The University of Oregon is now home to one of the most high-tech sports facilities in college football.
The Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Center (MMSPC) just opened in Eugene and the UO this week detailed some the building’s more innovative features.
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The building, which honors Heisman Trophy winner and current Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, has a bevy of advanced sports science technologies designed to keep players in tip-top shape.
They include a motion capture system that can identify potential injuries; a bone density scanner; a neurocognitive center that helps diagnose and treat concussions; pneumatic compression units that reduce muscle soreness; sleep pods; and more.
https://twitter.com/GoDucks/status/768849331365384192
Student-athletes will also be able to track workouts and see their results with touchscreens. Personal data is fed to an “athlete management system” that crunches the numbers and provides feedback.
There is also a helmet construction workshop that allows for a “NASCAR-like rebuild” of helmets. Even the laundry system is advanced, allowing staff to complete 500 pounds of laundry at once.
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The MMSPC was paid for by Nike co-founder and UO grad Phil Knight and his wife Penny for an estimated $19 million. “Uncle Phil” is honored at the center:
https://twitter.com/GoDucks/status/768844411820093440
GoDucks.com noted that Dr. Greg Skaggs, UO director of athletic medicine, traveled to NASA’s headquarters, as well as Australia, to conduct research for the sports science aspects of the building.
The UO football team is also testing high-tech helmets developed by Seattle startup Vicis, but the company recently pulled their product, citing the need to improve comfort and fit for players.