Burke-Tarr Stadium

Burke-Tarr Stadium is a football stadium located in Jefferson City, Tennessee on the campus of Carson-Newman College.

Construction

The original structure, consisting primarily of concrete-supported wooden bleachers and a small press box, was constructed in 1966 to serve as the home for the then-NAIA Carson-Newman Eagles football team. The stadium's proximity to Mossy Creek, which served as the starting point for the college itself in 1851, and the bad luck that has befallen many visiting teams over the years, led to the buildup of a mystique known as Mossy Creak Madness during football season. The most rabid students became known as the Mossy Creek Maniacs, a colorful group who constantly yell insults at opposing players at both home and away games, and have developed many special traditions, which include running the school flags down to the endzone after an Eagles touchdown, and pouring water from Mossy Creek onto the field before each game.

Eagles Success

From 1967-2004, the Eagles compiled a 192-37-2 record at the original stadium, which hosted three of the team's five NAIA National Championship victories in 1986, 1988, and 1989. After the team moved to NCAA Division II in the early 1990s, the team ran off a home winning streak that stretched from a 62-31 loss to [New Haven in 1993] , to a 38-28 loss to conference foe Presbyterian on October 6, 2001, a span of 36 regular season games (Northern Colorado defeated the Eagles 30-29 in a Division II semi-final game in 1997). Since that loss, the Eagles have run off another 22-game home winning streak (discounting a 2005 loss at Jefferson County High School), including two playoff games against Fayetteville State. Since moving up in classification, the Eagles are 63-2 at Burke-Tarr Stadium. [http://www.cn.edu]

Much of the success at the stadium has come under the coaching era of Ken Sparks, who ranks fourth in most wins among active NCAA coaches. [ [http://carsonnewmaneagles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/sparks_ken00.html carsonewmaneagles.cstv.com Player Bio:Ken Sparks - caronewmaneagles.cstv.com - Retrieved January 18, 2008] ]

Demolition of Original Stadium

After the Eagles won a 2004 first-round playoff game against Fayetteville State, Carson-Newman administrators became concerned that the stadium was growing old and might not be entirely safe. A safety inspection team was called in shortly thereafter to evaluate the 37 year old stadium's superstructure. The administration's concerns soon became warranted, as the inspection revealed that the stadium could only be stabilized and made safe again by a mandatory $2.5 million structural renovation, which would result in little improvement to the outdated facilities themselves. Fortunately, local donors and supporters of the college's athletics had already begun to recognize the need for improvements to the football facilities, which were compared poorly to other schools in its league such as Presbyterian, Tusculum, and Catawba. By mid-January 2005, the Eagle Foundation had received enough funds and pledges to proceed with the demolition of the original Burke-Tarr Stadium in preparation for a new, state-of-the-art facility that will eventually consist of a 5300 seat stadium, a football operations center to house locker room and weight-training facilities for the football players behind the south endzone, and an indoor practice facility located on the present site of the Eagles' practice field. Because the primary benefactor chose to remain anonymous, the stadium was able to retain its original name.

New Stadium

The new Burke-Tarr Stadium was erected within 9 months of the original's demolition, and was dedicated on October 22, 2005 during Homecoming festivities as the Eagles defeated Lenoir-Rhyne 33-6. The facility's main stands consist primarily of steel and aluminum, as concrete prices at the time of construction made it impossible to afford a concrete structure. The metal design allowed for four additional entrances to the main stands via stairwells from the ground level, in addition to the entrances on either end of the stadium. The stands contain press box supported by two steel and brick columns, leaving a great deal of space underneath for concessions stands, merchandise booths, and restroom facilities.

Although the new stadium incorporated the visiting side bleachers from the original stadium (erected much later on in the facilities' life) a late donation by a local businessman enabled the college to replace the Bermuda grass field with FieldTurf, a modern artificial surface that is largely similar to grass. Due to the proximity of the Carson-Newman baseball complex, a nearby road, and the space needed for the operations center, the stadium was unable to hold a regulation track, so none was installed. In July 2006, construction began on the football operations center, as well as the completion of the brick fencing in the North endzone and around the visiting side's bleachers. The operations facility was completed in time for the 2008 season, though there is no word on the indoor practice facilty funding.

The Eagles completed the 2006 season with an 8-3 record, and ran their record at the new Burke-Tarr Stadium to 7-0. In the 2007 season, the Eagles extended their winning streak at the new stadium to ten games, but suffered their first loss on October 13, 2007 against Catawba 55-49. Their record at the new stadium now stands at 12-1. [http://carsonnewmaneagles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/cars-m-footbl-sched.html]

Burke-Tarr Stadium Records

"The source for this section is the Stadium Dedication Program"

Highest Attendance: 5,246 vs. Cameron, 1986 (record broken during first game at new stadium, now stands at 5,292).

Most points scored by the Eagles: 77 vs. Tusculum, 2000

Most combined points in a game: 101, 77-24 against Tusculum, 2000

Longest Rush: 99 yard by Roniae Maye, vs. Lenoir-Rhyne, 1999

Longest Pass: 98 yards from Leonard Guyton to Alvin Sanders vs. New Haven, 2002 (writer was present)

Longest Kickoff Return: 100 yards by Damon Wright (CN) vs. Wingate in 1992 and Presbyterian in 1990; Terry Guess (Gardner-Webb), 1994

Longest Punt Return: 95 yards by David Pool vs. Gardner-Webb, 1998, and Steve Dees vs. Shepherd, 1983

Longest INT Return: 100 yards by Pat Apke vs. Mars Hill, 1983; Mike Schlechter vs. Liberty, 1986; Chuck Proffitt vs. Catawba, 1989

Longest FG: 52 yards by Louis Reveiz vs. Liberty, 1986

Longest Punt: 73 yards by Gary Graves vs. Newberry, 1978

Most Yards Gained Rushing: 299 by Heath Hawkins vs. Slippery Rock, 1998

Most Yards Gained Passing: 388 by John Craven (Gardner-Webb), 1992

Most Yards Gained Receiving: 319, Tom Jones vs. Lenoir-Rhyne, 1969

C-N record at Burke-Tarr Stadium, 199-37-2

References