One hundred years after ground was first broken on Cleve Abbott Stadium – light is coming to the football program at Tuskegee University.
Tuskegee University Director of Athletics Dr. Reginald Ruffin announced the addition of lights to the historic venue via Facebook earlier this week.
“The Power lies in the tongue and speak it into existence!!!” Ruffin wrote. “I took this picture in 2022 and everyone said we got lights!!! Wow the power of the tongue. God said let there be Light and there was Lights!!! Praise God not only Lights but Lights on all three fields football, baseball, and softball. Just know we most definitely don’t look like we use to look!! Please know I’m here to help and give my coaches, staff, and student athletes the best possible support. Let There Be Light!!!! Give him Praise!!!!!! One Love.”
The lights will be installed and ready to go by the time the football season kicks off, according to Ruffin.
So will Tuskegee University host a football game in 2024?
“We’re in the market for our new president,” Ruffin told HBCU Gameday in an exclusive interview. “So if the lights are finally installed – which they will be – the president may want to have a game-change time. But that’s going to be strictly up to the next president to make the decision in a timely manner.”
Ruffin hit the ground running after being hired as head football coach and director of athletics at the end of 2021. He announced his intention to upgrade the school’s athletic facilities, and getting lights at the stadium was a big part of that. Free from his coaching duties (he passed the baton to Aaron James after the 2022 season) he’s dove heavily into fundraising. That includes giving $50k to the Marching Crimson Pipers as well as several other organizations on campus.
Tuskegee University is currently the winningest HBCU program of all-time with over 800 wins. Its home stadium is a big part of that lure, as it routinely fills up with more than 30,000 students, alumni and fans during homecoming. This year will mark its centennial homecoming game.