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3yardsandacloud

Administrator Emeritus
I though some of the stories behind some of these were interesting.


From CollegeFootballNews.com

By Richard Cirminiello

Their names are as much a part of the sport as the players that don the school colors or the coaches that navigate the sidelines.* They’re integral fragments of your autumn lexicon, yet you know not who they are.* You’ve spent countless hours and memorable moments in their houses, yet you’d struggle to identify them in a lineup.***

They’re the names behind the stadium names.* The men and women, who’ve been honored for their unwavering service, dedication and generosity to institutions of higher learning.* However, to most, Doak Campbell is simply an edifice and not the driving force in the development of a Florida university.* And Jack Trice just a collection of seats and turnstiles, rather than a young athlete, who broke social barriers in Iowa more than 80 years ago.


Those surnames on the outside facing of your favorite stadiums and the face of your Saturday afternoon ticket stubs are real people.* Real special people in most instances.* Their backgrounds and paths to immortality are as diverse as the architecture of the arenas themselves.** Their drive for success and love for a school are the ties that bind this unique collection of successful individuals.*******

The NFL has naming rights.* College football still has names that reach back deep into the past and conjure up memories of yesteryear.* Bank of America Stadium.* Bryant-Denny Stadium.* No contest.*****

Alabama – Bryant-Denny Stadium
Named for ... George Denny and Paul “Bear” Bryant
What’d they do? Beginning in 1912, Denny was the UA president for nearly a quarter of a century.* Of course, Bryant was the legendary coach of the Tide for many years.* His record for most wins in Division I-A has been eclipsed in recent years by Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden.* In 1975, the Alabama state legislature voted to add the Bryant name to Denny Stadium.

Arkansas – Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
Named for ... Donald Worthington Reynolds
What’d he do? A one-time media mogul with an amazing penchant for giving, Reynolds’ Foundation is one of the most generous in the country.* A $20 million gift to the university in 1999 was instrumental in the expansion of Razorback Stadium.* *

Auburn – Jordan-Hare Stadium
Named for ... Ralph Jordan and Cliff Hare
What’d they do? Hare was a player on Auburn’s first football team, longtime chairman of Auburn’s Faculty Athletic Committee and former president of the old Southern Conference.* “Shug” Jordan coached the Tigers to a school-best 176 victories from 1951-1975.* Cliff Hare Stadium became Jordan-Hare in 1973. **

Army – Michie Stadium
Named for ... Dennis Mahan Michie
What’d he do? An infantryman, Michie was vital in bringing the game of football to the Military Academy.* In 1890, he organized and coached the very first football team at West Point.* He was later killed during a tour of duty in the Spanish-American War.**

Baylor – Floyd Casey Stadium
Named for ...* Floyd Casey
What’d he do? He was the father of longtime Baylor supporter and trustee Carl Casey, who, along with his wife Thelma, donated $5 million toward the 1988 stadium renovation project.**

Bowling Green – Doyt Perry Stadium
Named for ... Doyt L. Perry
What’d he do? Throughout the years, no single individual has symbolized Falcon football more than Perry, a former player, head coach and Director of Athletics for the school.* Perry is the winningest coach in Bowling Green history and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.**

BYU – LaVell Edwards Stadium
Named for ...* LaVell Edwards
What’d he do? Edwards is one of college football’s coaching icons.* In his 29 years in Provo, he amassed 257 victories, 22 bowl appearances, 13 top 25 finishes and the school’s lone national championship in 1984.* Cougar Stadium became LaVell Edwards Stadium three years ago.

Central Michigan – Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Named for ... R. Perry Shorts and Bill Kelly
What’d they do? A local banker and 1900 graduate of CMU, Shorts was a generous donor to his alma mater.* Kelly coached the Chippewa football team to a 91-58-2 record from 1951-1966.* **

Cincinnati – Nippert Stadium
Named for ... Jimmy Nippert
What’d he do? In 1923, James Gamble donated $250,000 in memory of Nippert, his grandson, to help complete construction of the stadium.* Earlier that year, Nippert suffered a wound in a game with Miami University and died suddenly from blood poisoning. ***

Colorado – Folsom Field
Named for ...* Frederick Folsom
What’d he do? On and off between 1895 and 1915, Folsom was the head coach of the Buffs for 15 seasons.* To this day, his .765 winning percentage remains the highest in school history.*

Colorado State – Hughes Stadium
Named for ... Harry Hughes
What’d he do? Hughes is the winningest coach in the school’s history.* He prowled the sidelines more than 90 years ago when CSU was known as Colorado A&M.

