Rynearson Stadium
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Building Name
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Rynearson Stadium
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Description
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Nicknamed “The Factory”, the stadium was constructed in 1969 to replace Briggs Field as the home of Football and Track at EMU. The first game played in Rynearson Stadium happened on Sept. 27, 1969, when EMU upset the University of Akron, 10-3. Despite having seating for 30,200 people, Rynearson has never reached capacity. The largest attendance for an EMU football game occurred on November 28, 2008 when 26,188 fans watched EMU beat Central Michigan University 56-52.
In the winter of 2014, the football team was challenged to an outdoor practice on the snow-covered Rynearson Stadium field rather than the warm confines of their indoor practice facility. Throughout each drill of the bitter cold practice, Head Coach Chris Creighton delivered the message that EMU Football has the will to compete against "anyone, anytime and anywhere" even on a parking lot covered with broken glass." Inspired by his team's toughness and commitment that day, Creighton's idea of an "EMU Gray" field was born and soon shared with administrators. Rynearson’s turf was then replaced with gray FieldTurf, which made EMU the third Division I school to have a non-traditional field color.
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Namesake Biography
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Elton J. "Rynie" Rynearson (April 7, 1893-February 8, 1967) was born in Three Oaks, Michigan, in the southwest corner of Berrien County, the fourth of six children born to a Civil War Veteran. He married Ester L. Oberlin on September 2, 1926. The family moved to Ypsilanti in 1908, and Rynearson enrolled in Ypsilanti High School, playing three sports before graduating in 1911. He went on to college but left to pursue a professional baseball career. The Detroit Tigers brought him in from the Canadian League and sent him to Texas to play baseball. He also played in the Southern Michigan League until he injured his arm in 1916. He returned to EMU and served as assistant to Coach Elmer D. Mitchell. During World War I, Rynearson joined the Army; leaving school yet again to serve his country. Upon the signing of the armistice, Rynearson returned to EMU coaching through the 1920 season, leaving yet again for the University of Michigan Medical School, and a coaching position at Highland Park High School. In 1925 Rynearson returned to EMU as the football coach, a position he held for 24 years. After retiring from coaching in 1949, he served as athletic director and was a professor of anatomy and physiology at EMU. He was awarded the Willie Heston Award from the Detroit Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame.
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Building Namesake
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Elton J. Rynearson, Football Coach and Athletic Director, 26 Seasons
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Year Constructed
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1969
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Date Dedicated
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25 Oct 1969
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Building Functions
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Athletic Stadium
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Builder
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Turner Construction Company
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Original Cost
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$1,450,000
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Architectural Style
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Sports Stadium
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Rights
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This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the owner, Eastern Michigan University Archives (lib_archives@emich.edu).
