The new Field Turf football field at Drake Stadium will get a new name on Saturday prior to the Bulldog’s homecoming contest against Morehead State. The university will officially dedicate Johnny Bright Field prior to the contest. Bright finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1951.
Drake coach Rob Ash says his team is well aware of Johnny Bright and what Bright meant to the program. Ash it will be an honor to play on Johnny Bright field. Ash says the name brings a football presence to Drake Stadium and people will know it’s a great football venue and a great track venue.
The Bulldogs have a tough homecoming opponent who has won the south division of the P-F-L the last four years and played for the conference championship. Ash says Morehead State is a physical, hard hitting team. Ash says they play a rugged brand of football and says alum Phil Simms, the former NFL quarterback, had donated money to the weight program.
At 3-1, the Bulldogs are off to their best start since 2000 and a victory on Saturday would give them a 2-0 start in the league race. Ash says this is another step they can take toward winning the championship.