Joe Aillet Stadium
Encyclopedia
Joe Aillet Stadium is a stadium
in Ruston, Louisiana
, USA. It is primarily used for football
, and is the home field of the Louisiana Tech University
Bulldogs
. The Bulldogs have been a member of the Western Athletic Conference
since 2001.
, Tech's most famous football alumnus, the stadium has also seen other pro players, such as Willie Roaf
, Troy Edwards
and Tim Rattay
, don Tech's red and blue uniforms. Rattay was involved in the first-ever matchup of future pro quarterbacks at the stadium, facing off against UCF's
Daunte Culpepper
in 1998. The previous season saw the largest crowd in school history of 28,714 for a 17-16 victory by the Bulldogs over UL-Monroe
.
The first nationally-televised game at the stadium came in 2002 against Fresno State
, and the stadium's greatest upset came against that same team in October 2004, when the 17th-ranked Fresno State Bulldogs were upset by Louisiana Tech.
The Louisiana Tech Lady Techster soccer team has also used Joe Aillet Stadium as its home facility since the program's inception in 2004 to 2009. The first Lady Techster soccer game in the stadium came on Aug. 28, 2005, as the Techsters earned the program's initial victory with a 2-0 win over Mississippi Valley State. Tech soccer moved into the stadium permanently beginning with the 2006 season, and has an overall record of 9-9-3 through the 2007 season in games played at the stadium. In 2009 the Lady Techsters soccer team moved from the stadium to their new home field located across the street from the stadium.
leading the Bulldogs over East Carolina
, 35-7. The stadium, which originally sat 23,000, was named on November 11, 1972 in honor of Joe Aillet
, who coached for twenty-seven seasons, finally retiring just two years before his namesake was built. In 1985, luxury boxes were added to the stadium's press box, and in 1989 the stadium's capacity was raised by 7,600 seats to its current capacity. The current FieldTurf field was installed in 2008. The seating is made of the two large bowed grandstands on either side of the field, built into a natural bowl. The press box
and skybox are on the west side. "The Spirit of '88," a bronze bulldog statue which commemorates the school's first season in Division I-A. During games the bronze statue is guarded by the university's Air Force ROTC Valkarie Honor Guard. A fieldhouse is located behind the south hill. There are scoreboards behind both endzone berms, and the stadium features eight banks of lights surrounding the field, 150 feet (45.7 m) above the playing surface.
In 2009 the Tech Athletic Department unveiled "Dawgzilla", a new HD video/scoreboard which sits in the north endzone and boasts the largest videoboard in the Western Athletic Conference
.
An ambitious fund raising campaign titled Quest for Excellence was announced in Fall of 2010 which will be a "a $20 million fundraising campaign geared towards the construction of a 90,000-plus square-foot multipurpose facility in the south end zone of Joe Aillet Stadium." http://www.latechsports.com/questforexcellence/the-vision.html. The stadium has already benefited from funds donated with additions such as a brink fence on the west side of the stadium, renovations to restrooms in the stadium, new scrubs and plants in the stadium, and a tunnel leading from the player's locker rooms to the field - all which enhance the gameday experience for fans.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Ruston, Louisiana
Ruston, Louisiana
Ruston is a city in and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,546 at the 2000 census. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Its economy caters to its college population...
, USA. It is primarily used for football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, and is the home field of the Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
Bulldogs
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football program represents Louisiana Tech University in Western Athletic Conference. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Since the Bulldogs first season in 1901, Louisiana Tech has compiled an all-time record of 554 wins, 422...
. The Bulldogs have been a member of the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
since 2001.
History
In addition to Terry BradshawTerry Bradshaw
Terry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League . He played 14 seasons. He is a football analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday...
, Tech's most famous football alumnus, the stadium has also seen other pro players, such as Willie Roaf
Willie Roaf
William Layton Roaf, sometimes nicknamed "Nasty" is a former American football offensive tackle.-Football career:...
