Officially opened in January 2013, the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex is an all-encompassing football training and office facility of approximately 80,000 square feet. The facility includes a new weight room, locker room, training room and coaches’ offices. Located immediately north and adjacent to the Palmeiro Center, the building overlooks the football practice fields to the east and Mississippi Highway 12 to the west.

 

Funding for the outstanding facility was announced in April 2011 when the largest gift in Bulldog Athletics history was made, a $12 million donation from the Seal Family Foundation of Gulfport, Miss. That gift helped fund a $20-25 million project to build the Seal Football Complex and also renovate MSU's football practice fields.

 

The gift, given by former Bulldog football players - twin brothers Lee and Leo Seal - was made in honor their late father Leo Seal Jr. Seal, Jr. was a former Mississippi State football player, long-time Bulldog Club donor and president of Hancock Bank.

 

“The generosity of the Seal family has always set a great example of philanthropic donations to Mississippi State, both academics and athletics,” director of athletics Scott Stricklin said. “Not only is it the largest gift in our athletics history, it will most likely be one of the largest gifts in all of college athletics this year. Lee and Leo have carried on the legacy of giving set forth by their father and grandfather.”

 

Lee and Leo’s father, the aforementioned Leo Seal Jr., provided lead funding for the construction of the Seal M-Club Building at Davis Wade Stadium, named for Leo Seal Sr., as well as the Leo W. Seal Family Business Complex at the College of Business.

 

“My father and grandfather both had a love for Mississippi State and an appreciation for the opportunity to play football in the Southeastern Conference and represent their state,” Lee Seal said. “My brother and I both hold that same passion for our alma mater and we’re excited to help the university and our football program.”

 

“I’m extremely appreciative of the Seals and other families who have helped make this a reality,” head coach Dan Mullen said. “This is a vital addition to our football program. We’ve talked since I’ve arrived at Mississippi State about getting all of our football operations under one roof, allowing us to have daily interaction with each of our players and continuing to develop the family atmosphere around our program – this will accomplish those goals.”