Peden Stadium has seen more than its fair share of football during the past 75 years. In that time period, there have been some glorious moments and some seasons that could just as well be forgotten.
Peden Stadium has also seen changes in its design since that first season in 1929. It started out with just bleachers on each side of the field and seated 12,000 people. The stadium expanded in 1986, when permanent seating was added to the corners of the north end zone, increasing capacity to 19,000.
From 1989 through 1992, the stadium's tower was built in phases, replacing the small press box that was in use. The tower houses the offices for coaches, athletic training facilities and the press area, among other things.
Assistant Athletics Director Derek Scott said the tower is one of the unique features of the stadium that fans don't get to see.
Because of the way it was constructed
our coach's offices are utilized as the radio booths and that is something the fans would have no idea of he said. You hear the radio broadcast
and in reality I'm operating from one of the coach's offices that have to be (used) on game day.
One final renovation took place in 2001, when the playing field was lowered and more seats were added, pushing capacity to 24,000. Victory Hill was also added at that time.
Peden Stadium has seen its share of good games and bad games. Ohio didn't field a sub-.500 team until the stadium's 17th year, 1945, and 11 championship teams have played at Peden Stadium.
The 1950s and '60s were especially good to Ohio. The Bobcats had only three teams below .500 between 1949 and 1969 and won five Mid-American Conference championships during that time.
Mike Johnson, a 1967 graduate who served as Alumni Coordinator for the Akron and Canton alumni chapter for five years, said when he was in Athens, football games were an event.
There was no Marching 110
he said. There was a band
but it was what I would call a nice
ordinary band. The 110 concept had not been born. The game was the thing.
