Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
Wilford Moore Stadium 1560 Ross Ave Abilene, TX 79605
Year Opened: 1937 Capacity: 3,550
War Hawks!
Since 1937, the McMurry University football team has played its home football games at the same location, on a small liberal arts college campus in Abilene, Texas – much has changed since the McMurry Indians played their first football game on campus prior to World War II.
For one, McMurry dropped “Indians” as its mascot in 2006 and became the War Hawks in 2011. In addition to the mascot change, Indian Stadium was renamed and dedicated to former coach Wilford Moore in 2007, after upgrading to a turf playing surface and adding a new track surface. Since that time there have been several improvements, including a new press box, the addition of private boxes, chair-back reserved home seating, upgrades to the restrooms and concession areas, and the addition of a video scoreboard.
The War Hawks have competed at both the NAIA and NCAA levels – in the NCAA they played mainly in Division III, with a brief 3-year stint in Division II from 2012-2014, when they considered moving up but later decided to move back down to the D-III level. Until August 2023 they had been long time members of the American Southwest Conference, after moving from the NAIA to the NCAA in 1997. Their one playoff appearance came in 2011 under the direction of former Kentucky coach Hal Mumme; during their playoff run they beat Trinity in the first round, then lost to Mary Hardin-Baylor in the second.
Beginning in 2024, McMurry plays as a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. McMurry’s most notable former players and coaches are Grant Teaff, who played and coached here prior to moving to Baylor and becoming a Hall of Fame coach and Executive Director of the AFCA, and Brad Rowland, the school’s all-time leading rusher and former NFL player.
Food & Beverage 3
There are two concession stands underneath the home stands which are managed by local food truck and caterer Matera Grill and Catering. In addition to traditional food options such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and nachos, fans can also get specialty foods like popcorn chicken, fried cheese sticks, or funnel cake fries. Most of the snack items one would expect from a concession stand are also available, including popcorn, chips, candy, pretzels, pickles, and cotton candy. The quality of food is good, but the portion sizes are not huge.
Prices are reasonable with a hamburger and chips or fries costing $10. Cheese sticks and the chili dog with fries or chips both cost $7, while nachos are priced at $5. Canned Pepsi products and bottled water are available for $2.50-$3 each, while candy, chips, and the other snack items are $4 or less. On my most recent visit I sampled the cheeseburger with Mountain Dew and a bag of BBQ potato chips – the burger was big enough to be a meal but is not huge. The hamburger appeared to be a fresh-formed patty, not frozen but lacking some flavor. It was juicy and cooked to medium-well, just the way I prefer my burgers.
Atmosphere 4
The game day presentation is family friendly and engaging for a small college. There is a tailgate area across the street from the stadium, hosted by player family and friends. There are also bounce houses and fun activities for children on campus before the game.
Music plays over the sound system during timeouts and stoppages in play. During the last game I attended, the music was loud enough to be heard, though the announcer was hard to understand at times, especially when you are not sitting near the middle of the stands.
Neighborhood 3
The area around McMurry’s campus is an older, lower-middle class neighborhood. Most of the houses near campus have been occupied by families for many years or are rental properties. As houses and lots come up for sale, the university is purchasing them in an effort to expand its footprint.
There are no hotels within walking distance of campus, but several options are only 2-3 miles south, near the Mall of Abilene. A couple of suggestions are MGM Elegante and Hilton Garden Inn, but many of the hotels in this area are very nice for the price. If closer accommodations are desired there are some short-term rental properties, of which I would choose anything between South 14th and South 7th Streets, and within 2-3 blocks of Sayles Boulevard.
Pre- or post-game meal options are limited extremely close to the stadium, but there are a few quality choices. Alfredo's Mexican Food is a small place that leaves a lot to be desired as far as eye appeal goes, but the food itself is well worth the trip. Another must eat location is Jay’s BBQ, which is just 1 mile from campus – Jay’s is open from 11 am-2 pm and has excellent BBQ and different daily specials. Other options fairly close include Chelsea’s Burgers and Brew, Blu Barrel Bar and Grill, The Dixie Pig, Pizza Hut, and Masa Bistro and Sushi Bar. There are also a few fast food restaurants including Wienerschnitzel, Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and Sonic.
For nightlife there are a few bars downtown, some of which play live music on the weekends. These include KAO Lounge, The Ice House, Grain Theory, and Fat Boss’s Pub. Other options for adult beverages and entertainment include Mulligans Sports Bar, Lucky Shot Bar and Arcade, Buffalo Wild Wings, or Hooters.
When visiting Abilene, other family-friendly options to consider include the Abilene Zoo, Frontier Texas, National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, Grace Museum, and Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame.
Fans 3
McMurry fans are loyal and supportive of their War Hawks – student organizations participate by dressing up, sitting together, and cheering during the game, and some of them have chants or cheers that are specific to their group. The university also has a small marching band that plays in the stands and marches during halftime. There is also a cheerleading squad that leads cheers from the track, in front of the student section and band.
There are enough fans in attendance that overflow stands are filled in the south end zone, and people are standing around the track on the north end of the field. When I was last there, the stands appeared to be at about 80-90% capacity, and the crowd was yelling and cheering as the game dictated.
Access 3
Wilford Moore Stadium is located in the southwest quadrant of campus, on the corner of Ross and Hunt Streets. Tickets are online only, and a QR code is posted for a quick link to the ticketing site, if it is needed at the gate. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students. There is also a small section of chairback reserved seating for $20 each located in the top few rows between the 40-yard lines. In my opinion, the extra cost is not worth the added expense, especially if you have your own seat cushion, because the sight lines are good from any spot in the stands.
Parking is free and first come, first served anywhere around the stadium. There is one large paved lot across from Kimbrell Arena, which is approximately 100 yards northwest of the home side entrance. There are also gravel and unpaved lots closer to the football gate along Ross Street, and parking on most of the streets in the neighborhood is also allowed, which would be my first choice.
After the game ends, many players stay on the field waiting for family or friends. Fans have access to go down and talk to them if desired, and I saw many children get autographs from their favorite players, which was fun to witness.
Return on Investment 3
With relatively inexpensive ticket and concession prices, plus free parking, the return on investment at Wilford Moore Stadium is high. Attending a War Hawk game is well worth the time, and provides a great opportunity to watch collegiate level football at the same price, or less, than many high school games in this region of Texas.
Extras 2
The Kona Ice vending truck available inside the stadium is a plus.
The pregame atmosphere, family-friendly environment, and field access after the game are also great amenities at Wilford Moore Stadium.
Final Thoughts
NCAA Division III football does not get the national exposure that larger college gridiron games do, but the passion and energy shown by the players and fans at this level are just as intense. In a school that has been around as long as McMurry, traditions have grown deep and have been passed down through many generations.
I thoroughly enjoyed the game day experience, and I think you will find attending a War Hawk football game here to be entertaining and fun for adults and children of all ages.
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