Florida Gators’ indoor facility near completion

Florida’s indoor practice facility could be completed “as early” as Aug. 22, the school announced Tuesday.

It can’t come fast enough.

Inclement weather caused Friday’s practice to get canceled, with team’s official Twitter account tweeting pictures of turf instillation in the IPF with the captain “pretty soon these afternoon thunderstorms won’t be a thing.”

The $17 million project, initially forecast for completion sometime in late September, is ahead of schedule and first-year coach Jim McElwain is optimistic the Gators will get to utilize the facility before their opener Sept. 5.

“I went over and spoke to them here in the middle of the summer and gave those guys some T-shirts,” McElwain said.

“They’ve been working around the clock. They’ve run three shifts, they’re doing everything they can to get the Gators indoors. I’m just really proud of what they’re doing over there. They’re ahead of schedule. I don’t know what that means, but I do know this, they’re working their tails off to get us in there.”

THIS & THAT

McElwain said All-America cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III stands to serve as the team’s No. 1 punt returner this season. … Former Miami Booker T. Washington star wideout Antonio Callaway and Miami Norland linebacker Rayshad Jackson have impressed a number of veterans early in training camp. The two freshmen are competing at positions desperate for playmakers.

This story was originally published August 8, 2015 at 12:53 AM with the headline "Florida Gators’ indoor facility near completion."