Oct. 14, 2001

Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will hold a ceremony Friday, Oct. 26th at 3 p.m. to dedicate its Plaza of Champions area on the West side of Memorial Stadium to MU football pioneer Norris Stevenson.

Stevenson, who was MU's first scholarship African-American football player, lettered from 1958-60 and played on MU's Big Eight Conference championship team of 1960 - Mizzou's last outright title in the sport. The St. Louis, Mo. native was a bruising fullback for Coach Dan Devine, and he ended his Tiger career with 1,174 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns (seven rushing, three receiving). After a brief stint in professional football, Stevenson embarked on a hall of fame coaching career in the sport of track and field, as a coach for nearly 30 years in his hometown for Forest Park Community College and Florissant Valley Community College.

"Norris Stevenson is the embodiment of a champion, and I feel that he is a perfect fit to represent this area where we pay tribute to our athletic heritage," said MU Director of Athletics Mike Alden. "Norris was a champion on the field for Missouri, he was a champion in how he handled his personal life, and he certainly was a champion in his profession and in his community following his days here at Mizzou," he said.

MU's Plaza of Champions is an area located outside the West side of the stadium that features nearly 150 bricks which honor the achievements of more than 200 former student-athletes, coaches and teams. Those featured include MU's Intercollegiate Athletic Hall of Fame members, former football All-Americans, academic All-Americans and other scholar-athletes, and bowl teams, among others.

The Plaza opened in conjunction with the new press box facility at Memorial Stadium, prior to the 2000 season opener. The area will be known as the Norris Stevenson Plaza of Champions.