For years, the University of Miami has waited for this moment.
Thursday, it finally came as the school held the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility, which is targeted to be completed in time for the start of the 2018 season.
In a tent full of more than 200 boosters and officials from both the university and the city of Coral Gables, Miami athletic director Blake James, football coach Mark Richt and school president Julio Frenk thanked the donors that made the facility possible, namely Carol Soffer and her family, who donated $14 million toward the $34 million project.