A new, state-of-the-art practice facility will soon be constructed for the Mississippi State football team after a historic donation was announced by the university’s athletic department on Wednesday.
Howard Industries, a Laurel-based manufacturer of electrical and technology products, is providing the lead naming gift for the indoor facility. Pending approval by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning at its June 2025 meeting, the new facility will be named in honor of Billy W. Howard Sr.
Howard graduated from Mississippi State with a degree in electrical engineering in 1946, lettering in football, basketball, and track. On the gridiron, he earned the nickname of “Iron Man” after becoming the first Bulldog player to play nearly every minute of every game. He founded Howard Industries in 1968 and has long used success of the globally operating company to support his alma mater.
“This donation is a tribute to my families deep ties to Mississippi State University,” Howard said. “It’s an honor to support the football program and to help build a facility that will continue to nurture the next generation of student-athletes. I’m proud to be a part of the Bulldogs’ legacy.”
Mississippi State athletic director Zac Selmon shared his gratitude for Howard’s investment into a new practice facility, one that will include 110,000 square feet of indoor training space along with dedicated spaces for sports science for enhanced work in injury prevention and recovery. The donation also includes renovations and expansions of the sports medicine, nutrition, and locker room areas within the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex.
“We are so thankful to the Howard family and Howard Industries for their thoughtful decision to invest in the development of elite talent at Mississippi State,” Selmon said. “We know this is a critical time in college football, and we must continue to take steps forward to elevate Mississippi State football.
“We are thrilled Howard Industries shares this belief with us, but we are even more excited and honored that the new facility will bear the name of Mr. Billy, as he is someone who exemplifies what it means to be a Mississippi State Bulldog. We can’t wait to continue to share his story with all who walk through the doors of the facility.”
The Billy W. Howard Sr. Indoor Practice Facility will be constructed adjacent to the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex. The estimated cost for the indoor practice facility and enhanced support spaces rounds out at approximately $60 million. With groundbreaking anticipated in 2027, it is expected the indoor training facility will open in summer of 2028 with interior renovations to the current facility expected to be completed in 2029.
Upon completion of the indoor training facility, the football program will have a space to itself. Currently, it shares an indoor turf inside the Palmeiro Center with the baseball team.
“Words cannot truly express how incredibly grateful we are to Howard Industries and the entire Howard family for making this vision a reality,” head coach Jeff Lebby said. “This new indoor facility will allow us to train more effectively as we compete against the best in the country week in and week out. The development of players, the injury prevention and recovery components, and the ability to prepare for Saturdays regardless of elements outdoors is going to have tremendous impacts on our program. We are grateful for the investment in Mississippi State football and are working tirelessly to make all Bulldog fans proud.”
Architects CDFL and HOK and facility planners are in the process of completing design concepts. For those interested in giving to the indoor practice facility project, the Bulldog Club can be contacted at (662) 325-3074 or online here.
