Irish Field

Last updated

Irish Field
Full name Irish Field
Location Tempe, Arizona
Operator Arizona State University
Surface Grass
Construction
Built 1927
Opened 1927
Closed 1935
Tenants
Tempe Normal Owls (NCAA)

Irish Field served as the home to the Tempe Normal football team from 1927 to 1935 before being replaced by Goodwin Stadium in 1936.

Goodwin Stadium was a stadium in Tempe, Arizona. It hosted the Arizona State University Sun Devils football team until they moved to Sun Devil Stadium in 1958, as well as the team for local Tempe High School until 1969. The stadium held 15,000 people at its peak and was opened in 1936. The first football game played was on Friday, October 3, 1936, when the Arizona State Teacher's College Bulldogs defeated California Institute of Technology 26-0. The last football game played was on September 20, 1958, when ASU beat Hawaii 47-6 in front of 19,000 fans.

History

Tempe Normal gained accreditation as a 4-year institute in 1925. It was quickly decided the football team would need a new larger home. In 1927 ground was broken on the new stadium. The stadium was named for Fred Irish who was the head coach of the team for its first 8 seasons. Irish Field was located where the current Memorial Union sits on campus. [1] Stadium lighting was added to Irish Field in 1930, allowing the team to play night games. [2]

Frederick M. Irish American football coach, college athletics administrator, science instructor

Frederick Mortimer "Cap" Irish was an American football coach, college athletics administrator, and science instructor. He served as the first head football coach at the Territorial Normal School, renamed Tempe Normal School in 1903 and now known as Arizona State University, coaching from 1896 to 1906 and compiling a record of 12–8. Territorial Normal did not field a football team in 1897, 1898, or 1901. Irish was also the first athletic director at Territorial/Tempe Normal, serving from 1896 to 1913. In addition, he taught science at the school. Irish Field one of the original homes of Arizona State Football was also named after the coach and administrator.

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The 1906 Tempe Normal Owls football team was an American football team that represented Tempe Normal School as an independent during the 1906 college football season. In their eighth and final season under head coach Frederick M. Irish, the Owls compiled a 0–2 record and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 22 to 6. The team lost games to the Phoenix Indian School (6–17) and Tempe High School (0–5).

The 1930 Arizona State Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Arizona State Teachers College as an independent during the 1930 college football season. In their first season under head coach Ted Shipkey, the Bulldogs compiled a 3–5–1 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 111 to 94. Arizona State's team captain was HB Norris Stevenson. The Bulldogs finished 3–0 at home and 0–5–1 on the road. Home games were played at Irish Field in Tempe, Arizona.

The 1931 Arizona State Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Arizona State Teachers College in the Border Conference during the 1931 college football season. In their second season under head coach Ted Shipkey, the Bulldogs compiled a 6–2 record, won the conference championship, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 169 to 66. The team captain was fullback Horace Smitheran. The Bulldogs finished 4–1 at home and 2–1 on the road. Home games were played at Irish Field in Tempe, Arizona.

The 1932 Arizona State Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Arizona State Teachers College in the Border Conference during the 1932 college football season. In their third and final season under head coach Ted Shipkey, the Bulldogs compiled a 4–3–1 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 182 to 92. The team captain was guard Paul Griffin. The Bulldogs finished 3–2 at home and 1–1–1 on the road. Home games were played at Irish Field in Tempe, Arizona.

The 1933 Arizona State Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Arizona State Teachers College in the Border Conference during the 1933 college football season. The Bulldogs compiled a 3–5 record and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 125 to 73.

The 1935 Arizona State Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Arizona State Teachers College in the Border Conference during the 1935 college football season. In their third season under head coach Rudy Lavik, the Bulldogs compiled a 2–5–1 record and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 66 to 29. The team captain was left tackle Dan Pace. The Bulldogs finished 1-2-1 at home and 1-3 on the road. All home games were played at Irish Field in Tempe, Arizona.

References

  1. Brad Denny. "100 Day Sun Devil Football Countdown To Kickoff, #59: The First Homes Of ASU Football". House of Sparky. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  2. ""Firsts" and Special Events in ASU History (1885 to 1989)". Arizona State University. Retrieved 16 July 2015.