Not only does the 2016 football season mark the opening of a newly renovated Mackay Stadium, featuring a stadium club, chairback seating and a new state-of-the-art video board and sound system, it also represents the 50th anniversary of Mackay Stadium.
In mid-July, Nevada Athletics began a 50-day countdown until the season opener against Cal Poly Sept. 2. Each day, the athletics department is highlighting some of the greatest memories in the history of the stadium with its #MackayMemories series. Posted daily will be a new game, player or moment that's made Mackay such a special place.
Here's a recap of the #MackayMemories highlighted to date:
Sept. 12, 1992: The Pack "D" holds a vaunted Pacific offense in check as the Pack scores its first victory as a I-A school and in the Big West Conference with a 20-14 win over the Tigers.
Oct. 8, 2011: Brett Roy, who would go on to earn All-American honors from Sports Illustrated, records four tackles for a loss to lead the Pack to a 37-0 win over UNLV - the only shutout in history of the Battle for the Fremont Cannon. Jack Reynoso had two sacks for Nevada, which held the Rebels to just 110 yards of total offense. Quarterback Tyler Lantrip comes off the bench to throw for 366 yards and three touchdowns, including a 90-yard to current NFL wideout Rishard Mathews.
Sept. 7, 2013: The Brian Polian era at Mackay Stadium begins with a 36-7 victory over UC Davis. Before the game, Polian's predecessor is honored as the school names "Chris Ault Field at Mackay Stadium."
Sept. 17, 2002: The Nevada soccer team records its first victory in Mackay Stadium with a 3-2 win over Eastern Washington.
Oct. 2, 1999: Trevor Insley caught a pair of first-half touchdown passes as Nevada built a 20-0 lead at halftime and then used a staunch defensive effort and punishing ground game to crank out a 26-12 win over UNLV. Chris Lemon had 138 yards on the ground and five Wolf Pack defenders recorded at least five tackles each in the win.
Sept. 5, 2014: Cody Fajardo becomes the third player in school history to amass 10,000 yards in total offense as he leads the Pack to its fourth win over a Pac-12 school with a 24-13 win over Washington State.
Nov. 18, 1995: One of the all-time greats, Alex Van Dyke, re-writes the record books in his final game with the Wolf Pack. In a 45-28 win over San Jose State, Van Dyke makes history with catches 13 passes for 314 yards. The yardage set a school record at the time and is still the most in stadium history.
Sept. 28, 1974: Defensive back Greg Grouwinkel, a member of the "Team of the Century" and Wolf Pack Hall of Famer, sets a school record with four interceptions in Nevada's 19-14 win over Portland State.