Connecticut – Rentschler Field
Named for ... Frederick Rentschler
What’d he do? Rentschler was the brilliant inventor and founder of Pratt & Whitney, the aircraft company, which donated the land upon which the stadium was built. *

Duke – Wallace Wade Stadium
Named for ... Wallace Wade
What’d he do? After being known as Duke Stadium for 37 seasons, the university’s Board of Trustees agreed in 1967 to rename the stadium in honor of the Blue Devil coach, who led the program to 110 wins and a pair of Rose Bowl appearances in 1939 and 1942.*

East Carolina – Bagwell Field at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
Named for ... James Skinner Ficklen, Ron and Mary Ellen Dowdy and Al and Debby Bagwell
What’d they do? Ficklen, a Greenville native and prominent business leader in the community, established a foundation in the 1950s that sponsored scholarships for ECU students.* In 1994, the Dowdys gave a $1 million gift to the university that went toward the expansion of the stadium.* The Bagwells, both ECU alums, were honored in 1998 for their gift to the school’s Educational Foundation.

Eastern Michigan – Rynearson Stadium
Named for ... Elton J. Rynearson, Sr.
What’d he do? Rynearson coached the Eagles to a 114-58-15 record over a 26-year stretch.* Over the past 90 years, he’s one of just two EMU coaches to leave his post win a winning record. ***

Florida – Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Named for ... Ben Hill Griffin Jr.
What’d he do? Considered to be one of the most influential Floridians of the 20th century, Griffin was a wealthy philanthropist, who donated an estimated $20 million to the university throughout his lifetime.

Florida State – Doak Campbell Stadium
Named for ... Doak S. Campbell
What’d he do? As president of Florida State from 1941-1957, Campbell was an integral figure in the growth of the institution.* Under his guidance, the school reverted back to being coed in 1947.* For the prior four decades, it had been known as Florida State College for Women.*

Georgia – Sanford Stadium
Named for ... Dr. Steadman Vincent Sanford
What’d he do? Sanford was one of the most important educational leaders in the South during the first half of the 20th century.* He served as the school’s president from 1932-1935 and then as chancellor of the University System of Georgia until his death in 1945.

Georgia Tech – Bobby Dodd Stadium
Named for ... Bobby Dodd
What’d he do? In 1988, the Georgia State Board of Regents voted to add Dodd’s name to what had long been known as Grant Field.* The “Gray Fox” had a brilliant 57-year affiliation with the Institute that included 22 years as head coach and stints as director of athletics and consultant for the alumni association.

Houston – O’Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium
Named for – John and Julie O’Quinn and Corbin J. Robertson
What’d they do? The O’Quinn’s Foundation donated $6 million to the football program, making a massive renovation of the stadium possible in 1999.* Mr. O’Quinn is a member of the UH System Board of Regents and a 1967 alum of the UH Law Center.* For many years, Robertson was a major benefactor of Cougar athletics.* His family’s $3 million gift in 1983, allowed the stadium to undergo a much-needed facelift.****

Idaho – Kibbie Dome
Named for – William H. Kibbie
What’d he do? After a fire partially destroyed Neale Stadium in 1969, the Vandals began construction of their current home.* Kibbie, an Idaho alum, played a vital role with his donation of $300,000. **

Iowa – Kinnick Stadium
Named for – Nile Kinnick
What’d he do? Quite possibly the most popular athlete in Iowa sports history, Kinnick was the recipient of the Heisman Trophy in 1939.* An intelligent, well-rounded young man, his untimely death in 1943 shocked the nation.* On a routine training flight during WWII, the plane he was piloting crash landed in the Caribbean Sea.

Iowa State – Jack Trice Stadium
Named for ... Jack Trice
What’d he do? In 1923, Trice became the first black athlete in Cyclone history, participating in both track and football.* In his first game, he suffered a broken collarbone that forced him into a Minneapolis hospital.* Two days after being declared fit, he tragically succumbed to internal bleeding.*

Kansas State – Wagner Field at KSU Stadium
Named for ... David and Carol Wagner
What’d they do? More than a decade ago, the Dodge City couple donated $1 million to buy Kansas State new artificial turf.* The Wagners—perennial $25-a-year contributors—won $37 million in a 1991 national lottery drawing, allowing them to dramatically improve their support for the ‘Cats.

