This photograph shows the construction of Springfield College's poly-turf field, that later became known as Benedum Field and eventually Stagg field. There is a tracker on the field and their are men helping to lay the turf. Linkletter Natatorium can be seen in the immediate background. Through the trees you can just make out the Memorial Field House. Springfield College's Paul G. Benedum Field was completed in 1971. Encompassing an 88,164 square foot area and costing $415,000, it consisted of a poly-turf surface that was used for football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, physical education classes, and intramural athletics. It was one of the largest synthetic playing surfaces in the world at the time. In October of 2007, Benedum Field was renamed Stagg field in honor of Amos Alonzo Stagg (1862-1965). Stagg brought football to what is now Springfield College and coached the institution’s first team in 1891. After arriving as a graduate student and instructor in 1890, Stagg posted a notice inviting students and faculty to play football for the institution. After coaching for fifty-seven years at number of different institutions, he became the dean of college football coaches. Stagg pioneered the huddle, the man in motion, the end-around, and the Statue of Liberty play, among others. Paul G. Benedum was the President of the Benedum-Trees Oil Company and a member of the Board of Directors of many gasoline and oil companies in the Unites States. He served as a member of the Springfield College Board of Trustees from 1962 to 1968, and as a Corporator of the college from 1968 to 1971.
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