The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga rededicated Scrappy Moore Field today, following more than $500,000 in renovations over the past year. Thanks in large part to the support of UTC football alum John Murphy, and his wife Renee Haugerud, the complex will now be recognized as the Murphy-Haugerud Football Practice Complex at Scrappy Moore Field.
Located on the banks of the Tennessee River and adjacent to the campus of UTC, Scrappy Moore Field is named after longtime Mocs head coach and college football hall of famer A.C. "Scrappy" Moore. The Moore family has made sure that the facility has provided a perfect practice location for Mocs football for decades. Thanks to the generosity of Haugerud and Murphy, along with a number of other UTC football alumni and supporters, Scrappy Moore Field is now updated, upgraded and on par with any other facility of its kind.
"We are very thankful to Renee and John, and all of the supporters of our program who helped with this project," stated UTC Director of Athletics Rick Hart. "Scrappy Moore Field has always been a special place that holds many fond memories for our football alumni. Now as the Murphy-Haugerud Football Practice Complex, Scrappy Moore Field is outfitted as well as any other facility in the country."
The bulk of the renovations were funded by Haugerud and Murphy and included a new artificial turf playing surface that covers half of the complex. This turf replaces, and nearly doubles the size of, the outdated artificial surface that was present. A new irrigation system was also installed for the grass playing surface that covers the remaining part of the field.
Gary Davis and the Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Company donated a new scoreboard and play clock. Former Mocs Don Lepard and Johnny Owens provided the labor and funds to install the scoreboard. Scrappy Moore Field did not previously have a scoreboard or play clock in use.
Former Mocs kicker Rodney Allen helped to raise funds for a permanent goalpost on one end of the field. The new goalpost replaced the older, portable ones used by the special teams units in previous years. Ryan Crimmins of Lawson Electric helped to install the new goalpost.
The Mocs had their first practice at the new Murphy-Haugerud Football Practice Complex at Scrappy Moore Field today. Unfortunately, storms in the area interrupted and ultimately cut short their first workout of the season. Be sure to check back to GoMocs.com for a full report. They will be back on the field tomorrow morning at 7:45 a.m. (E.D.T.) for their second practice of fall camp.
