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It has been home to a litany of legends. It has hosted concerts by some of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest. And it has been a community gathering place for nearly 50 years.
Hughes Stadium has been an iconic venue, but with an on-campus stadium set to open in 2017 the time has come for CSU legends and community members to commiserate in a new place. Before that happens, there’s one last chance to bid a fond farewell to Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.
This fall will be the final season at Hughes, with the Rams slated to play six games in the legendary stadium nestled against the foothills of the Rockies. It is a place where more than 6 million fans have witnessed nearly a half-century of CSU history, cheering every win and lamenting every loss.
The stuff of legends
Consider some of the Ram greats that have played there: safety Greg Meyers, the local kid who stayed home and earned a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame; Willie Miller, the decorated Vietnam veteran who earned a degree before starting a seven-year NFL career at age 28; Bradlee Van Pelt, the long-haired, blue-eyed quarterback who willed the Rams to one of their greatest seasons in 2002; Steve Bartalo, the too-short, too-slow walk-on running back who would go on to set every Ram rushing record; and many, many others.
And what about the amazing opponents fans were lucky enough to witness on sunny autumn Saturdays? Guys like Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young, the great BYU quarterback; Ben Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers legend who played at Miami of Ohio; and legendary “Mean” Joe Greene – the guy from the memorable Coke commercial – who played for North Texas State in the first game ever played at Hughes in 1968. They all played there – as did many, many others in the nearly 300 games played at the stadium.
And Hughes wasn’t just a football stadium. There was a time in the 1970s when Fort Collins was a rock concert mecca, with performers like the Beach Boys, Chicago, the Rolling Stones, Elton John and Bob Dylan playing Hughes.
2016 home schedule
September 10 vs. Texas-San Antonio – Hughes Era: 1960s
- Also: Military Appreciation Day
September 17 vs. Northern Colorado – Hughes Era: 1970s
- Also: Ag Day with 4-H, Orange Out
October 1 vs. Wyoming – Hughes Era: 1980s
- Also: Border War
October 8 vs. Utah State – Hughes Era: 1990s
- Also: Homecoming and Family Weekend
November 5 vs. Fresno State – Hughes Era: 2000s
- Also: Take A Kid to the Game, Extra Yard for Teachers
November 19 vs. New Mexico – Hughes Era: 2010s
- Also: Senior Day
Fans will have half a dozen opportunities to celebrate Hughes and all of the many memories it has spawned. Each of the six home game will feature a celebration of a decade in the stadium’s history.
Celebrations by the decade
Celebrations will include ceremonies honoring players from the 1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s and ‘10s, and music from the corresponding decade will be played throughout the game.
A comprehensive written and photographic history of Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium is available at csurams.com/farewellhughes. Fans interested in purchasing stadium memorabilia (turf, bleacher seats and chair backs) can find those items on the website.
Fans can also share their memories of Hughes by using the hashtag #FarewellHughes or by e-mailing them to farewellhughes@colostate.edu.
