CLEVELAND, Miss. – Delta State University fans, alumni, and community supporters remember the excitement around the installation of the new artificial turf at Parker Field-McCool Stadium in the summer of 2014. Over the course of the last three seasons, issues within the substructure of the field, which has undergone numerous repairs, have led to it becoming a safety hazard for our student-athletes, coaches and staff.
 
"The safety of our student-athletes, coaches and fans are always at the forefront of every decision we make here at Delta State," director of athletics Ronnie Mayers said. "Our goal right now is to aggressively address the field and work on a long-term solution that meets the needs of our program."  
 
Delta State University's Foundation is currently in negotiations with a well-established, Texas-based company to immediately replace the field, its substructure and turf.  Construction will begin the week of August 7 with the hopes of having the project completed by September 2.     
 
"Delta State prides itself on being a family-centered university and we understand how important our alumni and fans are to our successes on the field and in the classroom," Mayers added. "Your enthusiasm and financial support for the Statesmen and Lady Statesmen have never wavered and you can rest assured that we are addressing the failures that occurred with the 2014 turf installation. We will keep you informed as we progress through this situation."
 
Delta State Athletics and University Advancement has already begun a campaign focused on raising the funds to rebuild the field. A special giving page, including information on the project, will be available online at DeltaStateGiving.org later today. If you would like more information about the campaign, please contact University Advancement director Patrick Hundley at (662) 846-4704 or Matt Jones in Athletics at (662) 846-4284.