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What other SEC legends deserve to have a field/stadium named after them?
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The announcement earlier this month that Steve Spurrier’s name is going to be added to Florida Field later on this year is a well-deserved honor and a good move by the Gators. Remember to tip your visor to the Head Ball Coach on Sept. 3, the day this honor becomes official and when Florida plays host to UMass in its season opener.
Spurrier is the latest SEC legend to have his name grace a conference stadium/field. But there are other greats whose names would be nice fits.
We’ve come up with a list of the five SEC schools whose stadiums aren’t already adorned with the names of football greats, and we’ve followed it up by suggesting five legends who deserve that honor.
Arkansas
There is nothing wrong with Razorback Stadium. There is only one of its kind in the world, and without a doubt, it’s a great place for Arkansas to call home.
But if the Home of the Hogs happened to rename itself, Dan Hampton Stadium wouldn’t be a bad way to go. The fourth pick of the 1979 NFL Draft, Hampton followed a brilliant career at Arkansas by becoming a four-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion with the Chicago Bears.
Kentucky
Commonwealth Stadium is fine, and it’s a fitting tribute to the state of Kentucky. Besides, it’s a much better name than Wildcats Stadium would have been, considering how many teams use Wildcats as their nickname.
But if UK were to go a different route, we have a name it should consider: Babe Parilli. A two-time All-American, Parilli led Bear Bryant’s 1950 Kentucky team to an 11-1 record and the Wildcats’ first SEC football title.
LSU
At least the nickname for the home of the Bayou Bengals (Death Valley) is sexier than its actual name (Tiger Stadium). Tommy Casanova, whose name is so cool he doesn’t need a nickname, is the man we have in mind for the stadium’s new moniker.
Tiger Stadium was Casanova’s castle, which he ruled as a running back, kick returner and defensive back from 1969-71. He was the only three-time All-American in LSU football history.
Missouri
Mizzou is one of six FBS schools — including three in the Big Ten — whose football stadium is called Memorial Stadium. Nebraska, Indiana, Illinois, Clemson and Kansas are the other five.
We love our veterans, and for that reason we’re not suggesting a name change here. Plus, former Missouri coach Don Faurot totally deserves having the field at Memorial Stadium named after him, so that has to stay the same.
But Kellen Winslow is a Missouri great who warrants having something football-related named after him. He starred in Columbia from 1975-78 and was a consensus All-American his senior year before having a Hall of Fame career as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history.
Vanderbilt
There’s no mistaking where the Commodores play their home football games. Vanderbilt Stadium is surely a nice facility, but its name could use some pizzazz, or at least some alliteration. We like the sound of Spears Stadium, after Bill Spears, arguably the greatest football player in Vanderbilt history.
A three-year starter at quarterback who led some of Vandy’s best teams, Spears sparked the Commodores to an 8-1-2 record in 1927, the year he was named a first-team All-American. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1962.
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
