The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (AMBFF) selected SSU as one of four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Georgia and Alabama to receive new turf fields this summer for a total investment of $6.5 million. The HBCU Invitational Field Refurbishment Program was an invitational grant program designed to improve field quality, safety and accessibility for students and local community groups serving youth through football.

“Arthur Blank and his Family Foundation recognize and prioritize community impact through sport, and supporting these historical institutions is a natural extension of our values,” said AMB Sports and Entertainment CEO and AMBFF Associate Board Member Rich McKay.

SSU Tiger Head Football Coach Aaron Kelton, who has been coaching for 25 years, said he and his team have been looking forward to a turf update since he started at the university three years ago.

“The players really love it,” Kelton said. “They say it's much more comfortable to play on and cooler than the old turf.”

SSU Athletic Director Opio Mashariki said the previous turf was 13 years old and showing its age. The new Astroturf will not only reduce soft tissue injuries but is also equipped with a durable wood particle infill between the pad and the turf carpet, that keeps the field cool while also increasing traction and decreasing splash. The newly refurbished field will be a top selling point when SSU starts recruiting football and soccer players for next year.

“Anytime that you have a state-of-the-art field, it’s good for recruiting,” Mashariki said. “It’s always helpful to have something up to date. That’s what these students and parents are looking for.”

The new field will benefit more than just SSU’s sports teams. The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), SSU Marching Band and upcoming graduates will all enjoy the new field.

“It’s a great benefit to our whole campus,” Mashariki said. "The new turf field at Theodore Wright Stadium is igniting a new era of pride, performance and possibilities for the SSU Athletics Department."

Kelton added that local high schools and community teams are always looking for practice and competition spaces and now SSU will be able to provide an attractive option.

“Now we can offer a better experience for the whole community,” Kelton said.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), supported by the National Football League (NFL) Foundation, managed the field work in preparation for the 2024 football season. LISC and the NFL Foundation have refurbished hundreds of community football fields throughout the country during the last 25 years.

“Thanks to the Arthur M. Blank Foundation and the NFL Foundation, we are able to deliver capital and technical expertise to institutions that offer tremendous value to students but that may not have the types of endowments that larger universities have,” said Michael T. Pugh, LISC president and CEO. “With access to flexible resources, the schools are able to make updates and upgrades that might not otherwise be possible — creating opportunities that benefit not just the institutions themselves but improve the health and well-being of students and community members as well.”

NFL VP of Philanthropy and Executive Director of the NFL Foundation Alexia Gallagher said the Refurbishment Program is one of many ways the NFL is deepening its commitment to HBCUs.

“We are excited to provide resources for student athletes at the selected institutions to play the game of football to the best of their ability while creating equal opportunities for all,” Gallagher said.

Grants were awarded following a request for proposals. The Land Tek Group, Inc. – with more than 40 years of sports facility development experience – managed construction of the field installed by Astroturf.

SSU Interim President Cynthia Alexander said she was grateful to her hardworking staff members for seizing the opportunity to apply for the grant and the AMBFF, LISC and NFL Foundation for their generous support.

“I, for one, am looking forward to cheering on our Tigers on this field this fall whether they are competing, entertaining or walking forward to receive their diplomas,” Alexander said. “The field is beautiful and it’s one more way we are making tomorrow brighter for our students, our alumni and our community.”