April 22, 2003

ARLINGTON, Texas...The University of Texas at Arlington will formally dedicate its baseball stadium this Saturday afternoon prior to UTA's game against Southland Conference rival Louisiana-Monroe. Ceremonies to dedicate the newly remodeled and renamed Clay Gould Ballpark will begin at 2 p.m. at the front entrance of the stadium, located on the corner of Fielder Road and Park Row Drive in Arlington.

Clay Gould Ballpark was renovated to fulfill the dream of former UTA player, assistant coach and head coach Clay Gould, who passed away on June 23, 2001 after a 16-month battle with cancer. Gould, a lifelong Arlington resident, played on two Southland Conference championship teams at UTA, and led the Mavericks to the 2001 SLC Tournament Championship. All three teams played in the NCAA Tournament, with Gould the only member of each of those three squads.

Gould's playing career was a storied one at UTA, as he won the SLC Player of the Year award in 1993 and was nominated for USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award, presented to the nation's outstanding college ballplayer, the same year. After playing two professional seasons in the Texas-Lousiana League, Gould served as a graduate assistant coach at Texas A&M in 1996 before returning to UTA that fall as one of then-head coach Butch McBroom's assistants. When McBroom stepped down in the summer of 1999 after 26 years in the UTA dugout to turn his attention to becoming UTA's Director of Athletic Development, Gould was named as McBroom's successor in the dugout, becoming just the fourth head coach in 32 years.

Gould went on to coach the Mavericks for two seasons, in 2000 and 2001. After a rebuilding year in his first campaign as the team's skipper, the 2001 season turned into a magical ride that began with the Mavericks beating nationally ranked teams Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., and Texas in Austin in the season's opening week. UTA jumped out to a 19-4 record and finished the year 39-25 overall and earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory with a 7-6 victory over Houston. Following the season, he was named co-South Central Regional Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Along the way, the Mavericks gained a tremendously loyal fan following throughout Arlington and the entire region for the team's gritty play and determination inspired by its head coach who was, all the while, undergoing regular and painful cancer treatments. Gould's story was made well known in college baseball circles around the nation, and his poingnant answer of Why not me? when asked by a reporter if he ever asked "Why me?" when thinking about his illness became Gould's way of saying how blessed he had been over his lifetime and how much he loved the life he had been given.

As the team's head coach, Gould dreamt of the day when the Mavericks would play their home games in a stadium that would be among the Southland Conference's, and the region's, premier facilities. Gould's dream is coming true with a stadium that has been named after him. Nearly everything is new at this stadium after a 3.1 million dollar renovation project. Clay Gould Ballpark now features a grand entranceway and outside facade that welcomes fans to a day at the ballpark, spacious and comfortable restroom facilities, larger concourses and seating for over 1,500 fans. The players will also be able to take advantage of new batting cages and bullpens on both the home and visitors sides. In addition, a new outfield wall and batter's eye have been constructed and a new, state-of-the-art lighting system has allowed Maverick fans to be reintroduced to nighttime baseball on a regular basis for the first time in several years.

The stadium was formerly known as Allan Saxe Stadium in honor of Dr. Allan Saxe, an associate professor of political science at UTA, after his overwhelming generosity made it possible for UTA to carry out its last major baseball stadium renovation in 1994. Dr. Saxe was the person who initiated the name change to Clay Gould Ballpark from Allan Saxe Stadium.

In its 30th year of baseball, the site was originally named Arlington Athletic Center before Dr. Saxe's donation, which also funded the renovation of UTA's softball facility, which will retain the moniker Allan Saxe Field. The Mavericks are 9-3 at the park this season, and own an all-time record of 603-316 (.656) on their home field since the 1974 season.

The dedication ceremony will feature a patriotic band and comments from UTA Athletics Director Pete Carlon, McBroom, UTA Interim President Dr. Charles Sorber, current UTA Head Coach Jeff Curtis, UTA Vice President for Development Mark Martin, and, if possible, former UTA President Dr. Robert E. Witt. In addition, a plaque recognizing Gould's accomplishments and his dream and a new Donor's Wall will be unveiled. Prior to the game between the Mavericks, who are in first place in the SLC, and the Indians, Clay Gould's wife Julie and their daughter Logan, along with Dr. Saxe and Chris Carroll, owner of Spring Creek Barbeque and loyal supporter of UTA Athletics and the stadium renovation project, will throw out the ceremonial first pitches.

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