place Dec. 2.
The $3.5 million pledge is part of a $4.4 million philanthropic gift over five years that the Sebos are giving to Bowling Green to fund several initiatives.
The rest of the money ($900,000) will go to provide for the expansion of the Sebo Entrepreneurship Lecture Series, to support a WBGU-PBS documentary about successful regional entrepreneurs, and to enhance the College of Musical Arts with an expanded jazz studies scholarship and funding for a spring concert.
Largest gift to BGSU athletics
The Sebos' gift, which is leading the funding for the center that has an estimated construction cost of $7 million, is the largest gift ever given to BGSU athletics and the second-largest ever presented to the university.
"I can't tell you how proud I am to be a part of what is happening here [Dec. 2]," said Bob Sebo, a 1954 Salem High and 1958 BGSU graduate, at groundbreaking. "And, I can't tell you how enthusiastic I am about how this athletic center fits into the entire program.
"In Division I, you have to be strong and well-conditioned in order to compete, in every athletic program. This is very important to me, because a good athletic program benefits the entire University."
Sebo said the facility will help the school recruit top-notch student athletes.
"Having a winning program helps generate happy alumns and happy students that become happy alumns," he said.
The Sebo Athletic Center will benefit all student-athletes by providing state-of-the-art resources, as well as necessary additional space in the weight room, training room and meeting rooms. It also will include a football complex, coaches' offices and an outdoor balcony overlooking the football field.
Krebs lured Sebo to BGSU
Sebo said earlier this week that Paul Krebs, the BGSU athletic director from Canfield High, attracted Sebo and his philanthropy to Bowling Green after Sebo had retired in 1999 and returned to Salem and was looking to help his alma mater.
"Paul Krebs was the main guy to get me sucked back at Bowling Green," said Sebo. "It didn't take me long to find out that he is one of the sharpest ADs in Division I."
Sebo said Krebs "drew me into the program through the athletic department because I was confident in what he was doing. I brought up Urban Meyer's name [for the BGSU football coaching job] to Paul, and Paul jumped on it."
Meyer enjoyed two-year successes as coach at BGSU and then Utah and now is entering his second year at Florida.
Krebs impressed by event
Like Sebo, Krebs also was impressed by the center's groundbreaking.
"There are few events where you look back and think, 'Boy, I remember that day.' This is certainly one of those days," said Krebs, adding that, "Bob and Karen have great passion [for BGSU and] are committed to making a difference in the lives of young men and women."
The Sebos' $4.4 million gift includes $750,000 for the Sebo Entrepreneurship Lecture Series started last spring and $40,000 for WBGU-PBS to create a documentary on Ohio entrepreneurs.
"I have tremendous admiration for entrepreneurs and want to give young people with the entrepreneurial spirit a fighting chance of making their dreams a reality," Sebo said.
kovach@vindy.com