FULLERTON, Calif. – Renovations and upgrades to Titan Stadium were completed last week as the 24-year-old venue received a well-deserved facelift.
"We have to thank President Mildred García and Vice President of Finance and Administration/CFO Danny Kim, as this project would not have been possible without their vision, hard work and perseverance," Cal State Fullerton Director of Athletics Jim Donovan said. "Over the last two years, we have continually made upgrades to Titan Stadium, which we believe will make our venue an attractive destination for future Titans as our men's and women's soccer programs build upon their recent success and conference championships."
Upgrades include nine large-format vinyl graphics, two large-format banners encased in an aluminum frame, dimensional LED signage on the back side of the press box, paint on the field-level bowl, repair and painting of existing handrails and 1,400-linear feet of windscreen to enclose the venue.
"The ultimate goal of the recent stadium project was to give the Titan Stadium some visual appeal from both the inside and the street-level views," Digital Media Manager Mike Greenlee said.
Greenlee was responsible for the design and overall appearance of the project.
Home to the Cal State Fullerton men's and women's soccer programs and formerly Titan football, the history of all three programs is branded throughout the facility as 11 past Cal State Fullerton student-athletes are represented on 27-foot tall murals that are visible from the south on Gymnasium Drive, from the north entering Lot A from Yorba Linda Blvd., and from the West approaching the stadium from State College Blvd. between Lot A and the Children's Center.
"The individual images we used are not labeled and represent and celebrate the rich history of all the men and women that not only played in the stadium, but those that helped make Titan Stadium become a reality," Greenlee said.
Representing the football program is four-year quarterback (1981-84) Damon Allen pictured with 13-year (1980-1992) head coach Gene Murphy as the duo led the Titans to Pacific Coast Athletic Association championships in 1983 and 1984.
In addition, running back Mike Pringle (1988-89), who is the No. 2 CSF rusher with 2,223 yards in only two seasons, and middle guard Joe Aguilar (1981-83) represent the Titan football program.
The women's soccer team, winners of eight Big West Conference regular season titles and six Big West Tournament championships, is represented by Olympian and two-time World Cup veteran Karen Bardsley (2002-06), 2005 Big West Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year Kellie Cox (2001-05), and 2005 Big West Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year Kandace Wilson (2002-05) as the trio was part of Fullerton's run to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2005 – regarded as the most successful team in Cal State Fullerton history.
Joining the trio is Dolores Browning (1995-98), the Titans' career leader in points (140) and goals (61) and a two-time Big West Conference First Team selection.
The men's soccer program has made nine appearances in the NCAA Tournament during its history, and the most memorable of all, a trip to the Final Four in 1993, is symbolized with goalkeeper Mike Ammann (1990-93), who totaled 19 career shutouts during his Titan career and two-time All-American forward Eddie Soto (1992-94), the No. 2 scorer in Titans history, totaling 96 points and 38 goals.
They are joined by two-time NSCAA All-Far West Region second team pick Michael Farfan (2006-07) and three-time Big West Conference first team selection Hector Orellana (2000-03).
The project would not have been completed without the help of Cal State Fullerton Facility Operations, NuAge Development, Great Like Signs and Collins Company.
In total, the Cal State Fullerton men's and women's soccer team have combined for 11 regular season championships, eight Big West Tournament titles and 15 Division I NCAA Tournament appearances, including the men's team in 2014 and 2015 and the women's team in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Over the last two years, Titan Stadium has received additional upgrades including its NCAA Tournament banner on the locker room on the south side of the venue, honor boards on the press box level and most recently, the Daktronics video board on the north end of the stadium.