What They’re Saying About Phase III
“Without doubt, the Pac-10 is the premier
athletic conference in the country. Likewise, the
quality of the teaching, research, and service provided
by conference institutions is unsurpassed anywhere in
the nation. We are very proud of our commitment to the
high standards of the Pac-10 in all of the activities
in which we engage. The stadium renovation is critical
to strengthening the ties among members of the Cougar
family as the University rededicates itself to meeting
the priorities of the 21st century. The renovations and
upgrades to the stadium will provide a more comfortable
and functional space for fans and visitors, enhancing
their game-day experience. In addition, a renovated
stadium will reinvigorate our ability to recruit top
student-athletes and coaches, strengthening our ability
to compete in the Pac-10 and enhancing our overall
institutional reputation. I am delighted with the
generosity so many individuals have demonstrated
already in support of this important
project.”
Elson S. Floyd, Ph.D.
President, Washington State University
“Washington State is the ultimate college campus,
and Martin Stadium is a special venue. So few
universities have their football stadiums literally
sitting in the middle of campus; we have that here at
WSU. The family atmosphere, along with the togetherness
of a campus and community, is as strong as I can
imagine anywhere in the United States. The
stadium renovation plays a critical role in our
recruiting efforts. To be able to show the positive
atmosphere the renovated stadium will create, the
excitement it will generate among fans and WSU
student-athletes, and the home-field advantage it will
provide will dramatically enhance our ability to
recruit top-tier talent.”
Paul Wulff
Head Football Coach, Washington State University
“The renovation means everything to our athletic
department; not just the football program. I’m
talking about the entire athletics department;
I’m talking about all of WSU. This helps us stay
competitive with the rest of the Pac-10 and the nation.
With our recruiting, it means everything. I cannot
emphasize to the Cougar Nation enough: we all need to
step up and support this project because it helps
everybody.”
Jack Thompson
Quarterback 1975-78
WSU Athletic Hall of Fame
“I think it is a unique opportunity for the
Cougar Nation to make the time in Pullman really
special. What makes being a Cougar special is
epitomized in attending a football game and being part
of that experience. I wholeheartedly endorse and feel
strongly we need to maximize that experience through
the renovation of the stadium. We have few venues that
bring such large numbers of people back to Pullman.
What better way than to make our stadium a positive
environment for our fans, students, players, future
players, alumni, faculty, and staff to enjoy a fall day
at a football game. We have just so many opportunities
to make an investment in our lives and what better way
as a Cougar than to invest in something that will
really enhance the special experience of being in the
Palouse.”
Rueben Mayes
Running Back, 1982-85
Member of WSU Athletic Hall of Fame and College
Football Hall of Fame
“The renovation will enhance recruiting and
enhance our play on the field. This provides us with a
unique opportunity to improve our facilities, not only
to benefit football student-athletes but all WSU
student-athletes. In battling for recruits, we need to
keep our facilities fresh. Other schools have an
advantage over us with the facilities they have, and we
need to keep pace. If we keep our facilities up and
continue the process that we started 8 to 10 years ago,
we can get back to where we want to be. We, as
supporters, need to fill the stadium and make it a
tough place for visiting teams to play. Martin Stadium
is one of the tougher places to play now. Imagine what
it will be like when we renovate the stadium and get
all Cougars to fill it.”
Mark Rypien
Quarterback, 1983-85
WSU Athletics Hall of Fame member
“There’s no question that in order to be competitive at the Pac-10 level, facilities are a big part of that. If you are going to recruit the right athletes, and you are going to train your athletes properly, you got to have the proper facilities. Martin Stadium is always a huge advantage. Our fans are crazy, they’re loud, and putting more people here is going to add to our competitive advantage when we are playing at home.”
Drew Bledsoe
Quarterback, Washington State, 1990-92
Member of WSU Athletics Hall of Fame
“I love Martin Stadium. I love how quaint and how intimate the feeling is. But I know there has to be advancement. For us to compete with the rest of the teams in the Pac-10 we need to have a first-class stadium. It fits what we want to do here. When you come here you are going to enjoy a great atmosphere and it’s going to give these players an opportunity to come to a University that has the same type of facilities as every other Pac-10 school. This stadium is amazing when you can fill it. It can be an unbelievable home-field advantage for us.”
Ryan Leaf
Quarterback, Washington State, 1995-97
Led WSU to its first Rose Bowl in 67 years during
the 1997 season
“The renovation of the stadium is outstanding. It
will do so much to help the whole athletics program.
When we renovate our stadium and bring it up to par
with other schools in the conference, recruiting
becomes easier. It helps with the overall recruiting
program which leads to greater success on the
field.”
Rod Retherford
DB, 1981-82
Author of ROD: A True Story
“Jim Sterk is doing an outstanding job leading
the athletics department at Washington State University
during a very challenging time in intercollegiate
athletics throughout the entire country. College
athletics is going through tremendous change because of
finances, the facility wars, and the monies available
that different departments have for coaching staffs.
This project is extremely important to WSU and those
people who really care about Cougar athletics. It
will assist in generating the additional resources
necessary to help WSU tackle the great challenges
ahead. I encourage Cougar fans and sports fans
everywhere to get behind this project and make it a
success so that the Cougar athletics program will
continue to flourish and be a consistent contender in
the Pac-10 Conference.”
Sam Jankovich
Washington State Athletics Director 1976-83
Member WSU Athletics Hall of Fame
“When you get to Washington State, you know you
are there, there’s a spirit. WSU needs quality
facilities. Good facilities make pride jump. Now is the
time to improve what you know will make you better.
There is no such thing as 'let’s wait.' The more
you wait and put things off that are necessary, the
more you delay success. If you want success, get
involved.”
Jim Walden
WSU Head Coach 1978-86
WSU Athletics Hall of Fame Member
“There is tremendous momentum after Phases I and
II. The people have seen how great it can be now with
the new concessions, restrooms, score board, and video
screens all around. They are saying, ‘Wow, this
is really important.’ Now they are saying,
‘We can be even better.’ This next phase
can take us to that next level. I think this is a great
time to do it. Everyone who puts on a Cougar T-shirt,
or Cougar-logo polo, or anything that has Cougar on it,
ought to ask yourself, ‘Have I given
back?’”
Glenn Johnson
Martin Stadium "Voice of the Cougars"
Mayor of Pullman
“This is great news and I am excited for all
Cougar fans. A first-class stadium in the Pac-10 is
critical to the success of the program in regards to
recruiting and moving it back to its rightful place of
being a true competitor in the Pac-10 Conference. I
know from my experience at the University of Oregon,
when we expanded and renovated our stadium, it made a
big difference in the quality of student-athletes we
were able to recruit, as well as the comfort and
excitement of our fan base. I have every reason to
believe that will be the case at Washington State as
well.”
Bill Moos
University of Oregon Athletic Director 1995-2007
Offensive Tackle, Washington State, 1970-72