Meade Stadium Groundbreaking for West Stands Held at Homecoming|Men’s 1984 and 1985 Football Teams Inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame|
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Wielding shovels at the Meade Stadium groundbreaking are, left to right, Vice President of Student Affairs Tom Dougan; Mark Cruise ’81, M.B.A. ’84; a former football player and a lead donor to the campaign; Meade Stadium Renovation fund-raising co-chair Tom Cataldo ’73, a former football player; President Robert L. Carothers; Meade Stadium Renovation fund-raising co-chair Kurt Wicks ’73, a former football player; and Director of Athletics Tom McElroy. |
Meade Stadium Groundbreaking for West Stands Held at Homecoming
University of Rhode Island football alumni and supporters reached their goal of raising $500,000 toward the construction of the West Stands in Meade Stadium. The goal was reached in less than six months when URI President Robert L.Carothers, and Dean Jayne Richmond of University College announced their personal pledge on October 7 at the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Dinner of the 1984 and 1985 Football teams. At present, a total of $501,455 has been raised.
The fund-raising campaign was spearheaded by volunteer chairmen and former football players Tom Cataldo ’71 and Kurt Wicks ’73. In addition, Mark Cruise ’81, Tom Ehrhardt ’86, and Mark Brockwell ’85 assisted in the effort with appeals to teammates and others.
With a University match of the private fund raising along with pledges through a seat campaign and funds from the Ryan Center project, nearly $2 million has been earmarked for Meade Stadium enhancements.
“The fact that we were able to reach our goal in just six months is a credit to the hard work of Tom (Cataldo) and Kurt (Wicks) and the pledges from 200 donors, over half of whom were URI football graduates,” Director of Athletics Tom McElroy said. “This is a significant moment for the future of URI football.”
The enhancements of Meade Stadium began this summer with the installation of a new scoreboard and the refurbishing of the East Stands. Daktronics installed a new state-of-the-art scoreboard, and seats on the East Grandstand were fitted with a vinyl covering prior to the start of the 2005 season.
Ground breaking ceremonies for the new stands were held on October 8 as part of Homecoming festivities. The construction of the West Stands will provide fans direct access into the Ryan Center concourse for concessions and other services.
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Left to right, Director of Athletics Tom McElroy, former URI football coach Bob Griffin, President Carothers, and current URI football coach Tim Stowers. |
Men’s 1984 and 1985 Football Teams Inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame
The 1984 and 1985 Rhode Island men’s football teams were inducted into the URI Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, October 7, and honored at half time at URI Homecoming on October 8.
The two most winning football teams in school history, the 1984 and 1985 teams posted back-to-back 10-3 records, won Yankee Conference titles, advanced to the NCAA I-AA playoffs, and won consecutive Lambert-Meadowlands Cups, emblematic of the top team in the East. Coach Bob Griffin received conference and regional coach of the year honors.
This induction marked the first time that an entire team has been enshrined since the URI Athletic Hall of Fame began honoring athletic greats in 1959.
