Georgia's decision to name the playing field at Sanford Stadium after a longtime coach isn't unique.
Facilities and turfs across the Southeastern Conference bear names of longtime coaches and donors. Here’s who these playing surfaces are named for:
Alabama
Bryant-Denny Stadium
• The Crimson Tide's home opened in 1929 under the name Denny Stadium in recognition of University of Alabama president George Denny. The state legislature added legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant's name in tribute in 1975. The field bears no special tribute.
Arkansas
Frank Broyles Field at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
• Until 2001, Arkansas played at "Razorback Stadium." The stadium was renamed to honor businessman and philanthropist Donald W. Reynolds, who died in 1993. The playing field bears the name of Frank Broyles, a former head football coach and athletic director.
Auburn
Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium
• Auburn Stadium was renamed Cliff Hare Stadium in 1943 in recognition of the former Tigers football player and president of the Southern Conference. In 1973, Auburn added the name of Ralph "Shug" Jordan, its all-time winningest coach, to its stadium while he still coached. The field was named Pat Dye Field in 2005 in honor of another former head coach.
Florida
Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
• The Gators played at Florida Field from 1930 to 1989. It was officially renamed Ben Hill Griffin Stadium after a Florida alumnus following a generous $20 million donation. It was unofficially called "The Swamp" after coach Steve Spurrier famously said in 1992 that, "The 'Swamp' is a place where only Gators get out alive." His name would be added to the field in 2016.
Georgia
Sanford Stadium
• The Athens stadium was named after Steadman V. Sanford, who campaigned for the football stadium and arranged the loan that financed its construction before its 1929 opening.
The Georgia athletic association's board of directors unanimously endorsed naming the field at Sanford Stadium in honor of former longtime coach Vince Dooley during the 2019 season.
Kentucky
Kroger Field
• Commonwealth Stadium Kentucky's home field since 1973 became the namesake of a corporate sponsors in 2017. It's the only SEC stadium name that bears the distinction.
LSU
Tiger Stadium
• The Tigers' 102,321-seat facility has been largely known as "Death Valley," but has carried only one name since opening in 1924.
Mississippi
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
• The stadium was named in 1947 after Judge William Hemingway, a law professor. In 1982, the school added the name of Johnny Vaught, the Rebels' all-time winningest coach. In 1998, it added one more moniker, naming the playing surface Hollingsworth Field in recognition of donor Dr. Jerry Hollingsworth.
Mississippi State
Scott Field at Davis Wade Stadium
• The Bulldogs' home was named Scott Field after Olympic sprinter Don Magruder Scott for eight decades. In 2001, it was renamed for Davis Wade, a longtime supporter and co-founder of Aflac. The playing field still bears Scott's name.
Missouri
Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium
• Missouri's home was named Memorial Stadium in 1929 to honor World War I veterans In 1972, the field was named after former coach and athletic director Don Faurot.
South Carolina
Williams-Brice Stadium
• Columbia Municipal Stadium became Carolina Stadium in 1941. The facility was renamed in 1972 in honor of furniture store owners Martha Williams and Howard Brice, who donated a portion of their estate for stadium renovation.
Tennessee
Neyland Stadium
• Shields-Watkins Field changed names in 1962 to honor General Robert Neyland, the former coach credited with building up the Volunteers football team from 1926 to 1952.
Texas A&M
Kyle Field
• Kyle Field is named after the horticulture professor who originally laid the footprint for the facility that was built in 1921. The stadium, named after Edwin Jackson Kyle, is the largest in the SEC.
Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Stadium at Dudley Field
• Built in 1922, the Commodore's home wasn't named after the school until 1981. Before that, it was named Dudley Field after William Dudley, who in part helped create what is now the SEC. The playing field at Vanderbilt Stadium is still named after Dudley.
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