RON & CAROL COPE STADIUM AT FOSTER FIELD
Recognized as one of the most historic fields in UNK athletic history, Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field has withstood the test of time and taken on a new and improved look.
Located on the North side of campus, just west of the Nebraskan Student Union, Cope Stadium at Foster Field enjoys a location that is accessible to community and students alike.
It has been home to the Loper football team since 1939; the track & field team used a since-removed outdoor track for several decades.
The stadium was named Foster Field to honor former track and football coach Charlie Foster. Ron & Carol Cope, well known in the Kearney community for their philanthropy work, were added to the marquee in 2005 due to their contributions to the new facility.
In recent years, the field and stadium complex has been the focus of major renovations with more than $ 8 million in improvements completed.
Construction projects at the stadium have touched on improvements for fans as well as players in all areas:
· New state-of-the-art field turf (275’ x 400’) added in August of 2004.
· 3 story stadium upgrades including 7 press/media suites, hospitality room (90 cap.), full game viewing deck, ticket booth, two concession stands, elevator, 4 bathroom sets, and 4 stadium entrances.
· The installation of an additional 1,500 seats.
· A new north end zone facility with home and away locker rooms, meeting rooms, training facilities, concession stand, official’s quarters, and equipment storage.
· Inner fencing structure to separate field from fans
· New state of the art LED message center (13’x 17’6”/80x112 Led Daktronics Prostar)
· State-of-the-art sound & lighting.
The University of Nebraska Kearney played its first game on the renovated field on Saturday, September 3, 2004 vs. Wayne State in front of 3,804 people.
The second phase was completed the following year and included the addition of the press box and north end zone building. A crowd of 8,823 fans packed into the facility to watch the Lopers take on the Mavericks of UNO.
Today, Foster Field is home for the UNK football and soccer teams as well as the Kearney High Bearcat football team.
Other athletic teams benefit from it’s surface as a practice facility during off seasons and winter months as well.
The 2009 season marked the first year that women’s soccer used the complex. The season opener vs. Wayne State drew 3, 227, which set an NCAA Division II attendance record. The previous record at a Division II game was 2,004.
Tremendous thanks go out to these individuals and groups who so graciously have contributed to the Cope Stadium at Foster Field project. Your legacy will forever be experienced by student-athletes and fans.
Ron & Carol Cope
Dr. BM and Beverly Stevenson
Kearney Public Schools
Peter Kiewit Foundation
Faye Reynolds Estate
Brown Transfer Company
FirsTier Bank/Joel Wiens
Bill and Mary Ann Beavers
Kearney Clinic
Sahling Kenworth
TierOne Charitable Foundation
Brad R. Kernick
Barry Sherman
Kearney Hub
Pete and Jane Kotsiopulos
Judith J. Spohr
Larry and Kay Edwards
J. Scott and Teri Nelson
Jon and Leslie Abegglen
Wayne and Kathy Gappa
Sam M Fehrenz Estate
John and Sonia Sahling
Cash-Wa Distributing Company
Midway Chevrolet Buick Cadillac
Lopers at Foster Field
Seasons: 71
Record: 233-95-5
Most Consecutive Winning Seasons: 12 (1997- current)
Most Games Played in a Season: 7 (1988)
Most Wins in a Season: 5
Most Losses in a Season: 5 (1993)
Most Consecutive Wins: 25 (1954-59)
Undefeated Seasons: 16
Most Points by UNK: 88 (vs. Nebraska Central, 1914)
Most Points by an Opponent: 71 (vs. Central Missouri State, 1960)
Milestone Wins
1st: vs. Bethany (1939, 7-0)
50th: vs. Chadron State (1956, 44-7)
100th: vs. Fort Hays State (1970, 30-21)
150th: vs. Pittsburg State (1982, 13-0)
175th: vs. Minnesota State- Moorhead (1989, 24-22)
200th: vs. Mesa State (1999, 44-20)
225th: vs. Adams State (2007, 31-7)
Chronology of Momentous Games
1941 Game Vs. Wayne State (Win 28-0 to finish 8-0 season)
1956 Game vs. Nebraska Wesleyan (Win 35-12 to finish a 9-0 season)
1958 Game vs. Concordia (Win 71-3 to finish a 9-0 season)
1963 NAIA Playoff Game vs. Prairie View A & M
1990 Game Vs. South Dakota State (Lopers first home game as a Division II member)
1996 Game Vs. Colorado Mines (Lopers first RMAC home game)
2000 Game Vs. Western State (Loper QB Justin Coleman becomes D2 All-Time Passing Leader)
2002 NCAA Division II Playoff Game vs. Texas A&M Kingsville
2005 NCAA Division II Playoff Game vs. Pittsburg State
2007 Game Vs. Chadron State (Televised nationally by College Sports Television)
UNK enters its 71st season of football at Ron and Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field this fall with an overall home record of 233-95-5 (71%)