Turpin Stadium

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Northwestern State is now in its fifth decade of playing home games in Turpin Stadium, named for Harry Turpin, the second all- time winningest coach in Demon football
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Harry
"Rags"
Turpin
history. Turpin, a four sport letterman at what was then Louisiana Normal in the mid-1920s, collected 100 victories during his 22 years as the Demons head coach. The 15,971-seat stadium was first used in 1975 as the replacement for Demon Stadium. The stadium was dedicated in his honor on
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West Side
September 3, 1977, at the first game of the 1977 season (NSU vs. Texas-Arlington, a 28-24 Demons' win).
Coach Turpin, who died in 1974 following a lengthy illness served for 30 years on the Northwestern staff before retiring in 1956. Turpin served asan assistant coach at NSU for eight years before taking over as head coach in 1934. He had the longest tenure of any head coach in history of the university and led his 1939 team to a perfect 11-0 season, one of the only two unbeaten seasons in school history.
The two-deck west side of the stadium features a glassed-in area between decks which is reserved for members of the Demons Unlimited Foundation and other dignitaries. Also located on the west side are 5,000 comfortable chair-back seats and a multi-level press box, complete with working press area,radio booths and camera decks.

NSU students and the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band sit on the east side of the field. Completing the complex is the NSU Fieldhouse, which opened in 1979. The Fieldsouse is home to administrative and coaching offices , dressing rooms, training rooms, weight rooms,
East Side
East Side
lounges, meeting areas, and film rooms. Other features include the plush Demon dressing room, equipment room, and laundry area with ample storage space.

Turpin Stadium Facts:
  • Total Cost: $4,812,600 (cost including renovationa nd expansion of old stadium with artifical surfacing of the field
  • Seating Capacity: 15,971 (West Side Lower Deck: 4,862, VIP Deck: 240, West Side Upper Deck: 4,780, Press Level: 166, East Side: 5,923
  • Architects: Harold Pique and Associates (New Orleans, La.)
  • Contractor: Tudor Construction Company (Alexandria, La.)
  • Dedication Date: September 3, 1977 (NSU 28, Texas-Arlington 24)
  • Playing Surface: V-Turf Artificial (replaced summer 2009)

Turpin Stadium: By the Numbers
  • 113-52-1 -- all- time record of the Demons in Turpin Stadium
  • .685 -- winning percentage since playing in Turpin in 1977
  • 5 -- unbeaten seasons in Turpin (1980: 6-0, 1982: 5-0, 1988: 5-0, 2002: 4-0. 2004: 6-0
Top Turpin Stadium Crowds
RankAttendenceDateOpponentW/LScoreRemarks
1.17,5289/2/00SouthernW31-14Home Opener
2.17,03111/16/00McNeese St.L27-3Home finale
3.16,7069/5/98SouthernW28-7Home Opener
4.16,2229/7/96SouthernW27-10Home Opener
5.15,6009/3/94SouthernL20-0Home Opener
6.14,59110/16/04McNeese St.W47-17Homecoming
7.14,58610/22/00McNeese St.W37-34Homecoming
8.14,4369/18/99Tarleton St.W52-6
9.14,24710/15/98McNeese St.W14-10Fox TV/Thursday
10.13,60010/3/87Northeast La.L33-31Homecoming