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New football stadium at Purcell Marian to be named for NFL Hall of Famer Roger Staubach

scott springer, cincinnati enquirer
·3 min read
Purcell Marian's new football stadium will feature the name of Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach, a 1960 grad.
Purcell Marian's new football stadium will feature the name of Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach, a 1960 grad.

Purcell Marian High School announced Thursday its new planned athletic complex opening in fall 2023 will be named Staubach Stadium in honor of 1960 graduate Roger Staubach.

The decorated Cavalier won a Heisman Trophy with the U.S. Naval Academy and made the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys.

FILE - Navy coach Wayne Hardin talks with his star quarterback, Roger Staubach, in the final workout in Philadelphia Stadium on Dec. 7, 1963, before the annual battle against Army. Less than a month after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Army-Navy played what turned out to be one of the most memorable games in their storied rivalry. Trying to upset Heisman winner Staubach and the second-ranked Midshipmen, Army reached Navy's 2-yard line, trailing 21-15 in the closing seconds, but time ran out. (AP Photo/Bill Achatz, File)

“We are thrilled to have Marianne and Roger Staubach’s support in the naming of this stadium," Purcell Marian principal Andy Farfsking said. "There isn’t a Cavalier today who doesn’t know who Roger Staubach is. His service to our country, his impact on our school as an alumnus, his success in business, and of course, his incredible career in football, makes this an obvious choice for Purcell Marian High School to honor one of the greatest alumni of all time."

In 1959, Roger Staubach, a Purcell High School graduate, was named the city's Offensive Back of the Year by the Enquirer and first-team all-city quarterback by the Post and Times-Star.
In 1959, Roger Staubach, a Purcell High School graduate, was named the city's Offensive Back of the Year by the Enquirer and first-team all-city quarterback by the Post and Times-Star.

Staubach, a Cincinnati native, grew up in Silverton and was a stand-out athlete at the then all-boys Purcell High School. Surprisingly, he wasn’t always a quarterback. A teammate's untimely injury led Staubach to the starting quarterback position his junior year, where he remained throughout his career.

He graduated from Purcell in 1960 and went on to play quarterback at the U.S. Naval Academy. As a junior, he won the Heisman Trophy, and upon graduating in 1964, held 28 Naval Academy records.

After four years in the U.S. Navy, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, Staubach joined the Dallas Cowboys as a 27-year-old rookie in 1969. He would play in Dallas for 11 seasons and lead the team to unprecedented success including 23 fourth-quarter comeback wins, 14 in the final two minutes of a game or in overtime, four Super Bowl appearances, and two Super Bowl victories: Super Bowl VI in 1972 and Super Bowl XII in 1978.

FILE - In this Jan. 16, 1972, file photo, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach (12) tries to escape the grasp of Miami Dolphins defender Jim Riley (70) during Super Bowl VI in New Orleans, La. Staubach, voted the game's most valuable player, completed 12 of 19 passes for 119 yards and two TDs.
FILE - In this Jan. 16, 1972, file photo, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach (12) tries to escape the grasp of Miami Dolphins defender Jim Riley (70) during Super Bowl VI in New Orleans, La. Staubach, voted the game's most valuable player, completed 12 of 19 passes for 119 yards and two TDs.

His honors include NFL Players Association Most Valuable Player and five-time Pro Bowl selection. He retired from professional football in 1979. With Staubach under center, the Cowboys were 90-31. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985, his first year of eligibility. Purcell Marian inducted Staubach into its inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame class in 1991.

“I would have never believed when I was a freshman at Purcell High School, that all these years later, I would be having the new stadium named after me,” Staubach said from his home in Dallas. “My experience at Purcell greatly impacted my life. I am honored to be part of a project that ensures future generations of Cavaliers are inspired to accomplish their dreams both on and off the field."

A look at what Purcell Marian's new football stadium named for Roger Staubach will look like from the air.
A look at what Purcell Marian's new football stadium named for Roger Staubach will look like from the air.

Staubach Stadium will be located at Woodburn Avenue and De Sales Lane and is a first for the school in its 94-year history. Athletes have practiced and played home games at dozens of fields, stadiums and complexes around Greater Cincinnati since the school's inception. The field, designed by MSA Architects, will be home to football and cheerleading, girls softball, and boys and girls soccer.

“It's a great time to be a Cavalier," Purcell Marian athletic director D.J. Dowdy said. "For the first time, in our school's existence, our sports teams and school community will have a true place to call home. Staubach Stadium levels the playing field and allows us to elevate our athletic programs. We are thankful for everyone who has contributed to this project and helped make this possible for our students."

To date, $5.3 million has been raised including a $1 million gift from Harry and Linda Fath for an overall project cost of $6 million. Construction is slated to begin in May.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Hall of Famer Roger Staubach's name to be on Purcell Marian stadium