Kent State – Dix Stadium
Named for – Robert Dix
What’d he do? The Golden Flashes home stadium is named in honor of the man who served on the Board of Trustees from 1941-1973, the final ten years as school Chancellor. *

Louisiana-Monroe - Malone Stadium
Named for – James L. Malone
What’d he do? Malone earned his place as the school’s winningest head coach in the 1940s and 1950s, when the Indians were known as Northeast Louisiana University. ****

Louisiana Tech – Joe Aillet Stadium
Named for – Joe Aillet
What’d he do? In 27 seasons at the helm of the football program, Aillet led the school to a Bulldog-best 152 wins and 12 conference titles.* He was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.

Louisville – Papa John’s Stadium
Named for ... The pizza chain founded by John Schnatter in 1984
What’d they do? Aside from being home to the mouth watering Big Papa pie, the company ponied up $5 million toward the construction of the new on-campus stadium that debuted in 1998.

Maryland – Byrd Stadium
Named for ... H.C. Byrd
What’d he do? Better known as Curley, Byrd amassed a school-record 119 coaching wins from 1911-1934.* Upon leaving the gridiron, he assumed the position of school president in 1935.

Miami University – Yager Stadium
Named for ... Fred Yager
What’d he do? A 1914 graduate of the university, Yager’s generosity made the development of the RedHawks’ new stadium a reality two decades ago.***

MTSU – Floyd Stadium
Named for ... Johnny “Red” Floyd
What’d he do? In two separate stints—1917 and 1935-1938—Floyd coached the Blue Raiders to a 30-8-1 record and a pair of perfect seasons. ****

Ole Miss – Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
Named for ... Judge William Hemingway and John Howard Vaught
What’d they do? Hemingway was a professor of law and longtime chairman of Ole Miss’ Committee on Athletics.* Legend says Hemingway approved the name Rebels when the program was known as the Flood.* Vaught compiled a stellar 190-61-11 record as the Rebel’s head coach and brought the school a national championship in 1960.

Mississippi State – Scott Field
Named for ... Don Magruder Scott
What’d he do? Scott was an Olympic sprinter and one of the Bulldog’s first football stars.* He was inducted into the Mississippi State Sports Hall of Fame for track and football in 1970.**

Missouri – Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium
Named for ... Don Faurot
What’d he do? The playing field adopted the new name in 1972 in honor of the former Mizzou graduate student, head coach and athletic director.* Faurot’s innovative split T formation of the early 1940s gave birth to the option play.

Nevada – Mackay Stadium
Named for – Clarence Mackay
What’d he do? Mackay was the son of John Mackay, the famous Comstock silver king.* The Mackay family bequeathed large sums of money to the Reno school throughout the early 1900s. ****

North Carolina – Kenan Stadium
Named for ... William Rand Kenan Jr.
What’d he do? A UNC graduate in 1894, Kenan went on to become an affluent international industrialist.* His many years of generosity toward his alma mater began with a gift that paved the way for the construction of the stadium in 1927. **

North Carolina State – Carter-Finley Stadium
Named for ... Nick Carter, Harry Carter and Albert Earle Finley
What’d they do? The Carter brothers were graduates of the NC State Textile School and later became top execs at JP Stevens Company.* They contributed large amounts of funding toward the building of the stadium.* Finley was another successful businessman and an active supporter of the Wolfpack athletic programs.

North Texas – Fouts Field
Named for ... Theron J. Fouts
What’d he do? Fouts spent more than half his life supporting and promoting North Texas athletics.* In his 34 years in Denton, he served as the school’s football coach and athletic director.* Fouts’ vision and determination was the catalyst for the stadium’s construction in 1952.*** ****

Northwestern – Ryan Field
Named for ...* Patrick G. Ryan
What’d he do? Ryan made the major gift to the university’s Campaign for Athletic Excellence.* These funds were earmarked toward a $20 million renovation of the ‘Cats’ stadium that began in 1996.* He’s a 1959 graduate of the university and the current chair of the board of Trustees.

Ohio – Peden Stadium
Named for ...* Don C. Peden
What’d he do? Originally lured to Athens by the baseball squad, Peden coached the football team from 1924-1946.* He led the Bobcats to a 121-46-11 mark and several** Buckeye Athletic Association championships.* After his retirement from coaching, he assumed the duty of athletic director for the university.

