CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (FootballStL) – St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long made a significant donation towards building a new practice facility at his alma mater, the University of Virginia.
Long contributed $300,000 to the Virginia Athletics Foundation to be used to help fund the new George Welsh Indoor Practice Facility, which is expected to be complete next spring. The $14.5 million, 78,000-square foot facility will provide practice and training space for the football program and other field sports at the University of Virginia.
“I am so proud to be a part of a brotherhood like the Virginia Football program,” Long said in a press release. “I am completely committed to helping Coach London build this program and I know it's going to take time and hard work to do it the right way.”
The Rams selected Long with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. In five seasons, he has recorded 32.5 career sacks and has started 55 out of 67 games since becoming a pro.
Long became the third unanimous All-American in Virginia history as a senior in 2007. He was named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year and won the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding defensive end.