, Troy Edwards
Troy Edwards
Troy Edwards , is a professional American football player who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1st round of the 1999 NFL Draft. A wide receiver from Louisiana Tech University, Edwards led the nation in receiving during his senior year in college with 140 receptions for 1,996 yards and...
and Tim Rattay
Tim Rattay
Timothy F. Rattay [] is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League and United Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
, don Tech's red and blue uniforms. Rattay was involved in the first-ever matchup of future pro quarterbacks at the stadium, facing off against UCF's
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Rachard Culpepper is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League . Prior to joining the UFL, Culpepper enjoyed a successful National Football League career after being drafted 11th overall in...
in 1998. The previous season saw the largest crowd in school history of 28,714 for a 17-16 victory by the Bulldogs over UL-Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
.
The first nationally-televised game at the stadium came in 2002 against Fresno State
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
, and the stadium's greatest upset came against that same team in October 2004, when the 17th-ranked Fresno State Bulldogs were upset by Louisiana Tech.
The Louisiana Tech Lady Techster soccer team has also used Joe Aillet Stadium as its home facility since the program's inception in 2004 to 2009. The first Lady Techster soccer game in the stadium came on Aug. 28, 2005, as the Techsters earned the program's initial victory with a 2-0 win over Mississippi Valley State. Tech soccer moved into the stadium permanently beginning with the 2006 season, and has an overall record of 9-9-3 through the 2007 season in games played at the stadium. In 2009 the Lady Techsters soccer team moved from the stadium to their new home field located across the street from the stadium.
Construction and seating capacity
The stadium opened on September 28, 1968 with Terry BradshawTerry Bradshaw
Terry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League . He played 14 seasons. He is a football analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday...
leading the Bulldogs over East Carolina
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
, 35-7. The stadium, which originally sat 23,000, was named on November 11, 1972 in honor of Joe Aillet
Joe Aillet
Joe Aillet was the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University from 1940 to 1966. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. During his 26-year tenure, he amassed a career record of 151 wins, 86 losses, and 8 ties. Additionally, under Aillet, the Bulldogs won nine...
, who coached for twenty-seven seasons, finally retiring just two years before his namesake was built. In 1985, luxury boxes were added to the stadium's press box, and in 1989 the stadium's capacity was raised by 7,600 seats to its current capacity. The current FieldTurf field was installed in 2008. The seating is made of the two large bowed grandstands on either side of the field, built into a natural bowl. The press box
Press box
The press box is a special section of a sports stadium or arena that is set up for the media to report about a given event. It is typically located in the section of the stadium holding the luxury box. In general, newspaper writers sit in this box and write about the on-field event as it unfolds...
and skybox are on the west side. "The Spirit of '88," a bronze bulldog statue which commemorates the school's first season in Division I-A. During games the bronze statue is guarded by the university's Air Force ROTC Valkarie Honor Guard. A fieldhouse is located behind the south hill. There are scoreboards behind both endzone berms, and the stadium features eight banks of lights surrounding the field, 150 feet (45.7 m) above the playing surface.
In 2009 the Tech Athletic Department unveiled "Dawgzilla", a new HD video/scoreboard which sits in the north endzone and boasts the largest videoboard in the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
.
An ambitious fund raising campaign titled Quest for Excellence was announced in Fall of 2010 which will be a "a $20 million fundraising campaign geared towards the construction of a 90,000-plus square-foot multipurpose facility in the south end zone of Joe Aillet Stadium." http://www.latechsports.com/questforexcellence/the-vision.html. The stadium has already benefited from funds donated with additions such as a brink fence on the west side of the stadium, renovations to restrooms in the stadium, new scrubs and plants in the stadium, and a tunnel leading from the player's locker rooms to the field - all which enhance the gameday experience for fans.
1968-1980s
- 1968: Stadium Opens with 35-7 win over East Carolina UniversityEast Carolina UniversityEast Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
with Terry BradshawTerry BradshawTerry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League . He played 14 seasons. He is a football analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday...
as Tech quarterback.
1990s
- 1997: Largest crowd in school history during 17-16 victory over Louisiana-Monroe: 28,717 in attendance.
2000s
- 2002: First nationally televised game vs Fresno State
- 2004: Greatest upset against then number 17th-ranked Fresno State.
- On Aug. 30, 2008, Louisiana Tech beat Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State UniversityThe Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
22-14 in the season opener for both teams. It was the first-ever visit by a school from a BCS conference to Joe Aillet Stadium.