Pittsburg State is the only University with the Gorilla as their mascot. "Gus" the Gorilla roams the sidelines ensuring victory for the home team and fear to the opponent. The school colors are crimson and gold.
There is plenty of parking around the stadium and plenty of room for a tailgate. The alumni association also sponsors a tailgating event each home game as a fundraiser. Information from the school on tailgating: (
visit link)
At Pittsburg State University, tailgating has become almost as much a part of football game days as the football game itself. It is a game day atmosphere unlike any other in NCAA Division II.
Several hours before kickoff, dedicated Gorilla fans fire up their grills in the parking lots north and east of Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium and prepare for a day full of fun and great football action.
Many others will forego the work of cooking to join in the free tailgate party, GorillaFest, in Gorilla Village just east of the stadium on the banks of University Lake.
Companies or groups wishing to hold a bigger party may have large tents erected in the tailgate area northeast of University Lake.
Whether in Gorilla Village or the adjoining parking lots and grassy tailgate area, a festive atmosphere prevails on game day. There are games for youngsters, great music and food, plenty of Pitt State memorabilia, and crimson and gold just about everywhere.
Each game day has its own unique activities, but highlights of each include the “Gorilla Walk,” when fans from toddlers to senior citizens line the path that snakes through Gorilla Village to greet the football team as they walk to the stadium. Even veteran PSU football fans say they get goose bumps watching youngsters in oversized Pitt State jerseys reach up to get high-fives from their favorite football players. Another special feature of every game day is the pep rally led by the Pride of the Plains Marching Band, the Spirit Squad and Dance Team in Gorilla Village shortly before kickoff.
From the Pittsburg State website on the stadium: (
visit link)
Pittsburg State University plays its home football games at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium, generally recognized as one of the finest venues in NCAA Division II.
Affectionately referred to as “The Pitt” by Gorilla players and fans, Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium provides one of the strongest home field advantages in college football.
Entering the 2009 campaign, Pittsburg State has won 118 of its last 126 regular season home games, posting a 118-7-1 record (.940) over the last 24 seasons.
The Gorillas have won 73 percent of their home games during the 85-year history of the facility, with a 315-113-12 all-time home record since the facility opened in 1924.
PSU’s home field advantage strengthened in 2001 with the completion of a $5.7 million expansion project to Carnie Smith Stadium. With the improvements, all made possible by private funding, an additional 2,700 seats were added to Carnie Smith Stadium, including new club seating on both the East and West stands. The stadium capacity grew from 5,611 permanent seats to 8,343.
Additionally, 16 luxury sky boxes were added to the East side of the stadium. New restroom, concession stand and ticket booth facilities were created, an elevator, handicap accessability and other ADA improvements were made.
Both the home and visitor locker room facilities underwent major improvements, and a new media room was added to the East side for PSU players and media personnel to utilize.
An additional eight luxury sky boxes were added to the West side of the stadium in the summer of 2006. The $2.5 million project was made possible by private funding.
In 2008, PSU unveiled its “Jungletron” video scoreboard -- the largest replay board in Division II -- in the south end zone of the stadium. This $1.7 million project also was made possible entirely by private funding.
The facility was originally named Brandenburg Stadium, in honor of William Aaron Brandenburg, the first president of the University. It was built in 1923 with volunteer labor and money donated by students, alumni, faculty and citizens of Pittsburg.
In 1987, the University announced that the field would continue to bear the name of PSU’s first president, but the stadium would be called Carnie Smith Stadium, in honor of the legendary PSU football coach who led the Gorillas to two NAIA national championships (1957 and 1961) and six conferences titles during his tenure from 1949-66.
Construction of the facility began with volunteer labor during the summer of 1923, after a successful fund drive raised the necessary $100,000 to build the stadium. To insure its completion by the start of the 1924 season, PSU faculty members were required to help work up to eight hours per week.
On October 11, 1924, the first varsity football game was played at the new facility between PSU (known as Kansas State Teachers College) and Baker University, in front of approximately 4,000 fans. The team didn’t disappoint all of those who worked so hard to build the new facility, earning a 6-0 victory. KSTC went on to post a 7-0-1 record that year earning the Kansas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) title under head coach Garfield W. Weede.