May 3, 2005

Gift Funds New Field Surface, State-of-the-Art Athletic Training and Physical Development Facility, Renovated and Expanded Locker Area

STILLWATER, OK — Oklahoma State University (OSU) Head Football Coach Mike Gundy today characterized a $3 million gift from OSU graduates Sherman Smith and Boone Pickens as one of the most meaningful gifts ever to OSU Football because of what it will provide to student athletes in the near term.

In making the announcement, Coach Gundy said, “This gift will greatly improve our program, giving our athletes a new field at Boone Pickens Stadium as well as improved training and locker room facilities.”

Coach Gundy said he pursued the funding to “continue the momentum we’ve built in developing a top-tier football program.”

As a result of the gift, come this fall Boone Pickens Stadium will have a new state-of-the-art synthetic turf to replace the worn out surface. “We will unveil a new offense, new defense and now a new playing field,” said Gundy. “The new turf will be incredible and I can’t wait to take the field this fall.”

Designed by Millennium Sports, the advanced designed field is being purchased from Desso Sports Systems in Belgium. Through its Belgium subsidiary, which operates a major plant in Stillwater, Oklahoma, has emerged as one of the leaders in the development and production of high tech sports surfaces used throughout Europe and the United States including The National Football League Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers.

The monofilament synthetic turf slated for installation this summer at Oklahoma State represents the cutting edge in playing surfaces according to Dan Almond, owner of Millennium Sports, one of the top sports field design companies in the country. “This is the best of the best without a doubt and I am thrilled my alma mater will be one of the first in the United States to install the new surface,” Almond, a ’78 OSU graduate commented. “It looks more like grass, plays more like grass and it’s durable with a useful life in excess of ten years. What can I say, it is not only a fast and furious playing surface but also a safe surface.”

The donation will also fund the renovation and upgrading of the athletic strength and conditioning training facility. The new facility will feature the newest strength and conditioning equipment. “Our strength coach, Rob Glass, is a recognized leader in the collegiate conditioning world, and we will have the latest and best training equipment available for him to use with our student-athletes,” Gundy said.

The gift will also fund a major renovation and modernization of the OSU football team locker area. When completed later this summer the new lockers facility will feature updated dressing and shower facilities as well as player lounge areas.

“I am very pleased to make this gift to Oklahoma State,” said Sherman Smith, founder of Service Drilling Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “Coach Gundy has assembled an outstanding staff and his bold vision for our football program bodes well for the future of Oklahoma State football.”

Smith is giving $1.5 million and Pickens is matching the gift with $1.5 million. “I am also glad to join with my good friend Boone Pickens to make this gift and am pleased we are able to support Coach Gundy’s aspirations to build a great program.”

“Sherman and I were OSU classmates in 1948,” said Pickens. “He’s now my business partner and a great person,” said Pickens. “He is stepping up in a big way and that speaks volumes about the direction of our football program under new Head Football Coach Mike Gundy,” Pickens said. “The improvements this gift will make are yet another important step we are taking at Oklahoma State to make sure we compete at a championship level in the Big 12.”

“We are very grateful to Sherman and Boone for this important gift to Oklahoma State’s football program. Our student athletes will benefit immensely for many years to come from the improved facilities, especially as it relates to our sports medicine capabilities,” commented David Schmidly, OSU System CEO and President.

“Championship programs have championship facilities, and we have made tremendous progress the past five years at OSU when it comes to facilities,” commented Athletic Director Harry Birdwell. “Thanks to the leadership of supporters like Sherman and Boone we will continue to make major strides with our facilities.”

Contact: Gary Shutt and Steve Buzzard

Web Address: http://osu.okstate.edu

Home  >  SSNA News  >  Oklahoma State University

• Lambeau Field To Receive Playing Surface Upgrade (December 7, 2006) [PDF File]

• SSNA addresses the misinformation surrounding Monofilament Turf Systems (October 31, 2006)

• Invesco Field is Professional Football and Soccer Field of the Year (February 6, 2006) [PDF File]

• Marturano Recreation Company (December 9, 2005)

• Sports Turf Group (December 6, 2005)

• Oklahoma State University (May 3, 2005)