Action shots of a Huskies vs. University of Alberta Golden Bears game at Griffiths Stadium. No. 11 is Ron Graham, Huskies quarterback.

A Manitoba Bisons player makes a tackle on a Huskies player during a game at Griffiths Stadium.

View of Griffiths Stadium, from l to r: bleachers at far left, front gate, goalposts and scoreboard (in front of Main Barn), and bleachers at far right.

Bio/Historical Note: Prior to 1936, the University of Saskatchewan football team played its home games at Cairns Field on the corner of Avenue A (now Idylwyld Drive North) and 25th Street West. Athletic Director E.W. (Joe) Griffiths longed for a ‘‘home field’’ and had lobbied for its construction since his arrival on campus in 1919. Merits of the project were debated back and forth but little progress was made. In 1935 a student-organized bowling tournament raised $275 and kick-started the process. C.J. Mackenzie, first Dean of Engineering, next seized the initiative by organizing and chairing the U of S Stadium Fund Association. The plan was to fund construction in stages with donations from “students, graduates, faculty and well-wishing business men of the community.” Architectural plans, supplied “gratis” by faculty of the College of Engineering, envisioned a structure costing $25,000 whose final stages would include a grand entrance, bus mall, dressing rooms, showers, etc. The corner of College Street and Cumberland Avenue, site of the ill-fated 1912 City Hospital project, was chosen as the stadium location. Although tenders were initially called for, the University decided to build the project itself using primarily student labour. With the Depression showing no signs of lifting, the University saw the stadium as an opportunity to give financial aid to several students who were in danger of having to discontinue their studies. Sod was turned 17 May 1936, under the supervision of Professor A.R. Greig, Superintendent of Buildings; construction was carried out through the summer. The first stage of the original Griffiths Stadium was officially opened 3 October 1936 amid speeches, bands and a parade. In front of 2,000 fans, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies beat the Alberta Golden Bears 5-3. Decades later, the widening of College Drive and the desire for a new stadium combined to fuel construction of today’s Griffiths Stadium, a few hundred metres east of the original site. It was officially opened 23 June 1967. Improvements were made in 1988 to accommodate the 1989 Jeux Canada Games.

Mrs. Mary Griffiths (third from left), widow of Joe Griffiths, stands in front of Griffiths Stadium entrance sign. J.W.T. Spinks, University President, standing at far right with unidentified dignitaries.

Walter C. Murray, University President, turns the first sod while C.J. Mackenzie and E. Kent Phillips stand on his right. A group of students look on; some have "NBC" on their shirts.

Bio/Historical Note: Prior to 1936, the University of Saskatchewan football team played its home games at Cairns Field on the corner of Avenue A (now Idylwyld Drive North) and 25th Street West. Athletic Director E.W. (Joe) Griffiths longed for a ‘‘home field’’ and had lobbied for its construction since his arrival on campus in 1919. Merits of the project were debated back and forth but little progress was made. In 1935 a student-organized bowling tournament raised $275 and kick-started the process. C.J. Mackenzie, first Dean of Engineering, next seized the initiative by organizing and chairing the U of S Stadium Fund Association. The plan was to fund construction in stages with donations from “students, graduates, faculty and well-wishing business men of the community.” Architectural plans, supplied “gratis” by faculty of the College of Engineering, envisioned a structure costing $25,000 whose final stages would include a grand entrance, bus mall, dressing rooms, showers, etc. The corner of College Street and Cumberland Avenue, site of the ill-fated 1912 City Hospital project, was chosen as the stadium location. Although tenders were initially called for, the University decided to build the project itself using primarily student labour. With the Depression showing no signs of lifting, the University saw the stadium as an opportunity to give financial aid to several students who were in danger of having to discontinue their studies. Sod was turned 17 May 1936, under the supervision of Professor A.R. Greig, Superintendent of Buildings; construction was carried out through the summer. The first stage of the original Griffiths Stadium was officially opened 3 October 1936 amid speeches, bands and a parade. In front of 2,000 fans, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies beat the Alberta Golden Bears 5-3. Decades later, the widening of College Drive and the desire for a new stadium combined to fuel construction of today’s Griffiths Stadium, a few hundred metres east of the original site. It was officially opened 23 June 1967, one month before the death of Joe Griffiths. Improvements were made in 1988 to accommodate the 1989 Jeux Canada Games.

Three female cheerleaders and one male cheerleader lead the crowd in a cheer at Huskies' home game at Griffiths Stadium.

Architect's sketch of the re-location and enlargement of Griffiths Stadium.