Oklahoma – Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Satdium at Owen Field
Named for ... Edward L. Gaylord and Bennie Owen
What’d he do? Two years ago, the Board of Regents honored Gaylord and his family for the more than $50 million they’ve donated to the university.* In his illustrious 22-year career as the Sooners’ head coach, Owen led OU to a 122-54-16 record and four undefeated seasons.* He was a charter member of the National Football Hall of Fame.*

Oklahoma State – Boone Pickens Field
Named for ... Boone Pickens
What’d he do? Changed from Lewis field in honor of Laymon Lowery Lewis. he received this honor in 1914 when he was Oklahoma A&M’s acting president.* Considered to be one of the most popular individuals in school history, he also served as the dean of veterinary medicine, science and literature.*Of course, that got swept away when oil tycoon Boone Pickens came in and gave a ton of cash to the school.

Oregon – Autzen Stadium
Named for ... Tom Autzen
What’d he do? Autzen was a wealthy Portland benefactor, who provided $250,000 toward the original construction of the stadium in 1966.**

Oregon State – Reser Stadium
Named for ...* Al and Pat Reser
What’d they do? Formerly known as Parker Stadium, the name was changed in 1999 in honor of the family that made a seven-figure donation to the Beaver athletic department.

Penn State – Beaver Stadium
Named for ... James Addams Beaver**
What’d he do? Beaver was a local 19th century lawyer at the onset of the Civil War, who enlisted as a second lieutenant in the Union Army and ascended to the rank of brigadier general.* Following his discharge in 1864, he served as a superior court judge, governor of Pennsylvania and president of the university's Board of Trustees. **

Pittsburgh – Heinz Field
Named for ... H.J. Heinz Company
What’d they do? The 132-year old food company won the naming rights to the state of the art facility when it opened in 2001.* Heinz has agreed to pay $2.85 million a year for the next 20 seasons.* The stadium is shared by the Panthers and the NFL’s Steelers.*

Purdue – Ross-Ade Stadium
Named for ... David E. Ross and George Ade
What’d they do? The Boiler’s stadium is named in honor of their two chief philanthropists.* The pair purchased and gave the university the 65-acre tract on which the stadium is erected.* Ross was a former president of the Board of Trustees.* His $25,000 donation in 1930 helped begin the Purdue Research Foundation.* Ade was a playwright, humorist and Purdue graduate in 1887.****

SMU – Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Named for ... Gerald J. Ford
What’d he do? Despite popular notion this Gerald Ford never followed Richard Nixon into the White House.* He is, however, a wealthy alum of the Dallas school, who provided the lead gift of $20 million prior to the construction of the new stadium in 2000.* He’s also the chair of the SMU Board of Trustees and recipient of the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

South Carolina – Williams-Brice Stadium
Named for ...* Martha Williams Brice and Thomas H. Brice
What’d they do? During the early 1970s, then Carolina Stadium was undergoing an extensive renovation.* The facelift was made possible, in large part, by a $2.75 million gift from the estate of Mrs. Brice.* Her husband Thomas was a letterman on the Gamecock football team in the early 1920s.* The name was officially changed before the 1972 season opener.

South Florida – Raymond James Stadium
Named for ... Raymond James Financial
What’d they do? Raymond James is the second largest investment firm in the United States.* In 1998, the company bought naming rights to the Tampa stadium in a deal that will cost them $3.1 million a year until 2026.* The Bulls share the facility with the NFL’s Bucs.

Southern Mississippi – Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium
Named for ... L.E. Faulkner and Dr. M.M. Roberts*
What’d they do? Faulkner was a local businessman who provided the materials and equipment necessary to build the stadium in 1932.* As chairman of the Central Relief Committee he gathered the unemployed men of the Hattiesburg area to do the bulk of the work and the field was completed at no cost to the university. Dr. Roberts was a former member of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, who has been credited with the development of USM as a comprehensive university.

Syracuse – Carrier Dome
Named for ... The multi-national air conditioning company by the same name.
What’d they do? When the dome was being constructed in 1980, Carrier Corporation paid $2.75 million for naming rights.* The company was well ahead of its time with this investment and got a bargain by today’s standards. ***

Temple – Lincoln Financial Field
Named for ...* Lincoln Financial Group *
What’d they do? In June 2002, the naming rights to Philadelphia’s new state-of-the-art stadium went to Lincoln Financial Group, one of the country’s prominent financial services companies.* The agreement calls for the company pay $6.7 million a year until 2022.

TCU – Amon G. Carter Stadium
Named for ... Amon Giles Carter Sr.
What’d he do? Carter was a prominent member of the Fort Worth community and the founder and publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.* His endeavors and philanthropy helped put Fort Worth and TCU on the national map in the first half of the 20th century. ****

Tennessee – Shields-Watkins Field at Neyland Stadium
Named for ... Col. W. S. Shields, Alice Watkins-Shields and General Robert R. Neyland
What’d they do?* Shields was a local bank president, who provided the startup capital to build and equip the football field.* When the field was completed in 1921, it was named in honor of the executive and his wife, Alice Watkins-Shields.* General Neyland served as head coach of the Volunteers from 1926-1952, and was the man most responsible for the growth of the program.* His 173-31-12 record included seven conference and four national titles.

