Celebrating 150 Years of College Football

Celebrating 150 Years of College Football
In honor of College Football celebrating its 150^th anniversary in 2019, TulsaHurricane.com will recognize some of the most memorable moments and exciting plays in the history of The University of Tulsa football each week throughout the season.

Tulsa is in its 120^th season of fielding a football team. The Tulsa gridiron tradition started as Henry Kendall College in 1895 with the first team posting a 1-0-0 record lead by coach Norman Leard. There were a few seasons in the early years that Kendall College did not field a team, but later becoming The University of Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane football teams have amassed 600+ wins in school history.

This 150^th College Football Anniversary moment we take a HISTORICAL LOOK this week at the opening of Skelly Field.

Tulsa Opens Skelly Field Against Arkansas in 1930
There was a lot of excitement centered around the 1930 football season opener for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. It was the Arkansas Razorbacks visiting, but more importantly it was the inaugural game at the brand new Skelly Field.

Skelly Field was named after oil man William Skelly, a long-time friend of The University of Tulsa who gave $125,000 to the Stadium Fund Drive in the spring of 1930. The remaining $175,000 was raised by Tulsa businessmen who organizes the Stadium Corporation of Tulsa.

Records show that 13,000 spectators were on hand for the contest.

On the opening kickoff, Arkansas fumbled and end Johnny Potts recovered for Tulsa. Billy Boehm scored on the very next play, scoring the first touchdown in Skelly history in the north end zone. The Hurricane had things their way that day and won easily 26-6. Chet Benefiel, who became Tulsa's first All-American, scored the first touchdown in the south end zone.

Skelly Field was the original name, but it changed in 1947 to "Stadium" when the north end zone seats were added. Over the years, changes have been made to Skelly Field, but the most significant was in 2008 when Skelly Stadium took a new name as Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

Celebrating 150 Years of College Football

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