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LOGAN -- Utah State University's football field will soon be renamed in honor of one of its former players.
Merlin Olsen Field will be the new name of the turf inside Romney Stadium. Olsen was a USU football standout and was named to a record 14 Pro Bowls in the NFL.
University President Stan Albrecht and athletic director Scott Barnes made the announcement Saturday during halftime of the Aggies basketball game.
An official dedication ceremony will take place during the end of the 2010 football season in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Utah State's 1960 Sun Bowl team, led by Olsen. Barnes said the university will unveil a bronze sculpture of Olsen in the southeast corner of the stadium during that ceremony.
Olsen said he was excited about the honor.
"Susan and I and the entire Olsen family are pleased and excited at the announcement this week that the playing field in Romney Stadium is being renamed Merlin Olsen Field," said Olsen. "I share this special honor with great coaches and teammates. Remembering those days brings to mind some of the happiest and most productive days of my life."
Olsen is a member of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame, the Utah State University Sports Hall of Fame and USU's All-Century Football Team. In 2000, he was selected by Sports Illustrated as one of the State of Utah's Top 50 Athletes of the Century.
