HAPPY 25th WICKES STADIUM
photo by Gary Bublitz
For 34 years, William Wollner, associate professor of music, directed SVSU’s band during performances across the campus for various events, including home football games. That means he served as band director during all the football games played at Harvey Randall Wickes Stadium. The venue, which turns 25 this fall, existed as Cardinal Stadium before $1.2 million in renovations modernized it in 1991. SVSU leaders renamed the stadium in honor of Harvey Randall Wickes, a Saginaw industrialist whose foundation largely funded the improvements. Renovations involved nearly doubling the seating capacity as well as adding a press box, bathrooms, pine trees near the north end zone, and pond frames near the south end zone. The first football game there — a 21-9 loss to Wayne State University — kicked off Sept. 14, 1991. George Ihler coached the Cardinals to a 3-2 home record and 6-5 overall record that season. During 25 years of Wickes Stadium, the football program’s record is 91-45 at home and 165-112 overall.
REFLECTIONS MAGAZINE 29