Liuget Pledges $250,000 Toward New Football Players Lounge
Corey Liuget Players Lounge is part of the new Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics today announced a gift of $250,000 from Fighting Illini football great and eight-year NFL veteran Corey Liuget. Liuget's gift will go toward the completion of the Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center, which will feature the naming of the players lounge as the Corey Liuget Players’ Lounge.
“The University of Illinois shaped me to be a hard worker and showed me how important it is to stay on track and to achieve your goals,” Liuget said. “I wanted to make this gift and put my name on the Players’ Lounge because I want recruits to see that we have football traditions, players in the NFL, first-round picks. Illinois can make you whatever you want to be.”
The 4,111 square foot Corey Liuget Players’ Lounge will be adjacent to the locker room and features the following amenities:
» A digital gaming area with flat panel displays and comfortable furniture
» An active gaming area complete with a pool table, foosball, ping pong, shuffleboard and a nutrition area
“Corey made a tremendous impact on this football program during his three seasons, and that impact continues today,” Director of Athletics Josh Whitman said. “He is a passionate Illini, who embraced all that being an Illinois student-athlete entailed, including returning to campus to complete his degree in 2016 even while pursuing his dream of playing professional football. His generous gift to this project will encourage future student-athletes to join the Illini family and to maximize their experience while on our campus, just as Corey himself has done.”
Liuget played three seasons at Illinois from 2008-2010, earning fourth-team All-America (Phil Steele) and second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2010. He compiled 125 tackles, 25.5 TFLs and 8.5 sacks in his Illini career and served as team captain in 2010. He was selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft (26th overall) by the San Diego Chargers, where he played his first eight NFL seasons. In 2016, Liuget returned to Illinois to complete his final requirements to earn his bachelor’s degree in sociology.
With the Chargers, Liuget played in 108 career games, totaling 275 tackles, 59 TFLs, 24 sacks, 20 passes defended, five forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown. He was San Diego’s 2018 nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, earning the nomination for his dedication to participating in various community events, and initiatives as well as continuing his working relationship with the American Heart Association (AHA).
Liuget was one of the most active Chargers in the community from the day he was drafted, but what he accomplished in 2018 is truly extraordinary. Along with participating in Chargers events like TeamSmile, speaking to high school football players in the Orange County All-Star Classic and donating personally purchased tickets to the team’s Community Corner, he also did several things on his own accord.
A South Florida native, Liuget visited Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in March, spoke with the football team and created a scholarship fund in memory of Stoneman Douglas Football Coach Aaron Feis. He visited children’s hospitals and spoke to kids in juvenile hall about the importance of second chances in life.
But above all, Liuget’s ultimate passion is spreading the message of heart health wellness that stems from his son, Corey Jr., being born with multiple heart defects. Although Corey Jr. is now healthy, Liuget hasn’t given up on working with the American Heart Association to help others. He has donated CPR and Heart Health testing kids to local high schools and is an ambassador for the Los Angeles American Heart Association’s Community S.T.E.P.S. Program, which aims to bring law enforcement and families together to create a safe space for dialogue and physical activity.
“We want all our former players to remain engaged in the Illinois Football program and having Corey Liuget support our new Smith Football Center in this way is an incredible testament to his experience on this campus,” Head Coach Lovie Smith said. “Corey has been a very productive professional player, and this gift shows the pride he has in his alma mater and place that helped elevate him into a first-round draft pick. We continue to thank Corey, and the many others, who have helped make this incredible facility a reality.”
The $79.2 million Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center is the marquee capital project for the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, and the $20 million lead gift from the Smith Family is part of the $300 million fundraising goal for the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, which is part of "With Illinois," the $2.25 billion University-wide fundraising campaign.
The107,650 square foot facility will feature new and expanded strength and conditioning and sports medicine space, coaches' offices, position meeting rooms, player development areas, locker rooms, and other areas for recruiting and prospect hosting. The facility will be open for player use on July 31, 2019, with a grand opening schedule for Oct. 12 when the Fighting Illini host Michigan at Memorial Stadium.
