During today’s (Oct. 14) football game in Homewood, Samford University renamed its football stadium in honor of university alum Pete Hanna, honoring him for a lifetime of support and another major financial commitment.
“Pete Hanna is one of Samford’s most generous supporters of Samford athletics,” President Beck A. Taylor said. “Mr. Hanna made history in the stadium that will now bear his name, and his continuing generosity to Samford will allow us to continue to make history for years to come. We couldn’t be more grateful for his lifetime of commitment.”
Hanna and Bowden
The facility, which will be called Pete Hanna Stadium, will now bear the name of two Samford graduates and former football players, as the field was dedicated as Bobby Bowden Field during the 2021 season.
“Pete Hanna has had a tremendous impact on the growth and prosperity of Samford University as well as our athletics department,” Director of Athletics Martin Newton said. “One of the highlights of my tenure as director of athletics at Samford has been getting to know and learn from Pete and the wonderful people at Hanna Steel. He has built a culture based on love, loyalty and humility. The world is a better place because of Pete Hanna, and we are forever grateful for his impact on this great institution.”
Hanna Steel
Hanna is chairman of Hanna Steel Corporation, a privately held company with corporate headquarters in Hoover. It operates a coil-coating facility located in Fairfield, and its southeastern tubing operations are based in Tuscaloosa. Its midwestern tubing facilities are in Pekin, Illinois. Hanna Truck Line, known as HTL, rounds out the Hanna group providing consistent deliveries to its customers.
Hanna played football for Samford during the 1950s, serving as a center and halfback on offense and linebacker on defense. He scored one of the first touchdowns in the stadium that will now be named in his honor, during the 1958 season before the stadium was complete. During that time, the team practiced on the old Samford campus in East Lake but played games at the new Homewood site.
Entering the family business started by his father, Gen. Walter J. “Crack” Hanna, he bought his first stock in the company in 1962. He eventually bought the company itself in 1984, when his father retired.
Samford athletic facilities
This marks the second athletics facility to be named in Hanna’s honor. The Pete Hanna Center, which opened in late 2007, is home to the Samford men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams. The Hanna Center also houses athletics administration and coaches’ offices, a fitness center, varsity weight room, athletic training room, locker rooms, the Coca-Cola Hospitality Suite and the Samford Athletics Hall of Fame.
The former Seibert Stadium, named in honor of F. Page Seibert, has played host to many significant moments in Samford football history, including last year’s first-ever NCAA playoff game against Southeastern Louisiana. Seibert donated the money needed to complete the stadium in 1961. The Seibert name will continue to grace Samford’s campus as the newly renovated Seibert Hall will serve as the centerpiece of the university’s new campus recreation, wellness and athletic complex scheduled to open in September 2024.
Following the Bulldogs
For the latest news and information on Samford football, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordFootball (Facebook), @SamfordFootball (Instagram) and @SamfordFootball (Twitter).
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