Texas – Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium/Jamail Field
Named for ... Darrell K. Royal and Joseph Jamail
What’d they do? Royal is the most popular and successful coach in the storied history of Longhorn football.* During his 20 years in Austin, he compiled a 167-47-5 record, 11 SWC championships and national titles in 1963, 1969 and 1970.* Jamail is one of the most conspicuous and wealthy trial lawyers in America.* He has donated more than $5 million to his alma mater.

Texas A&M – Kyle Field
Named for ... Edwin Jackson Kyle
What’d he do? Kyle was a former dean of agriculture and president of the university’s athletic council.* He held those posts from 1902-1944.* The following year, he was appointed ambassador to Guatemala by President Roosevelt.**

Texas Tech – Jones SBC Stadium
Named for ... Clifford Jones and SBC Communications, Inc.
What’d they do? Jones was a former president of the university and contributor of $100,000 when the stadium was constructed in the 1940s.* SBC was added to the facility name in 2000 after the Southwestern Bell parent company kicked in $20 million toward a $75 million renovation project.

Tulsa –Skelly Stadium
Named for ... William Skelly
What’d he do? An oil baron and civic leader, Skelly helped underwrite the construction of the program’s first football stadium, when he donated $125,000 in 1930. *

UNLV – Sam Boyd Stadium
Named for ... Sam Boyd
What’d he do? Boyd was a legendary figure in Las Vegas before his death in 1993.* From humble beginnings as a dealer in the 1940s, he worked his way up to become a wealthy man and one of the innovators within the casino industry.* When UNLV needed a new football stadium to replace its unsafe predecessor, Boyd donated 1.5 million.

Utah – Rice-Eccles Stadium
Named for ... Robert L. Rice and George S. Eccles
What’d they do? The stadium bears the name of its two primary benefactors.* In 1972, Rice gave $1 million to the university for a stadium renovation project.* The late Eccles, through his foundation, contributed $10 million in 1997 toward the stadium as it was receiving a facelift for the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Utah State – Romney Stadium
Named for – Dick Romney
What’d he do? From 1919-1948, Romney was the head coach of the Aggie football team.* He’s the winningest coach in school history and was elected to the NCAA Hall of Fame in 1954.

Virginia – David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium
Named for – David A. Harrison III and Frederic and Elisabeth Scott
What’d they do? Harrison, a UVa grad and former football player in the 1930s, pledged a $5 million donated to the Cavaliers’ athletic department during the 1990s.* Seventy years ago, the stadium was a gift of the Scott family and was dedicated to his parents.*

Virginia Tech – Worsham Field at Lane Stadium
Named for ... Edward H. Lane and Wes & Janet Worsham
What’d they do? Lane, a Hokie grad and a former member of the Board of Visitors, headed an educational foundation project, which raised more than $3 million for the original facility, which opened in 1965.* The Worshams, longtime Tech supporters, pledged $1 million to the university's Second Century Campaign.* The field was officially dedicated in their honor in 1992.*

Wisconsin – Camp Randall Stadium
Named for ... Camp Randall
What’d it do? During the Civil War, Camp Randall served as a military training ground for more than 70,000 local troops.* Once peace was restored, the state presented the area to the university in 1893.* The stadium was built at its current site in 1913.*

Wake Forest – Groves Stadium
Named for ... Henry and Earl Groves
What’d they do? In 1948, the Groves’ brothers were the primary philanthropists, who ensured that the family name would be on whatever new athletic facility was erected in Winston-Salem.* With more pressing needs elsewhere on campus, that didn’t come to fruition until nearly two decades later in 1966.*****

Washington State – Martin Stadium
Named for ...* Dan and Charlotte Martin
What’d they do? Wealthy and generous couple that funded many youth projects during their lives.* They had a particular interest in athletics, and provided the capital needed to build the Cougar’s home stadium.

Western Michigan – Waldo Stadium
Named for ... Dwight B. Waldo
What’d he do? Called the “father of Western athletics”, Waldo was the school’s first president and an ardent advocate of Bronco athletic programs.* His purchase of a swampy 14-acre plot of land in 1913 went on to become the home of the university’s football team.
 
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