Ouachita Stories

As the Ouachita Tigers kick off the 2014 season Sept. 13 in Cliff Harris Stadium, it will mark the culmination of a longtime dream for Tiger football. The new stadium is named in honor of former Ouachita Tiger Cliff Harris, who went on to become Ouachita football’s most successful alumnus to play in the NFL.

“Having my name on the stadium has prompted a lot of reflections for me,” Harris said. “First, I know I am a blessed guy to have many generous friends who have invested in something as important to me as Ouachita. My hope is that having a new stadium for the football team and the school will bring a new energy to Ouachita and needed recognition to the football program.”

The stadium naming recognition “also made me think of my own mortality,” Harris added. “I know that nothing lasts forever and my name will be up there for enough years that eventually people will say, ‘Who is that Cliff Harris guy anyway?’”

The Sept. 13 dedication of Cliff Harris Stadium is a milestone for Tiger football, which has a rich tradition dating back to 1895. A.U. Williams Field remains a central feature of the new stadium. The playing field is named for the Hot Springs physician who donated land for Ouachita’s first football field more than a century ago in 1912. A key element of the new stadium is the George Dunklin Family Press Box named in honor of the Dunklin family’s generous financial gift to the project.

The new stadium is an impressive 192 feet long, 110 feet deep and 82 feet tall, including the press box, which measures nearly 3,500 square feet. The home stands will seat 3,060 fans, including 572 reserved and premium reserved seats. The project planning and construction team included Dr. Brett Powell, OBU vice president for administrative services, project architect John McMorran of Lewis Architects Engineers and general contractor Irwin Seale of Seale Construction.

Affirming the impact of the overall stadium project, Ouachita President Rex Horne said, “Few would argue that we desperately needed a new stadium. There is no doubt the new stadium will be attractive to potential student-athletes and fans of athletics. I want all our facilities to represent the excellence of our people.

“Convenience, comfort and a great experience will be hallmarks of our new stadium,” Dr. Horne emphasized. “With the facilities located in our concourse, our fans will have easy access to concessions, merchandise and restrooms. Watching the game from our new stadium adds a dimension of sight that we have not enjoyed before.”

Ouachita Football Head Coach Todd Knight also is excited about the facilities. “The new stadium enhances our ability to attract very talented student athletes,” he pointed out. “To be able to combine first class facilities with top notch academics is an added asset for the overall program. It also provides a sense of pride among our faculty, staff, students and alumni, which will create a great atmosphere and unity among the whole campus.

“The new facility raises the standard and commitment level of everyone in and around the program, which raises everyone's expectations for athletics, especially football,” Coach Knight said. “The players are excited for their parents to have a first class stadium to watch the games. The fans will enjoy the overall atmosphere. The players have set very high goals for the five games that will be played this season in Cliff Harris Stadium.”

Highlighting various features of the new stadium, Athletic Director David Sharp said the facility “will completely change the experience for fans.” He noted that the wide, covered concourse under the home stands will provide convenient concessions, restrooms and accessibility to handicapped seating.

“As far as watching the game, there is not a bad seat in the stadium,” Sharp said. “The fact that we will not be looking over a track will put the fans right on top of the action.” He said the state-of-the-art press box will feature a presidential suite, athletic director’s suite and reception area as well as coaches’ boxes, radio boxes and areas for media, sports information, film deck, public address speaker and clock operations.

Harris said he is “very happy to have my friends and family as well as my old-time Ouachita friends here for the opening. My only wish is that there were some very special people in my life who are now gone that I wish could be here to see this ­­­– my mom and dad, my grandparents and, of course, Coach Benson. I am glad to know at least Mrs. Benson will be here for the opening.

“The new stadium should bring a new life and a home field excitement for the players to the Ouachita football program,” Harris declared. “Coach Knight and Coach Sharp always have done an excellent job in bringing quality athletes into the Tiger football program. A shiny, modern stadium certainly should help them with recruiting and team spirit at home games. Hopefully, we will see statewide and national recognition for the new stadium that will bring needed attention and focus to the Ouachita football program and how it benefits the university.”

The Tigers will face Southern Nazarene University in the Sept. 13 matchup. A brief dedication service honoring Harris will be held prior to the game’s 6 p.m. kickoff.

Ticket prices include $8 for general admission, $12 for reserved seats or $15 for premium reserved seats. Season ticket prices include $50 for reserved seats or $60 for premium reserved seats. To order tickets, visit tinyurl.com/OBUfootball2014, call 870-245-5586 or contact Sherry Kuhn at [email protected].