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Show 8 Thursday, April 19, 2012 DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Utah athletics hopes to raise $150M Jory Carroll STAFF WRITER When the Utes joined the Pac12, they became part of one of the most accomplished conferences in the nation. That meant the Utes had to not only step up their athletic performance, but their financial footprint as well. In order to do so, athletic director Chris Hill said he hopes a fundraising campaign, which officially kicks off Saturday, reaches Ute fans across the globe. Although the Utes' success in the Pac-12 largely depends on the talent of the athletes and coaches, finan- KOBAYASHI continued from Page 7 Kobayashi coming into this season. On Nov. 25, her mother Noriko passed away after a battle with cancer. "I thought I couldn't do gymnastics anymore because she was my number-one support, my number-one fan," Kobayashi said, noting that it took quite some time after her mother passed away before her heart was fully back into gymnastics. "It was really hard for me to come back here in the gym, but I'm glad I did." As happy as she is to be back in the gym these days, dealing with the grief of her mother's passing combined with immense talent on this year's squad, on beam particularly, has relegated Kobayashi to just a few exhibition routines during the season. Performing in front of a big crowd such as those at the Huntsman Center is something she loves doing, but she has remained positive with the situation just as she did cial support is just as important in jumped the Grand Canyon. It's that order to compete with USC, Stan- huge. We've got a lot of catching up ford and Oregon. In what to do in terms of infrathe U is calling the "most structure and support for ambitious fundraising our programs so that we campaign in the history can be successful." of Utah athletics," the One recent example of department is aiming to catching up is the demoliraise $150 million during tion of the Smith Athletic the next five years, Hill Center. In its place will be a $20 million football said. "In the past, we've nevfacility that is scheduled er had as big of a chalto be finished before the CHRIS HILL lenge in terms of making start of the 2013 season. the leap from the Mountain West As the success of the Utes' footto the Pac-tz, in many ways," Hill ball program, which has won two said. "I've teased people that we've BCS bowl games in the past decade, when she dealt with the injuries of last season. "It's hard to be on the sidelines, but this is a team sport, so I am more than willing to be there for my team," Kobayashi said. "If I get the chance to compete that would be great, but even if not, it's great to just be cheering for this team." And cheer she does. Described by both Lofgren and Director of Gymnastics Operations Cameron Linford as very loud, with, as Lofgren puts it, "the loudest laugh you've ever heard," Kobayashi has certainly made her presence felt throughout the season even if she hasn't cracked the lineup. "She's been a great support," Lofgren said. "Whatever job she's placed in, whether support or competing, she's done a great job. No matter where she's placed, she's enjoyed it and she's had fun being here." Kobayashi might be making the most of a tough situation, an opportunity to crack the lineup might be on the horizon. With Stephanie McAllister, Kyndal Robarts and Cortni Beers all set to graduate this year, half of co-head coach Megan Marsden's beam lineup will be new in 2013. As the lone senior on next year's squad, Kobayashi should have plenty of opportunity to regain her spot in that lineup. Additionally, though she has been forced to train on just beam throughout this season because of her chronic back problems, her trainer recently gave her the green light to work on other events. "My guess is that with a little bit of re-motivation, I think Fu could be back in the thick of things," Marsden said. "Hopefully [she] has that in the back of her mind, that next year is the year for a big push if she wants to try and make the lineup." In order to do that, Kobayashi recognizes that consistency will be the key. But that plays into her personality well — determined to reach her goals, strong-willed and balanced as a gymnast on a beam. continues to grow, Hill said people are more willing to make donations toward a team they know is capable of winning on a consistent basis. "People are excited to be in the Pac-12, but we just don't want to be in Pac-tz, we want to be successful," Hill said. "So it's going to take support from both our new Pac-12 money as well as from our contributors and people that love the Utes." Although the overall goal of $150 million in the next five years might seem a bit overwhelming at first, Hill said the Athletics Department is working to make it as easy as possible for people to make contribu- j.carroll@ chronicle.utah.edu Aiiiie ifw—ee-f(121)Tigt. tweet a little haraerspeaktwitter need more tweets? d mothertwucker twittertweet reed more tweets: in spaaelikwwleitte ni tteeddr twidiot • tW Ii twi d iot twi lot d twidiot the tweettt,I,nztt heard on rie.d.,,,eao -- -twalker maltweeted twfo I ) c maktw_gter twl twe t need re t Arts events going on around the U and Salt Lake City, follow our r accoun at rony E mothert mick, N/P tIPMArgthe C nears on me twe t ON speak twitter rwidiot maltweeted • K r LYY spgw krrg tweet a Attie har erspea need more tweets? mothertw cker t tweet le speak twitter h maltweeted twittertwr wittertwee rd aOrigg t 41A tweet a litt need more twee twee' ker VW h di:Waifs pe witte mothertwuc :rtwittert idiot reed mor speak twitter WICII0t1 maltweeted mted altwee et lot h ea rd n the tweets needm. m, ets?tweetwa I kerm eetto Navigating Saturday Through FleaLthcare April 28th Careers 7130 0mi pm twee lemani Lacm 1 'eet=itirgeLlh e haraerspeak vex e itte wee _Ker r.mcdonald@ . _:eilleni, nia, twidiol chronicle.utah.edu smpea ptkwteweittetedrthw, .. on w.i-:r irCna er R- .dailyutahchronicle. co tions, however big or small they are. A quiet phase was started about a year and a half ago, and Hill hopes the department will reach its goal by 2017. Hill said people could make commitments of $10,000 a year throughout five years for a total of $50,000. "One of the big goals, now that we're in such a visible situation, is that we need to branch out besides the boundaries of the University of Utah, to wherever we have folks that are supportive of what we want to get accomplished." Pre-Health Conference Free Admission rtweeet mot ertwucke p!ak twine twqte hea r on onerthe tweettsW spa m ertkwteweit d tte twichot . . 'red 111 7 tlYe.et maltweetedt WICI ICA twidio twidio heard on MI asa pre-ralister al www.LiASAulah_org or email LIASILutah@gmili.com the tweetTvigi2 .cimorerweets?tweetwalKer mmtwee tweetlemaniacvgAl I 111 1 University Tm MEDIA SALES GROUP , THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH © 3 4 HUB ildg 2 - ac 3 5 7 8 8 9 5 2 17 46 9 2 8 4I 8 1 3 2 Answers can be found on the website at www.sudoku.com ANSWER TO TODAY'S PUZZLE B A A Q A 0 A P A R 0 D R B A R 0 0 A A P R D 0 0 R R A 0 P A A D P 0 B B B 0 D 0 A A B B A A A R 0 0 0 A R 0 D D A 0 1p ‘■ -.‘;'‘ N'incent Van Batman 10 FREE University SUPERSONIC CAR WASHES with .( l/PER rot/a EVERY AUTO LOAN eig 4 FEDERAL CREDIT UNION • |