BRALY MUNICIPAL STADIUM BRALY MUNICIPAL STADIUM Built: 1940s Capacity: 14,215 Surface: ProGrass Press Box: (256) 760-6372 (256) 760-6373 Stadium Manager: Gene Kendrick (256) 760-6370
Braly Municipal Stadium is recognized across the nation as one of the top college football facilities in the NCAA Division II. The Lions have played at the same home site since the rebirth of their football program in 1949. Originally known as Coffee Stadium, adjacent to the former Coffee High School, the facility was renamed Tom Braly, Jr. Stadium in 1964. Braly was a football coach at Coffee High School in the 1940's and 50's and became the school's principal in the early 1950's. Following his death from a heart attack, the stadium was renamed in his honor prior to the start of the 1964 season. With a major renovation to the facility in 1980, the stadium was renamed Braly Municipal Stadium, signifying the partnership between the University of North Alabama, the Florence School Board and the Florence Parks and Recreation Department. The 14,215 seat stadium has been the site of numerous University of North Alabama football victories and has served as host for 28 of UNA's NCAA playoff games. In all but 15 of the NCAA playoff games that UNA has participated in, the Lions and Braly Municipal Stadium, have been chosen as the host. One of those was at a predetermined site ‑ the 1985 Division II Championship Game in McAllen, Tex. But twenty seven years ago, Braly Municipal Stadium began hosting the NCAA Division II Championship Game as well, and will host it for a record 28th consecutive year this December. Since the Division II title game was created in 1972, no city had served as the host for more than five years until the Shoals area and Braly Stadium did it beginning in 1986. The current contract extends through 2013. Renovated in 1980, and again in 1998, the stadium now seats 14,215 and has a new artificial playing surface to rival any in the country that was installed over the summer. In addition Braly Municipal Stadium features two modern dressing rooms, a $175,000 scoreboard, concession stands, restrooms and a renovated three‑level press box. The first level
can hold up to 50 sports writers in the press room. The second level houses coaching staffs from both schools, the public address announcer, the clock operator and both home and visiting radio crews., in addition to two sky boxes . The third floor is used by television and film crews. In 1996, the Lions tied an NCAA Division II record when UNA's home winning streak reached 28 games, and UNA has gone 239-110-8 in 64 seasons at Braly Stadium. Another of the UNA football facilities is the Self Field House, which provides almost 18,000 square feet of space for the Lions’ football program, with coaches’ offices, equipment rooms and indoor practice facility, a modern weight room and more. Spacious dressing rooms, a sauna, walk‑in whirlpool and an expanded training room and other extras give UNA plenty of room to supervise the care of its student athletes. The UNA athletic facilities have kept pace with the Lions’ athletic program as UNA continues to prove it has one of the premier programs in the country.
Overflow crowds attended the 1993, 1994 and 1995 NCAA Division II National Championship games held in Braly Stadium and watched the Lions win three consecutive championships on their field
2013 MEDIA GUIDE • 16 • roarli0ns.com