HOMER BRYCE STADIUM
HOMER BRYCE STADIUM Since 1973, Homer Bryce Stadium has served as the home field for Stephen F. Austin football, combining a memorable game day experience with some of the most memorable games in Lumberjack football history. SFA defeated Cameron University 17-0 in the first game played in the new facility on September 8, 1973. Since then, the ‘Jacks have posted a 151-99-2 (.603) record, including a 4-1 mark in playoff games. This past season, the Lumberjacks set another milestone for the stadium as SFA registered the 150th win at Homer Bryce in a 55-21 victory over Incarnate Word on October 31 - fittingly the Homecoming game for the 2015 season. Homer Bryce Stadium has become one of the toughest venues in the Southland Conference in recent seasons as the Lumberjacks have posted a 31-10 record at home since the 2009 season. Lumberjack Stadium, as it was first called, opened in time for the 1973 season with 14,575 seats, all between the 20-yard lines. The bowl-type construction of the stadium also affords blanket seating on the steep, grassy banks that surround the field, increasing capacity to more than 25,000. The largest crowd to see a football game in the stadium was listed at 23,617 when the third-ranked Lumberjacks hosted top-ranked McNeese State on Oct. 28, 1995.
In 1986, the stadium was renamed Homer Bryce Stadium in honor of SFA benefactor Homer Bryce. Bryce’s association with SFA began in the 1930s when he attended school and ran track for the Lumberjacks. He served as a member of the SFA Board of Regents from 1974 until his retirement in 1994, passing away in July of 1996. Fans coming to Homer Bryce Stadium this fall will immediately see a major upgrade which was installed during the offseason. SFA added an 80’ 8” by 36’ 10” high definition video board, which is the largest in the Southland Conference and the third-largest at the FCS level. The board, which allows for HD video streams and instant replays, live in-game statistics and sponsorship and promotional elements, made its football debut at the 2016 Spring Game, followed by a showing of Star Wars Episode VII afterwards. Prior to the start of the 2013 season, the turf at Homer Bryce Stadium was replaced as the new Hellas’ Matrix Turf was installed, providing both more color and support than the previous turf. The endzones are now purple with white lettering, saying “Stephen F. Austin” in the north endzone and “Lumberjacks” in the south with the new SFA logo emblazoned at the 50-yard line. The artificial playing surface has made an impact on both the SFA and Nacogdoches communities as Homer Bryce Stadium is host to numerous high school football playoff games and marching band contests involving East Texas public schools. Prior to the 2007 season, SFA remodeled the football locker room, located on the back side of the Fieldhouse at the north end of the stadium. Carpet was replaced, more lockers were added with four flatscreen, highdefinition televisions installed in the locker room. The ‘Jacks ushered in a new era in 2003 with a complete overhaul of the west side press box. In addition to a complete remodeling of the media work area on the second floor, SFA added luxury suites and the Touchdown Club on the first floor of the press box.
Stephen F. Austin will officially unveil its new HD videoboard this fall, the largest in the Southland Conference and third-largest in the nation at the FCS level.
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2016 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN FOOTBALL
MILESTONE VICTORIES First Victory: Sept. 8, 1973 (SFA 17, Cameron 0) First Playoff Victory: Nov. 26, 1988 (SFA 24, Jackson State 0) 50th Victory: Oct. 7, 1989 (SFA 32, Texas State 21) 100th Victory: Sept. 22, 2001 (SFA 30, CSU-Northridge 27) 150th Victory: Oct. 31, 2016 (SFA 55, Incarnate Word 21) Prior to the press box renovation, the last major project at Homer Bryce Stadium was the addition of a new wing to the SFA Fieldhouse. The east wing is a two-story structure housing football coaching offices and meeting rooms on the top floor with visitor dressing rooms located on the bottom floor. The stadium is also one of the top track and field facilities in East Texas and serves as the home track for the Lumberjack track and field teams. During the summer of 2006, the track surface was replaced with a state-of-the-art Tartan polyurethane surface as the 400-meter surface meets all NCAA and IAAF requirements. A popular location for track meets due to the layout of the track, Homer Bryce Stadium hosts the annual Carl Kight Invitational, SFA’s annual outdoor track and field event that draws some of the top teams from across the region. Homer Bryce Stadium is also unique in that it serves as a focal point of the Nacogdoches community as the stadium is open to the public 24/7 except for official SFA events. The ‘Jacks host five games in 2015, beginning with the season opener against West Alabama on September 10th. SFA then hosts four Southland Conference rivals, beginning with SLC newcomer Abilene Christian on September 24th on Parent’s Day 2016. The ‘Jacks face Southeastern Louisiana on October 15th before the 2016 Homecoming tilt against Central Arkansas on November 5th. The 2016 regular season concluded with the annual Battle for Chief Caddo as SFA hosts border rival Northwestern Louisiana on November 19th, looking to bring the Chief home to Nacogdoches.