Ahearn Field
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| Location | 39°11′12″N 96°35′04″W / 39.186770°N 96.584331°W |
|---|---|
| Owner | Kansas State |
| Operator | Kansas State |
| Capacity | Approximately 1,500[1] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | April 15, 1911 |
| Closed | 1922 |
| Construction cost | $10,000[1] |
| Tenants | |
| Kansas State Wildcats | |
Ahearn Field was the first on-campus athletic field for Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.[2] It was utilized from 1911 to 1922 by the football team, baseball team, and track team. The field was named in honor of former coach Mike Ahearn.
The field was inaugurated with a high school track competition on April 15, 1911.[3]
Prior to the establishment of Ahearn Field, Kansas State's athletic teams played in an open public square in Manhattan at Bluemont Avenue and 8th Street, informally known as Athletic Park.[1] In 1906, a covered wooden grandstand and a small locker room were constructed at Athletic Park.[1] These structures were relocated to Ahearn Field in 1911.[1] The grandstand was situated at the south end of the field, facing north, approximately where the K-State Alumni Center currently stands.[1]
In 1922, Memorial Stadium was opened at the same location, prompting a reorientation of the football field from east–west to north–south and the removal of the old grandstand.[4] As late as 1938, Memorial Stadium was still referred to as Ahearn Field at Memorial Stadium.[4]
The pronunciation of "Ahearn" as "a-HEARN" is based on the family's preference for a short "a" sound.[5]
Expansion of Ahearn Field's Role in Athletics
Ahearn Field served as the home for multiple athletic programs at Kansas State University, including football, baseball, and track and field. The track surrounding the football field hosted numerous regional high school and college track meets.[1] Additionally, the venue was used for community gatherings, making it a central location for both athletic and social events in Manhattan.[1]
Facilities and Features at Ahearn Field
The relocated grandstand from Athletic Park accommodated approximately 1,500 spectators.[1] A modest wooden locker room was available for the football team.[1] These facilities represented Kansas State University's initial efforts to provide dedicated athletic infrastructure, laying the foundation for future developments.[1]
Kansas State Wildcats Football Record at Ahearn Field (1911–1921)
Below is a table of the Kansas State Wildcats’ home game results while they played at Ahearn Field.[2]
| Year | Date | Opponent | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | Sep 30 (Sat) | Southwestern | W, 6-6[6] |
| 1911 | Oct 7 (Sat) | Emporia State | L, 0-3[6] |
| 1911 | Oct 14 (Sat) | Kansas | L, 0-59[6] |
| 1911 | Oct 21 (Sat) | Kansas | L, 0-6[6] |
| 1911 | Oct 28 (Sat) | Wichita | W, 9-5[6] |
| 1911 | Nov 4 (Sat) | Creighton | W, 12-0[6] |
| 1911 | Nov 11 (Sat) | Arkansas | W, 3-0[6] |
| 1911 | Nov 18 (Sat) | Oklahoma State | W, 11-0[6] |
| 1911 | Nov 24 (Fri) | Washburn | W, 6-5[6] |
| 1912 | Sep 28 (Sat) | Haskell Institute | W, 19-7[7] |
| 1912 | Oct 9 (Wed) | Haskell Institute | W, 21-14[7] |
| 1912 | Oct 19 (Sat) | Emporia State | L, 6-30[7] |
| 1912 | Oct 26 (Sat) | Wichita | W, 54-0[7] |
| 1912 | Nov 2 (Sat) | College of Emporia | W, 28-7[7] |
| 1912 | Nov 8 (Fri) | Colorado | W, 14-6[7] |
| 1912 | Nov 16 (Sat) | Texas A&M | W, 13-10[7] |
| 1912 | Nov 20 (Wed) | Washburn | W, 21-3[7] |
| 1913 | Oct 3 (Fri) | Nebraska | L, 10-13[8] |
| 1913 | Oct 10 (Fri) | Nebraska | L, 6-24[8] |
| 1913 | Oct 18 (Sat) | Kansas | L, 0-26[8] |
| 1913 | Oct 25 (Sat) | Wichita | W, 30-7[8] |
| 1913 | Nov 1 (Sat) | Texas A&M | W, 12-0[8] |
| 1913 | Nov 8 (Sat) | Texas | L, 0-46[8] |
| 1913 | Nov 18 (Tue) | Washburn | T, 6-6[8] |
| 1914 | Oct 3 (Sat) | Emporia State | W, 15-0[9] |
| 1914 | Oct 10 (Sat) | Nebraska | L, 0-31[9] |
| 1914 | Oct 17 (Sat) | Kansas | L, 0-28[9] |
| 1914 | Oct 24 (Sat) | Missouri | L, 3-13[9] |
| 1914 | Oct 31 (Sat) | Oklahoma | L, 10-52[9] |
