The South's oldest college football field at Sewanee is getting a face lift.
In an important enhancement for two of Sewanee's key athletic fields this summer, synthetic turf and lights will be added to McGee Field, while synthetic turf will be installed at Puett Field, which already has lights.
McGee Field is the home for football and men's lacrosse teams, while men's and women's soccer, women's lacrosse and field hockey play at Puett Field.
"The addition of lights and synthetic turf is a great addition to our ever growing athletics complex, gives our coaches flexibility on practice and game scheduling and greatly extends the life of the playing surfaces," said Sewanee athletics director Mark Webb.
The announcement comes after the two Sewanee lacrosse teams claimed Southern Athletic Association championships at home this past weekend.
Sewanee Football: The Tigers have been playing afternoon games on McGee Field since 1891 and the first game under the lights will most likely come in 2014.
"We have our football schedule and games times (all afternoon games) already set for this fall, but men's lacrosse will play night games at McGee Field next spring and we expect to play some night football games in the fall of 2014," Webb stated.
Sewanee's first soccer match on the new turf at Puett Field will be during the Kyle Rote Invitational, Sept. 7-8.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net