Bio/Historical Note: Prior to 1936, the University of Saskatchewan football team played its home games at Cairns Field on the corner of Avenue A (now Idylwyld Drive North) and 25th Street West. Athletic Director E.W. (Joe) Griffiths longed for a ‘‘home field’’ and had lobbied for its construction since his arrival on campus in 1919. Merits of the project were debated back and forth but little progress was made. In 1935 a student-organized bowling tournament raised $275 and kick-started the process. C.J. Mackenzie, first Dean of Engineering, next seized the initiative by organizing and chairing the U of S Stadium Fund Association. The plan was to fund construction in stages with donations from “students, graduates, faculty and well-wishing business men of the community.” Architectural plans, supplied “gratis” by faculty of the College of Engineering, envisioned a structure costing $25,000 whose final stages would include a grand entrance, bus mall, dressing rooms, showers, etc. The corner of College Street and Cumberland Avenue, site of the ill-fated 1912 City Hospital project, was chosen as the stadium location. Although tenders were initially called for, the University decided to build the project itself using primarily student labour. With the Depression showing no signs of lifting, the University saw the stadium as an opportunity to give financial aid to several students who were in danger of having to discontinue their studies. Sod was turned 17 May 1936, under the supervision of Professor A.R. Greig, Superintendent of Buildings; construction was carried out through the summer. The first stage of the original Griffiths Stadium was officially opened 3 October 1936 amid speeches, bands and a parade. In front of 2,000 fans, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies beat the Alberta Golden Bears 5-3. Decades later, the widening of College Drive and the desire for a new stadium combined to fuel construction of today’s Griffiths Stadium, a few hundred metres east of the original site. It was officially opened 23 June 1967. Improvements were made in 1988 to accommodate the 1989 Jeux Canada Games.

Action shot of a Huskies football game at Griffiths Stadium at left. Student shenigans at right. Fans in bleachers in background.

Walter C. Murray, University President, turns the first sod while C.J. Mackenzie and E. Kent Phillips stand on his right. A group of students look on; some have "NBC" on their shirts.

Bio/Historical Note: Prior to 1936, the University of Saskatchewan football team played its home games at Cairns Field on the corner of Avenue A (now Idylwyld Drive North) and 25th Street West. Athletic Director E.W. (Joe) Griffiths longed for a ‘‘home field’’ and had lobbied for its construction since his arrival on campus in 1919. Merits of the project were debated back and forth but little progress was made. In 1935 a student-organized bowling tournament raised $275 and kick-started the process. C.J. Mackenzie, first Dean of Engineering, next seized the initiative by organizing and chairing the U of S Stadium Fund Association. The plan was to fund construction in stages with donations from “students, graduates, faculty and well-wishing business men of the community.” Architectural plans, supplied “gratis” by faculty of the College of Engineering, envisioned a structure costing $25,000 whose final stages would include a grand entrance, bus mall, dressing rooms, showers, etc. The corner of College Street and Cumberland Avenue, site of the ill-fated 1912 City Hospital project, was chosen as the stadium location. Although tenders were initially called for, the University decided to build the project itself using primarily student labour. With the Depression showing no signs of lifting, the University saw the stadium as an opportunity to give financial aid to several students who were in danger of having to discontinue their studies. Sod was turned 17 May 1936, under the supervision of Professor A.R. Greig, Superintendent of Buildings; construction was carried out through the summer. The first stage of the original Griffiths Stadium was officially opened 3 October 1936 amid speeches, bands and a parade. In front of 2,000 fans, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies beat the Alberta Golden Bears 5-3. Decades later, the widening of College Drive and the desire for a new stadium combined to fuel construction of today’s Griffiths Stadium, a few hundred metres east of the original site. It was officially opened 23 June 1967, one month before the death of Joe Griffiths. Improvements were made in 1988 to accommodate the 1989 Jeux Canada Games.

Three competitors in the "Little 500" bicycle race at [Griffiths Stadium]. Bleachers and spectators at left; buildings in background.

J.B. (Bal) Kirkpatrick clearing the high jump bar at [Griffiths Stadium].

Bio/Historical Note: James Balfour Kirkpatrick (1909-1998), a graduate of Bedford Road Collegiate in Saskatoon, enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan (BA 1929; BEd 1930; MEd 1935) in 1926. Under the tutelage of Joe Griffiths, Kirkpatrick became one of Saskatchewan's premier track & field athletes as a thrower and jumper. He held provincial records in the 1930s in high jump and shot put. In the first ever Canadian championships in 1938 at Griffiths Stadium, Kirkpatrick finished second in high jump and third in three throwing events. Kirkpatrick, who was 6-3, developed his basketball skills in the "ham and egg league" that Griffiths introduced on campus in 1924 for raw recruits, progressed to interfaculty competition and eventually earned a starting position on the Huskies. He played on the Saskatoon Grads, who won the provincial senior men's title in 1939-1940. Kirkpatrick was also a member of the Huskies tennis team in 1934 and in 1937 captured the provincial men's singles title. He went on to serve as director of the Saskatchewan Recreation Movement and laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association. Kirkpatrick was named Saskatoon Kinsmen Sportsman of the Year in 1983 and was inducted as a builder into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame in 1986 and into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 1990.

Huskies in action in a game at Griffiths Stadium. Fans in bleachers in background.

Huskie player Doug Rozon runs for a touchdown during a game against the Regina Rams at Griffiths Stadium. Fans in bleachers in background.

Griffiths Stadium after flood.