Since 1973, Homer Bryce Stadium has served as the home field for Stephen F. Austin football, combining a memorable game day experience with some of the most memorable games in Lumberjack football history.
SFA defeated Cameron University 17-0 in the first game played in the new facility on September 8, 1973. Since then, the 'Jacks have posted a 154-101-2 (.603) record, including a 4-1 mark in playoff games.
In 2015, the Lumberjacks set another milestone for the stadium as SFA registered the 150th win at Homer Bryce in a 55-21 victory over Incarnate Word on October 31 - fittingly the Homecoming game for the 2015 season.
Lumberjack Stadium, as it was first called, opened in time for the 1973 season with 14,575 seats, all between the 20-yard lines. The bowl-type construction of the stadium also affords blanket seating on the steep, grassy banks that surround the field, increasing capacity to more than 25,000.
The largest crowd to see a football game in the stadium was listed at 23,617 when the third-ranked Lumberjacks hosted top-ranked McNeese State on Oct. 28, 1995.
In 1986, the stadium was renamed Homer Bryce Stadium in honor of SFA benefactor Homer Bryce. Bryce's association with SFA began in the 1930s when he attended school and ran track for the Lumberjacks. He served as a member of the SFA Board of Regents from 1974 until his retirement in 1994, passing away in July of 1996.
Fans coming to Homer Bryce Stadium this fall will once again to experience one of the best experiences across the Western Athletic Conference. SFA added an 80' 8" by 36' 10" high definition video board prior to the 2016 season and installed a completely new AstroTurf playing surface in the summer of 2021 in addition to upgrading the former track surface with a completely new Rekurtan Spurtan BV track.
Prior to the 2019 season, SFA created a brand new fan experience by purchasing and outfitting five premium fan "box units" on the edge of the north endzone. These units, fashioned out of of converted shipping containers, feature a working kitchenette, turfed roof viewing area and amenities such as built-in TVs, kegs and a working grill.
The board, which allows for HD video streams and instant replays, live in-game statistics and sponsorship and promotional elements, made its football debut at the 2016 Spring Game and has been used to broadcast movies for Lumberjack fans in addition to its in-game functions.
The artificial playing surface has made an impact on both the SFA and Nacogdoches communities as Homer Bryce Stadium is host to numerous high school football playoff games and marching band contests involving East Texas public schools.
Prior to the 2007 season, SFA remodeled the football locker room, located on the back side of the Fieldhouse at the north end of the stadium. Carpet was replaced, more lockers were added with four flatscreen, high-definition televisions installed in the locker room.
The 'Jacks ushered in a new era in 2003 with a complete overhaul of the west side press box. In addition to a complete remodeling of the media work area on the second floor, SFA added luxury suites and the Touchdown Club on the first floor of the press box.
Prior to the press box renovation, the last major project at Homer Bryce Stadium was the addition of a new wing to the SFA Fieldhouse. The east wing is a two-story structure housing football coaching offices and meeting rooms on the top floor with visitor dressing rooms located on the bottom floor.
Homer Bryce Stadium is also unique in that it serves as a focal point of the Nacogdoches community as the stadium is open to the public 24/7 except for official SFA events.
Year-by-Year in Homer Bryce Stadium
Year | Number of Home Games | Record at Homer Bryce | Homer Bryce Win % | Overall Record | Overall Win %
1973 | 5 | 4-1 | .800 | 9-3 | .750
1974 | 5 | 3-2 | .600 | 9-2 | .818
1975 | 5 | 1-4 | .200 | 2-8-1 | .227
1976 | 5 | 0-5 | .000 | 1-9-1 | .136
1977 | 6 | 2-4 | .333 | 2-8 | .200
1978 | 5 | 2-3 | .400 | 3-8 | .273
1979 | 6 | 6-0 | 1.000 | 8-3 | .727
1980 | 6 | 2-4 | .333 | 4-6 | .400
1981 | 6 | 0-6 | .000 | 1-10 | .091
1982 | 6 | 3-3 | .500 | 6-5 | .545
1983 | 6 | 5-1 | .833 | 7-4 | .636
1984 | 6 | 5-1 | .833 | 7-3-1 | .682
1985 | 6 | 4-2 | .667 | 9-2 | .818
1986 | 5 | 4-1 | .800 | 5-6 | .455
1987 | 5 | 0-4-1 | .100 | 3-7-1 | .318
1988 | 8 | 7-1 | .875 | 10-3 | .769
1989 | 6 | 6-0 | 1.000 | 12-2-1 | .833
1990 | 5 | 1-4 | .200 | 1-10 | .091
1991 | 5 | 2-3 | .400 | 2-8-1 | .227
1992 | 7 | 3-4 | .429 | 3-8 | .273
1993 | 6 | 4-2 | .667 | 8-4 | .667
1994 | 6 | 4-1-1 | .750 | 6-3-2 | .636
1995 | 7 | 6-1 | .857 | 11-2 | .846
1996 | 7 | 5-2 | .714 | 7-4 | .636
1997 | 7 | 7-0 | 1.000 | 8-3 | .727
1998 | 6 | 3-3 | .500 | 3-8 | .273
1999 | 6 | 6-0 | 1.000 | 8-3 | .727
2000 | 5 | 3-2 | .600 | 6-5 | .545
2001 | 5 | 4-1 | .800 | 6-5 | .545
2002 | 6 | 3-3 | .500 | 6-5 | .545
2003 | 5 | 3-2 | .600 | 7-4 | .636
2004 | 7 | 4-3 | .571 | 6-5 | .545
2005 | 6 | 4-2 | .667 | 5-6 | .455
2006 | 6 | 1-5 | .167 | 4-7 | .364
2007 | 5 | 0-5 | .000 | 0-11 | .000
2008 | 7 | 3-4 | .429 | 4-8 | .333
2009 | 6 | 6-0 | 1.000 | 10-3 | .769
2010 | 7 | 5-2 | .714 | 9-3 | .750
2011 | 6 | 4-2 | .667 | 6-5 | .545
2012 | 5 | 5-0 | 1.000 | 5-6 | .455
2013 | 5 | 3-2 | .600 | 3-9 | .250
2014 | 7 | 5-2 | .714 | 8-5 | .615
2015 | 5 | 3-2 | .600 | 4-7 | .364
2016 | 5 | 3-2 | .600 | 5-6 | .455
2017 | 5 | 2-3 | .400 | 4-7 | .364
2018 | 4 | 1-3 | .250 | 2-8 | .200
2019 | 4 | 1-3 | .250 | 3-9 | .250
2020 | 4 | 4-0 | 1.000 | 6-4 | .600
