UGA Athletic Grounds Historical Marker

UGA Historic Athletic Grounds Historical Marker

Located on , Athens

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HISTORIC ATHLETIC GROUNDS

 

This valley formed by Tanyard Creek is site of many great moments

in University of Georgia athletic history. In 1911, a football/baseball

facility with wooden grandstands, Sanford Field, was built here. The

Bulldog football team played in it until Sanford Stadium opened in

1929. The baseball team played here until 1943. That year, the

U.S. Navy constructed a pre-flight instruction facility on this site.

The building was named Stegeman Hall to honor Herman James

Stegeman, who coached football, basketball, baseball, and track, and

was athletic director (1923-27) and dean of men (1931-39). His 1919

baseball and 1920 football teams won their respective Southern Conference

championships. Stegeman Hall houses the swimming team, which won

men's Southeastern Conference titles in 1951, '52 and '55. Known as

one of the "fastest pools in the South," the facility hosted the 1956

U.S. Olympic Trials and was home pool to 70 UGA All-American swimmers.

Its functions having been transferred to the new Ramsey Student

Center on UGA's East Campus, Stegeman Hall was removed in 1996 in

preparation for the University's hosting of soccer, volleyball and

rhythmic gymnastics in the Olympic Games.

 

Photo: Ed Jackson

© Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia

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