Legends kicks off this weekend. Those who make it will be able to check out the new turf at Jerry Apple Stadium. The turf was like new back in 1961, the second year of play at Jerry Apple Stadium. This picture from 1961 shows how different things looked back then.
Hughey Gym is there, but not Sid Rich. The back of the SUB can be seen, but no Ida Green yet. The AC baseball field, which today sits north of Jerry Apple, was located east of the stadium in 1961; it’s just out of view to the right. And apparently there was a street at one time which ran south of the SUB and Wynne Chapel.
The Roos are in white, playing a team in dark pants. Who is that team? Beats me, but it could very well be Sewanee of Tennessee, one of five home opponents that year. That would mean Sewanee Coach Shirley Majors is on the far sidelines. The entire Majors family sits in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame; Shirley’s son Johnny coached the Tennessee Volunteers for 15 years, after winning a national title at Pittsburgh with future Cowboy Tony Dorsett.
Who can we identify on the Roo sideline? Well, I see #12 kneeling. That’s Ken Krause, father of Kevin Krause. I don’t see linemen Donnie Duncan or John Hitt on the sidelines, so I suppose they are on the field. Duncan would later become Athletic Director of the Oklahoma Sooners; Hitt would become President of the University of Central Florida.
Is that #81 on the sidelines? Kind of hard to tell. But if so, that’s Coach Don Newsom. Did you enjoy the Roo Tale about Hank Williams Sr? If so, you can thank Barry Faulkner, who sent me that story tip. Barry is #60; I think I see him far right and seated, receiving medical attention.
I don’t see wide receiver Bill Robertson, so he must be out on the field with Duncan & Hitt. Bill Robertson was later drafted by the Los Angeles Rams, to date the last Roo drafted by an NFL team. Robertson’s story will be in my next Roo Tales book. Entitled “Rivals & Legends,” it will tell the stories of AC competition against rival schools and AC Legends in the Hall of Honor. Hope to have it out by Labor Day.
I don’t just see Roo players in this photo, I also see Roo cheerleaders. And who was a Roo cheerleader back in 1961? Why, our very own future Director of Admissions Mr. Jay Evans. I can’t tell if one of those two guys is Jay or not. But he’s there on the track somewhere, supporting Coaches Floyd Gass, Bill Long, and Slats McCord.
AD David Norman has been sharing photos of the new Jerry Apple Stadium field, and it looks great. Y’all enjoy that new turf when you visit Sherman for Legends this weekend. I can’t make it in August, but I’ll be up there in September when I assist Kirk Hughes, the “Voice of the Roos,” call the first home game of the 2022 season on that new turf.
