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Location | 68 Hagood Avenue Charleston, South Carolina 29403 |
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Owner | The Citadel |
Operator | The Citadel |
Capacity | 22,342 (1949–1959) 22,500 (1960–1996) 21,000 (1997–2003) 12,500 (2004–2005) 21,000 (2006–2016), 11,427 (2017–) |
Surface | artificial turf as of 2020 |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1946 |
Opened | October 16, 1948 [1] |
Construction cost | $600,000 [2] ($7.31 million in 2022 dollars [3] ) $42 million (2005 renovation) |
Architect | Halsey & Cummings [2] Heery International Inc. (2005 renovation) |
Tenants | |
The Citadel Bulldogs football |
Johnson Hagood Stadium, is an 11,500-seat football stadium, the home field of The Citadel Bulldogs football team, in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. The stadium is named in honor of Brigadier General Johnson Hagood, CSA, class of 1847, who commanded Confederate forces in Charleston during the Civil War and later served as Comptroller and Governor of South Carolina.
When the condition of the existing College Park Stadium (located in the northeast corner of Hampton Park) became so poor as to be unserviceable, [4] the city of Charleston chose to construct a new sports stadium just south of the new campus of The Citadel, on Hagood Avenue. The new stadium was opened October 15, 1927, with a football game between The Citadel and Oglethorpe. [5] The original stadium seated 10,000 fans and was oriented east–west, perpendicular to the current layout.
The current Johnson Hagood Stadium was designed by the architectural firm of Halsey & Cummings. [2] It opened with seating for 22,343 on October 16, 1948, with a game between The Citadel and Davidson. The formal dedication of the new $600,000 stadium took place at The Citadel-Clemson football game held on December 4, 1948, before a then-record crowd of approximately 16,000. [6] The Citadel suggested buying the stadium from the city in 1962; it wanted it for its sports program, and the city considered it a "white elephant." [7] It was eventually purchased by The Citadel from the city of Charleston in 1963.
The historic facility gained national attention during summer 1999 when remains of crewmen from the H. L. Hunley , the first submarine to sink an enemy battleship, were unearthed from underneath the stadium. The location of the stadium had once been a mariners' graveyard. In 1948, when the stadium was being built, a miscommunication led to the gravestones being moved, but not the bodies. In 1993, the bodies of 13 sailors were discovered under the parking lot. After the discovery of the sunken Hunley in 1995, there was renewed interest in the remains of its first crew, who had died in an unsuccessful 1863 run. Archaeologists were given permission to conduct more thorough searches as part of the renovations of the stadium, and four of the five sailors' bodies were located under the home stands. The remains were reinterred at Magnolia Cemetery. [8]
In 2001, The Citadel opened the Altman Athletic Center located in the South end zone. The facility features home and visitor locker rooms, officials’ room and a spacious entertainment area for members of The Citadel Brigadier Foundation. [1]
In 2005, stadium underwent a major renovation to update the facility by adding an improved media center, luxury skyboxes, and other features. [9] In September 2004, the Board of Visitors (its governing body) approved plans to build a new stadium on nearby Stoney Field (on Fishburne Street, adjacent to the Riley Ballpark), but there were concerns about funding the $47 million project and also about engineering issues associated with building on marshy land. In February 2005, The Citadel opted to make changes to the existing facility instead. [10]
In 2008, the West Side Tower opened. The completed project features luxury suites, club seats, a press box. [1] The field was named Sansom Field in 2008, commemorating alumnus William B. Sansom, a 1964 graduate. [1]
In 2016, The Citadel determined that lead paint needed remediation on the east (visitor's) side of the stadium. The work resulted in the entire east side being closed for the first game of the 2016 season and some sections being opened for subsequent games. The resulting capacity was 10,500 for the first game, and about 15,000 for later games. [11] [12] [13] The Board of Visitors decided to fully renovate the east side of the stadium, announcing that decision on December 2, 2016. [14] In May 2017, demolition began on the east side stands, were replaced by temporary seating for 1,000 people during the next two seasons; in August 2017, The Citadel Board of Visitors approved a plan to build new stands on the east side that seats 3,800 ready for the 2019 season. [15] [16] Fundraising efforts remain underway, and construction has yet to begin. [17]
The stadium is named for General Hagood, who is most known for commanding Confederate forces during the attack on Fort Wagner by the 54th Massachusetts Colored Troops. He is alleged to have made comments regarding the burial of the 54th's white commander Robert Gould Shaw, saying "we buried him with his niggers." After the war, he was active in South Carolina politics, serving as Comptroller and Governor. During his term as governor, he was instrumental in reopening The Citadel after its occupation by Federal troops, who used the facility as its Charleston headquarters during the Reconstruction era.