Corey Liuget Players Lounge is part of the new Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics today announced a gift of $250,000 from Fighting Illini football great and eight-year NFL veteran Corey Liuget. Liuget's gift will go toward the completion of the Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center, which will feature the naming of the players lounge as the Corey Liuget Players’ Lounge.
“The University of Illinois shaped me to be a hard worker and showed me how important it is to stay on track and to achieve your goals,” Liuget said. “I wanted to make this gift and put my name on the Players’ Lounge because I want recruits to see that we have football traditions, players in the NFL, first-round picks. Illinois can make you whatever you want to be.”
The 4,111 square foot Corey Liuget Players’ Lounge will be adjacent to the locker room and features the following amenities:
» A digital gaming area with flat panel displays and comfortable furniture
» An active gaming area complete with a pool table, foosball, ping pong, shuffleboard and a nutrition area
“Corey made a tremendous impact on this football program during his three seasons, and that impact continues today,” Director of Athletics Josh Whitman said. “He is a passionate Illini, who embraced all that being an Illinois student-athlete entailed, including returning to campus to complete his degree in 2016 even while pursuing his dream of playing professional football. His generous gift to this project will encourage future student-athletes to join the Illini family and to maximize their experience while on our campus, just as Corey himself has done.”
Liuget played three seasons at Illinois from 2008-2010, earning fourth-team All-America (Phil Steele) and second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2010. He compiled 125 tackles, 25.5 TFLs and 8.5 sacks in his Illini career and served as team captain in 2010. He was selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft (26th overall) by the San Diego Chargers, where he played his first eight NFL seasons. In 2016, Liuget returned to Illinois to complete his final requirements to earn his bachelor’s degree in sociology.
With the Chargers, Liuget played in 108 career games, totaling 275 tackles, 59 TFLs, 24 sacks, 20 passes defended, five forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown. He was San Diego’s 2018 nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, earning the nomination for his dedication to participating in various community events, and initiatives as well as continuing his working relationship with the American Heart Association (AHA).
Liuget was one of the most active Chargers in the community from the day he was drafted, but what he accomplished in 2018 is truly extraordinary. Along with participating in Chargers events like TeamSmile, speaking to high school football players in the Orange County All-Star Classic and donating personally purchased tickets to the team’s Community Corner, he also did several things on his own accord.
A South Florida native, Liuget visited Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in March, spoke with the football team and created a scholarship fund in memory of Stoneman Douglas Football Coach Aaron Feis. He visited children’s hospitals and spoke to kids in juvenile hall about the importance of second chances in life.
But above all, Liuget’s ultimate passion is spreading the message of heart health wellness that stems from his son, Corey Jr., being born with multiple heart defects. Although Corey Jr. is now healthy, Liuget hasn’t given up on working with the American Heart Association to help others. He has donated CPR and Heart Health testing kids to local high schools and is an ambassador for the Los Angeles American Heart Association’s Community S.T.E.P.S. Program, which aims to bring law enforcement and families together to create a safe space for dialogue and physical activity.
“We want all our former players to remain engaged in the Illinois Football program and having Corey Liuget support our new Smith Football Center in this way is an incredible testament to his experience on this campus,” Head Coach Lovie Smith said. “Corey has been a very productive professional player, and this gift shows the pride he has in his alma mater and place that helped elevate him into a first-round draft pick. We continue to thank Corey, and the many others, who have helped make this incredible facility a reality.”
The $79.2 million Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center is the marquee capital project for the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, and the $20 million lead gift from the Smith Family is part of the $300 million fundraising goal for the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, which is part of "With Illinois," the $2.25 billion University-wide fundraising campaign.
The107,650 square foot facility will feature new and expanded strength and conditioning and sports medicine space, coaches' offices, position meeting rooms, player development areas, locker rooms, and other areas for recruiting and prospect hosting. The facility will be open for player use on July 31, 2019, with a grand opening schedule for Oct. 12 when the Fighting Illini host Michigan at Memorial Stadium.
