Video from Louisiana Tech University, a college in Ruston, shows damage to an athletic field. Debris, including metal poles, are visible strewn about and the stands are partially destroyed and buried under felled trees. The News Star

Recovering exudes contradictory sentiments dependent on how one reflects on the word.

It can be a label sunken with negative connotation from a hurtful experience while also swelling with uplifting positivity as it signals a brighter future through the disturbance.

When Louisiana Tech Athletic Director Tommy McClelland rests his thoughts on one year ago today, on the dark and quiet morning when an EF-3 tornado ripped through the heart of campus to wreak devastating havoc on multiple athletic facilities, despair and uncertainty rushes through first. But in the same thought, what comes to his mind on April 25 assures him of how the Tech baseball, softball, soccer and tennis programs and their new homes will feel and look in the near future.

Construction continues on the new Louisiana Tech softball stadium and complex in Ruston, La. on April 23. The new stadium will be by Joe Aillet Stadium after the previous was destroyed by a tornado last year.(Photo: Nicolas Galindo/The News-Star)

If I had to put one word (on this past year from the tornado), its recovering, McClelland told The News-Star. Were not recovered. Were also not at ground zero of not starting the process of recovering. I think that would be defined much deeper in that the word symbolizes that action was required. We got hit by a tornado.

The word recovering, in the past sense it has a negative feel to it but when you think about it for the future, its a positive. As we transition from one end of the pendulum to the other on the anniversary of devastation and despair, the concerns and uncertainty, what does it all mean, to the idea and vision of knowing not only hope but inspiration. Where our destination is greater than where we left.

Last year, the storm caused more than $20 million in damages to Louisiana Techs athletic facilities, completely decimated the baseball teams J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park, the Lady Techsters Softball and soccer complexes as well as hitting the tennis courts and the outdoor track, but not rendering them totaled.

Lane Burroughs and his baseball team were on the road in Houston getting set for a three-game conference series at Rice when the tornado smashed the Love Shack. He and his players woke up at 2 a.m. to calls, texts, photos and videos of the scene and were immediately swept up in disbelief, shock and uncertainty of what they were going to do once they returned the Ruston.

What we kept in-house, but I dont think people understand the effect it had on all of our players, Burroughs recalled. I think I can speak for softball as well, but from a mental and emotional standpoint after the storm hit, we carried on for a month on just pure adrenaline. I think we petered out at the end of the year. There were so many moving parts.

From the athletic department, those moving parts like the application processes for insurance claims on the venues as well as scrounging up as much financial assistance as possible through FEMA and state appropriations, to countless conference calls with university administration, representatives from the state government, were arduous and mentally taxing.

In earnest, McClelland said, doubts and fears set in on if and when the Tech baseball, softball and soccer teams would get their new stadiums and fields.

What most people dont know is the deep level of uncertainty that existed on these facilities even becoming a reality, even up to six months ago. When youre dealing with federal and state agencies, insurance, all those things combined, its a cumbersome process. Its not the norm, McClelland said. I cannot express on the backend, particularly our governor (John Bel Edwards) and the state organized and coordinated this massive effort.

Although there were moments of frustration and plenty of negative conference calls where I thought, awe man, is this going to take two years to pull off? Those conversations occurred. But I cant express how committed the state of Louisiana and particularly our governor was steadfast in making sure things were done right for Louisiana Tech.

Before McClelland was able to provide his coaches reassurance that their respective programs would not have to wait that long for their new facilities, internal strife stoked much of his and the coaches anxiety at the prospect.

I think theres so much history and tradition with the old Love Shack. For months, we couldnt show our players or recruits a drawing, Burroughs said. We couldnt show them something, we wanted to so bad, but we couldnt even do that. It was tough trying to keep our players spirits up.

But once the plans received approval, the light shined through the dense haze.

McClelland stood in front a standing room only mixed crowd of current Louisiana Tech athletes, coaches, donors and fans in the football team meeting room inside the Davison Athletic Complex on that fateful Nov. 21 afternoon, as he shared the approved renderings of the new stadiums to them, beaming the entirety of the press conference. It was nearly seven full months after the tornado wrecked the old facilities and that day served as a beacon of the future of Tech athletics.

We moved forward, we advocated and justified why it was important to do this for our student-athletes. Through the muck and the mire in the aftermath of the tornado, I cast my eyes on where were going with this, McClelland said.

What ultimately emerged was new top-of-the-line, more modern facilities. The softball and soccer complex will move from its old location up the hill on Tech Drive, adjacent to Joe Aillet Stadium where the programs will share a two-level facility. Both teams will boast new clubhouses, coaches offices, meeting room locker and equipment rooms.

The new Love Shack will feature a seating expansion from 800 to 2,500, along with a separate building thatll house the coaches offices, locker room, meeting room and players lounge. The baseball program will now have an indoor facility where players can get work in despite the weather.

Construction officially began on all three new facilities in March, 11 months after the storm hit. Mounds of dirt and asphalt where the new softball field will be has moved. As of last week, workers have begun laying the beginning stages of concrete at the site of the new baseball stadium.

I drive by there every day. I sent a picture to the guys of them pouring concrete and they all were going crazy, Burroughs said. Just riding by and seeing whats going on, its a good feeling and it makes it all worth it. To get to something great, you have to suffer through something bad. You have to hold hope and dont give in. You get up every morning, moving forward because you never know what the next day holds.

Were looking forward to walking through the gates of the new stadium. When this thing gets built, I dont think anybody in our league can match us. What theyre seeing and the fan experience is going to be outstanding. I dont think well have any excuse, we should be moving to the top of the league. Well have the best facility in our league, so we need to be on top and running it. I feel like were moving in that direction right now.

Attempting to sell recruits on a vision that immediately couldnt be physically seen, not knowing where all of its equipment is exactly stored, to the logistics of playing a shortened 2020 season where basically all of it was played on the road, through all the challenges over the past year, Burroughs said he wouldnt change a thing.

You cant control this. Were all here for a reason at this time. We make decisions that affect things. If its out of our control, I never question it, Burroughs said. Deep down, theres a reason for it. Our young men are going to be better going through this as they navigate life. I told them their kids will ask you about this one day. Youre living through history right now. Take advantage of it and soak it up.

Even through all the tough times, itll all be worthwhile when we walk out there and see it. Even softball and soccer, all these facilities will change the landscape for our entire university.

April 25, 2019 exudes devastation and dismay for McClelland and Louisiana Tech coaches. One year later, that same date conjures a feeling of positivity and enjoyment. The tangible progress serves as a visual map of all the twists and turns the athletic department and itsteams trudged through along the way.

And the school and its athletics department hopes that come January 2021, the target date for completion of new Love Shack and the new softball and soccer can be a vessel for the Ruston community that continues to heal from the storm, one year later and beyond.

It is a positive thing. In a time right now where theres not a lot of things to look forward to or put your finger on it, its not hard to say weve got something thats going to happen at the beginning of 2021, McClelland said.

Lets think about it, as these projects are being built, its a reflection of our communitys recovery. By the beginning of 2021, we wont be completely recovered, but theres a parallel of us constructing these complexes and building back our community.

Read more:

'Recovering': Progress on LA Tech's athletic facilities builds hope 1 year after tornado - The News Star