In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed, a group of Citadel alumni began organizing to change the name of the stadium. This group was particularly concerned by the alleged statements made by General Hagood regarding the battle at Fort Wagner and its aftermath. The Citadel has stated that the name of the stadium cannot be changed without the agreement of the South Carolina legislature. [18] [19]
In addition to Citadel football games, the stadium hosts high school football games for Oceanside Collegiate Academy, as well as the Sertoma Football Classic, a series of football scrimmages which raises money for charity and also marks the beginning of the Charleston area high school football season. [20] The venue hosted the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game (won by Southern Illinois) and the 1984 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game (won by Montana State). The stadium has hosted three home Citadel playoff games; two in 1992 and one in 2016.
This table shows the top 10 attendance figures for The Citadel at Johnson Hagood Stadium: [21]
Date | Opponent | Attendance | Result |
---|---|---|---|
October 17, 1992 | Marshall | 23,025 | L 13–34 |
November 14, 1992 | VMI | 21,811 | W 50–0 |
November 23, 1991 | Furman | 21,623 | W 10–6 |
October 25, 1969 | Davidson | 21,573 | W 34–28 |
September 18, 1976 | Delaware | 21,570 | W 17–15 |
September 13, 1975 | Presbyterian | 21,465 | W 21–0 |
October 11, 1969 | William & Mary | 21,460 | L 14–24 |
November 1, 2003 | Wofford | 20,863 | L 16–42 |
September 24, 1988 | Navy | 20,754 | W 42–35 |
September 12, 1992 | Wofford | 20,710 | W 30–13 |
Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park is a baseball stadium located in Charleston, South Carolina. The stadium is named after Charleston's longest-serving mayor, Joseph P. Riley Jr., who was instrumental in its construction. The stadium replaced College Park. It was built in 1997 and seats 6,000 people.
College Park is a stadium in Charleston, South Carolina. It was primarily used for baseball and was the home of Charleston RiverDogs. It is currently used by the Citadel Bulldogs baseball team for practice. The ballpark has a capacity of 4,000 people and opened in 1940. The grandstand is constructed of metal bleachers and is largely covered by a roof. The first few rows of seats between the dugouts are situated below ground level, giving fans the rare perspective seen from dugout level.
Jimmy Dale "Red" Parker was an American football coach. From 1961 to 1965, he served as the head football coach at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, where he compiled a 29–19–2 record. From 1966 to 1972, he coached at The Citadel in South Carolina. He compiled a 46–37 record there. From 1973 to 1976, he coached at Clemson University, where he compiled a 17–25–2 record. In 1981, he coached at Southern Arkansas University, where he compiled a 7–3 record. From 1982 to 1987, he coached at Delta State University. From 1996 to 1998, he coached at Ouachita Baptist University where he compiled a 10–20 record.
The 2011 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by seventh year head coach Kevin Higgins and played their home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium. They are a member of the Southern Conference. They finished the season 4–7, 2–6 in SoCon play to finish in eighth place.
The Citadel Bulldogs are the athletic teams that represent The Citadel. All sports participate in the NCAA Division I except football, which competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Since 1936, varsity sports have competed in the Southern Conference. The Citadel fields teams in sixteen sports, nine for men and seven for women.
