ASU seeks to rename stadium for Casem

Published 12:01 am Friday, August 12, 2011

Alcorn State’s football stadium could soon have a new name.

The university will ask the Mississippi Board of Trustees of the State Institutions of Higher Learning at next week’s meeting to add the name of longtime coach Marino Casem to the stadium.

The stadium, which opened in 1992, is currently called Jack Spinks Stadium. Spinks played at Alcorn from 1948-52 and was the first black player from Mississippi to play in the NFL.

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It was not clear whether the stadium itself would be renamed for both Spinks and Casem, or the field would be named after Casem. Some schools, such as Mississippi State’s Scott Field at Davis Wade Stadium, have taken the latter approach.

Casem was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003. He coached at Alcorn from 1964-85 and won seven SWAC championships and seven black college national titles.

“His legendary legacy of leadership still demonstrates the highest level of professionalism and personal integrity,” Alcorn president M. Christopher Brown II said in a school release. “This recognition is long overdue and the Alcorn family is honored to acknowledge the achievements of Coach Casem.”