From school reports

LORMAN – The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning today approved the request submitted by President M. Christopher Brown II to add Marino “The Godfather” Casem’s name to Alcorn State University’s football stadium.

Spinks Stadium, originally named for NFL player, former assistant Alcorn football coach and alumnus Jack Spinks, will become Casem-Spinks Stadium. The unanimous vote honors Casem and Spinks, who coached together at Alcorn. The names will appear in alphabetical order and the field remains named after Dwight Fisher.

“Coach Casem helped Alcorn athletics increase both in stature and in reputation, to become a nationally recognized university,” Brown said.

“Every Alcornite celebrates the Board’s decision. Coach Casem built a quality football and athletic program during his tenure at Alcorn. What’s more, he prepared athletes for life beyond the game. He believed in the concept of ‘student-athlete’ and stressed high academic performance in the classroom first.”

Casem shared his joy in having his name added to the school’s stadium.

“This honor is only possible because of the hundreds of Alcorn student-athletes, coaches, staff, administrators and fans, and I humbly thank each of you, especially President Brown,” Casem said. “I am truly overwhelmed by this honor from my Alcorn family.”

During Casem’s tenure of more than 20 years at Alcorn, he saw several of his players go on to successful careers and play sports on the professional level. Today, his former player Leslie Frazier is the only head NFL football coach from the SWAC.

Alcorn will celebrate the renaming of the stadium on September 17, 2011.