The Citadel Bulldogs football program represents The Citadel in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Bulldogs play in the Southern Conference, as they have since 1936. The Bulldogs are coached by Maurice Drayton, who was hired on January 12, 2023, to replace Brent Thompson, whose contract was not renewed.
The 1992 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 1992 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Bulldogs were led by sixth-year head coach Charlie Taaffe and played their home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium. They played as members of the Southern Conference, as they have since 1936.
The 1990 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 1990 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Bulldogs were led by fourth-year head coach Charlie Taaffe and played their home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium. They played as members of the Southern Conference, as they have since 1936. In 1990, The Citadel made their second appearance in the I-AA playoffs, and second in three years.
The 1965 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 1965 NCAA University Division football season. Eddie Teague served as head coach for the ninth season. The Bulldogs played as members of the Southern Conference and played home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium.
The 2013–14 The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulldogs were led by fourth year head coach Chuck Driesell and played their home games at McAlister Field House. They played a member of the Southern Conference. They finished the season 7–26, 2–14 in SoCon play to finish in last place. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the SoCon tournament where they lost to Wofford.
Michael Glenn Houston is an American football coach who currently serves as head coach at East Carolina University. He previously won the 2016 FCS championship during his time as the head coach of James Madison. Houston has also served as the head coach of Lenoir–Rhyne and The Citadel.
The Citadel Bulldogs baseball represents The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in college baseball at the NCAA Division I level. The program was established in 1899, and has continuously fielded a team since 1947. Their primary rivals are College of Charleston, Furman and VMI.
The Medal of Honor Bowl was an American college football all-star game played in Charleston, South Carolina, in January 2014 and 2015. The bowl was not sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Primary beneficiaries of the game were the Medal of Honor Museum on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown and, initially, the Wounded Warrior Project.
The 2015–16 The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulldogs were led by first year head coach Duggar Baucom and played their home games at McAlister Field House. Baucom was previously the head coach at military rival VMI. They again played as a member of the Southern Conference, as they have since 1936–37. They finished the season 10–22, 3–15 in SoCon play to finish in last place. They lost in the first round of the SoCon tournament to Mercer.
The 2016 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by first-year head coach Brent Thompson and played their home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium. They played as members of the Southern Conference, as they have since 1936.
The 2016–17 The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulldogs were led by second-year head coach Duggar Baucom and played their home games at McAlister Field House in Charleston, South Carolina. They played as a member of the Southern Conference, as they have since 1936–37. They finished the season 12–21, 4–14 in SoCon play to finish in a tie for eighth place. They defeated Western Carolina in the first round of the SoCon tournament to advance to the quarterfinals where they lost to UNC Greensboro.
The 2016 Southern Conference football season was the 95th season of college football for the Southern Conference (SoCon) and formed a part of the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season.
The 2017–18 The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulldogs were led by third-year head coach Duggar Baucom and played their home games at McAlister Field House as members of the Southern Conference, as they have since 1936–37. They finished the season 11–21, 5–13 in SoCon play to finish in eighth place. They defeated VMI in the first round of the SoCon tournament before losing in the quarterfinals to UNC Greensboro.
The Inouye Marksmanship Center is a 12,000 square foot shooting range located on the campus of The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. It is home to NCAA Division I The Citadel Bulldogs rifle team, as well as the club pistol team, The Citadel's ROTC programs, and the South Carolina National Guard. The range is named for Senator Daniel Inouye, who secured federal funding for the facility in 2002.
The Citadel–Wofford football rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played by The Citadel Bulldogs football team of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina and the Wofford Terriers football team of Wofford College. The Citadel is located in Charleston, South Carolina, while Wofford is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The schools were two of the last colleges in the United States to integrate women into their respective student bodies, with Wofford admitting women in 1976 and The Citadel in 1996. The two schools are also both highly ranked academically by reviewers such as U.S. News & World Report.