“Michigan State is too good of a school to have a crummy field with wooden bleachers,” DeMartin said. “So I said, ‘Ya know, let’s see if we can’t build something a little better.’ I went ahead and made that commitment. They designed a wonderful field. It’s going to be the envy of the Big Ten.”

And on Sunday morning, hundreds gathered just outside DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field to honor the final outcome of the $750,000 donation by DeMartin and his wife Valerie.

DeMartin told the crowd the dedication was mainly done in reference to his parents — wanting not only to give something to the university, but to allow their name to live on as well.

Also speaking at the podium in front of the crowd were MSU Trustee Faylene Owen, Athletics Director Mark Hollis, men’s soccer coach Joe Baum, Senior Associate Athletics Director Shelley Appelbaum and Provost Kim Wilcox — all thanking the DeMartins and everyone who made possible the stadium’s existence.

Wilcox stood up in front of the crowd, wanting everyone to wrap their heads around three main themes; pride, excitement and satisfaction.

“We have a new sense of pride now with a facility like this right here on our campus,” Wilcox said. “The excitement of today is only a small part of the excitement that field will see in the many years to come. And each of us will be satisfied knowing that we have not only a great place for our Spartans to play, but one of the best facilities of the type in the country.”

In 1900, MSU purchased Old College Field for $1,137.50, Wilcox said. Although it was much different then than it is now, the pride was there.

And 108 years later — Old College Field is still a top priority for the university.

“You look at what DeMartin Stadium means for this whole complex, because it really was the launch of the whole Old College Field project,” Hollis said. “It got the baseball stadium (construction) rolling and got the combination of finishing up softball and really have what is going to be the best venue for these three sports anywhere in the country.”

Baum described the ceremony leading up to his team’s game against Wisconsin as an exciting and monumental day for Spartans athletics. Baum regarded the campus as a world-class institution and one of the most beautiful in the United States — now with the addition of DeMartin Stadium, it’s only gone up in value.

And his team couldn’t agree more, including DeMartin’s nephew, senior forward Doug DeMartin — the team’s captain and points leader.

“It’s a beautiful spot to play and it truly motivates us,” he said. “Having everyone here from my family today is very special and a lot of fun. It’s a great experience.”