| 1914 | Nov 13 (Fri) | Washburn | L, 16-26[9] |
| 1915 | Oct 1 (Fri) | Nebraska | L, 0-31[10] |
| 1915 | Oct 9 (Sat) | Emporia State | L, 0-13[10] |
| 1915 | Oct 16 (Sat) | Kansas | L, 7-19[10] |
| 1915 | Oct 30 (Sat) | Friends | W, 14-0[10] |
| 1915 | Nov 6 (Sat) | Washburn | W, 6-0[10] |
| 1915 | Nov 13 (Sat) | Oklahoma | L, 7-21[10] |
| 1916 | Sep 30 (Sat) | Baker | W, 20-0[11] |
| 1916 | Oct 6 (Fri) | Southwestern College (Kan.) | W, 53-0[11] |
| 1916 | Oct 11 (Wed) | Emporia State | W, 13-3[11] |
| 1916 | Oct 28 (Sat) | Missouri | W, 7-6[11] |
| 1916 | Nov 11 (Sat) | Washburn | W, 47-0[11] |
| 1917 | Sep 28 (Fri) | Baker | W, 28-0[12] |
| 1917 | Oct 6 (Sat) | Missouri | W, 7-6[12] |
| 1917 | Oct 13 (Sat) | Washington (St. Louis) | W, 61-0[12] |
| 1917 | Oct 20 (Sat) | Kansas | L, 0-9[12] |
| 1917 | Nov 10 (Sat) | Emporia State | W, 51-0[12] |
| 1917 | Nov 22 (Thu) | Washburn | W, 38-0[12] |
| 1918 | Sep 28 (Sat) | Baker | W, 22-0[13] |
| 1918 | Oct 5 (Sat) | Washburn | W, 28-9[13] |
| 1918 | Nov 9 (Sat) | Iowa State | W, 11-0[13] |
| 1918 | Nov 28 (Thu) | Washburn | W, 6-5[13] |
| 1919 | Sep 28 (Sun) | Baker | W, 16-0[14] |
| 1919 | Oct 3 (Fri) | Missouri | T, 6-6[14] |
| 1919 | Oct 18 (Sat) | Fort Hays State | W, 12-0[14] |
| 1919 | Oct 25 (Sat) | Kansas | L, 3-16[14] |
| 1919 | Nov 1 (Sat) | Haskell Institute | L, 3-7[14] |
| 1919 | Nov 19 (Fri) | Washburn | T, 0-0[14] |
| 1920 | Oct 1 (Fri) | Camp Funston | W, 55-0[15] |
| 1920 | Oct 8 (Fri) | Emporia State | T, 7-7[15] |
| 1920 | Oct 22 (Sat) | Kansas | L, 0-14[15] |
| 1921 | Oct 1 (Sat) | Washington (St. Louis) | W, 21-0[16] |
| 1921 | Oct 15 (Sat) | Missouri | W, 7-5[16] |
| 1921 | Oct 29 (Sat) | Grinnell | W, 21-7[16] |
| 1921 | Nov 11 (Fri) | Oklahoma | W, 14-7[16] |
Transition to Memorial Stadium
By 1922, Kansas State University sought a more modern and expansive athletic facility, leading to the construction of Memorial Stadium at the Ahearn Field site. Memorial Stadium was established to honor Kansas State students who served in World War I. The transition involved reorienting the football field from an east–west alignment to a north–south alignment to enhance spectator viewing and seating arrangements.[4] Memorial Stadium became the new home for the Kansas State Wildcats football team, while references to Ahearn Field persisted in university publications until the late 1930s.[4]
Legacy and Significance
Ahearn Field played a pivotal role in the development of collegiate athletics at Kansas State University. Transitioning from informal athletic spaces to a dedicated facility, it facilitated improved recruitment, organized athletic schedules, and enhanced training for athletes.[2] The field's dedication to Mike Ahearn reflected his significant contributions to the university's athletic and student life.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Willard, Julius T. (1940). History of Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science. Kansas State College Press. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Stallard, Mark (2000). Wildcats to Powercats: K-State Football Facts and Trivia. Addax Publishing Group. ISBN 1-58497-004-9.
- ^ Royal Purple. Kansas State. 1911. p. 190.
- ^ a b c d Miller, Luman, ed. (1938). Royal Purple. Kansas State. pp. 22–23, 30.
- ^ "The 'a-HEARN' Story". Kansas State University Athletics. April 8, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Kansas State 1911 Schedule
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kansas State 1912 Schedule
- ^ a b c d e f g Kansas State 1913 Schedule
- ^ a b c d e f Kansas State 1914 Schedule
- ^ a b c d e f Kansas State 1915 Schedule
- ^ a b c d e Kansas State 1916 Schedule
- ^ a b c d e f Kansas State 1917 Schedule
- ^ a b c d Kansas State 1918 Schedule
- ^ a b c d e f Kansas State 1919 Schedule
- ^ a b c Kansas State 1920 Schedule
- ^ a b c d Kansas State 1921 Schedule
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Established: 1863 – Endowment: $488.9 million – Students: 22,795 (fall 2017) | ||