Tennessee State president pushes on-campus football games

Dr. Portia Holmes Shields

Nashville, TN - Tennessee State interim President Portia Holmes Shields said she hopes the Tigers’ football team will play three games at Hale Stadium on campus in 2012. Holmes Shields said the Tigers would keep the John Merritt Classic and homecoming at LP Field if the plan is approved.

TSU has played all of its home games at LP Field since 1999, moving there instead of repairing the 10,000-seat Hale Stadium, known as “The Hole.” Part of the agreement to build the Titans stadium was contingent on TSU getting to play there.

“There still is a lot of work and a lot of planning that has to take place to make it happen,” TSU Athletics Director Teresa Phillips said. “Our new president has shown a lot leadership by just putting the matter on the table for the university and for our community.”

Holmes Shields could not be reached for comment Saturday. In April, TSU’s students voted to add $25 to their fees per semester to fund renovations to Hale Stadium. TSU’s current enrollment is 8,824.

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