J.C. LovE FiEld at Pat PattErson Park Entering its 45th year of service, modern J.C. Love Field a new paint job and a new warning track, while windscreens at Pat Patterson Park continues to be one of the top playing were added, as well as a visitors’ bullpen. facilities in the south. Since the facility opened in 1971, the In 2008, a brand-new scoreboard was installed beyond ALL-TIME RECORD stadium has seen the Bulldogs amass an impressive 762-429- the right field wall and a smaller scoreboard display behind 1 (.639) home record, making “The Love Shack” one of the home plate for spectators watching from beyond the outfield 762-429-1 (.639) toughest venues for opposing teams. fence. The smaller display faces the outfield and the Universi- The facility has undergone several renovations in re- ty Park Apartments beyond the left field fence. Approximately TOP 10 LARGEST CROWDS cent years with the newest additions including a state-of-the- 400 new chairback seats were also added to the existing 300 Att. Opponent Year Result art locker room and players’ lounge for the Bulldogs under- to give more options to Tech season ticket holders. neath the stadium, which was completed in time for the start A new press box was constructed in time for Tech 3,251 LSU 1997 L, 13-1 of the 2014 season. Renovations also included the addition of to host the 2008 WAC Tournament for the first time in the 3,154 Arkansas 2007 L, 4-2 a ticket office, laundry room, equipment room and training school’s history. It features two radio booths, a television 3,125 LSU 1991 L, 13-6 room. Mondo flooring, a heavy resistant sports flooring, has booth, ample seating for media members, high-speed internet 3,076 Arkansas 2007 W, 9-2 also been installed throughout the facility. and multiple phone lines. When Greg Goff became the seventh head coach in On May 22, 2008, the facility was rededicated as J.C. 2,536 UL-Monroe 2007 W, 3-2 Tech history on June 6, 2014, he made it a priority to put his Love Field at Pat Patterson Park in honor of Tech legend, Pat 2,375 LSU 1987 W, 5-4 stamp on the historic stadium early on. “Gravy” Patterson. In his honor, an outfield wall sign that 2,138 Arkansas 2007 L, 6-2 During their first six months on the job, Goff and his bears a picture of the former coach in his Tech jersey with the 2,088 UL-Monroe 2007 L, 10-9 three assistants brought new signage into the locker room, years he coached and his record was installed in left-center removed the grass base paths in favor of dirt down the lines field. His name was also imprinted on the outside wall of the 1,837 Arkansas 2005 L, 5-2 and completed their grandest project yet, installing a turf halo press box that faces Tech Drive, and it has been added to the 1,835 Lamar 1987 W, 5-4 with the primary LA Tech logo behind home plate. top panel on the scoreboard in right field. “We put a halo around home plate and really tried to Centrally located on the Louisiana Tech campus, the MILESTONE WINS establish that as people walk into the stadium, people recog- facility features a seating capacity of 3,000, many of which are THIS IS BULLDOG COUNTRY Win No. 1: April 26, 1971 vs. McNeese State (1-0) nize something new and where the direction of the program is chairback seats. The ballpark also boasts picnic and viewing going,” Goff said. “We re-did our mound and home plate and areas beyond the outfield wall that are popular with Tech fans Win No. 50: 1974 vs. UT Arlington (8-4) just a number of things cosmetically we are trying to do to and the infamous “Right Field Rowdies.” Win No. 100: 1977 vs. McNeese State (7-6) make the appearance of the field a lot better.” Tech’s baseball surface features a fully-automated Win No. 200: 1982 vs. Northwestern State (5-2) Goff and Co. also made the decision to renovate offices sprinkler system and lights were installed prior to the 1978 Win No. 300: 1987 vs. UL-Monroe (9-1) on the visitor’s side of the stadium into permanent coaches’ season to allow the Bulldogs to play the majority of games at offices in order to gain easier access to players, rather than night. In 1997, a school-record 3,251 fans packed the stadium Win No. 400: 1992 vs. Ouachita Baptist (11-1) remain in the former baseball offices in the Thomas Assembly and beyond the outfield to watch the Bulldogs play eventual Win No. 500: 1998 vs. Northwestern State (8-2) Center. national champion LSU. Win No. 600: 2006 vs. UAB (3-1) Since the opening of the facility in 1971, the outfield The facility, known as Tech Stadium until 1982, was Win No. 700: 2010 vs. Sacramento State (5-4) fence has been moved back as much as 20 feet in some plac- named in honor of J.C. Love, a Ruston businessman who es and has been raised. The dimensions of the field are now whole-heartedly supported the Tech baseball program and (left-to-right) 315-370-385-340-325. Other renovations include the University. 22 LATechSports.com #WeAreLATech @LATechBSB LATechBSB THIS IS BULLDOG COUNTRY 23 LATechSports.com #WeAreLATech @LATechBSB LATechBSB Pat “Gravy” PattERSON (1934-2007) Louisiana Tech lost a coaching legend on Oct. 11, 2007, as Pat “Gravy” Patterson, longtime coach of the Bulldog baseball team, passed away at the age of 73. Patterson coached the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs for 23 years and upon retiring in 1990, he was the all-time winningest coach in Louisiana collegiate baseball compiling a record of 741-462-2. “The Louisiana Tech family has lost a wonderful person,” said former Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau. “Coach Patterson was a great friend and mentor to countless Tech students over the years, and he will be missed by all of us.” Patterson led Louisiana Tech to seven NCAA Tournament appearances during his coaching tenure, the last coming in 1987. In 1974, Patterson had the Bulldogs just one game away from the College World Series. Affectionately known as “Gravy” by Bulldog fans, Patterson came to Loui- siana Tech in 1967 as an assistant football coach. One year later, he was hired as the Bulldog baseball head coach and served in dual roles before finally leav- ing the gridiron in 1978. “The entire Tech Athletic family mourns the loss of Coach Patterson,” said former Tech Athletic Director Jim Oakes. “We all grieve the loss of such a spe- cial man and outstanding coach. Coach Patterson left an unforgettable mark on his players and those of us who were fortunate to know him. This loss is very hard because Coach Patterson was beloved by everyone who knew him.” Patterson recorded 18 winning seasons in 23 years at the helm of Tech baseball and posted 40-win seasons five times. He was named the conference Coach of the Year seven times and the District VI Coach of the Year in 1974. “In my eyes, Gravy is Louisiana Tech baseball,” said former Tech baseball coach Wade Simoneaux. “Anytime anybody mentions Louisiana Tech baseball, his name always comes up. He set the bar so high that it’s not even attainable to do what he did here. He was an idol to me.” A 1958 graduate of Louisiana Tech, Patterson played football and base- ball under legendary Bulldog coaches Joe Aillet and Berry Hinton, earning four football letters and two baseball letters. He went on to earn his master’s degree from the University of Mississippi in 1961. He began his coaching career in 1958 on the prep level at Ouachita Par- ish High School in Monroe, then took a job at Shreveport’s Byrd High School in 1963 before joining the Tech athletic department in 1967 as an assistant football coach. Although he finally left the gridiron in 1979, Patterson did return for one game as interim head coach in 1979, leading the Bulldogs to a remarkable 13-10 victory over rival Northeast Louisiana (now known as UL-Monroe) in his only game as head coach. “When I came in 1974, he was the first coach I was really involved with,” said longtime Tech broadcaster Dave Nitz. “He took me in and was always like a father figure to me. He would go on a recruiting trip and take me with him. He was Tech through and through. Nobody loved Louisiana Tech more than he did.” Patterson served for several years as Tech’s associate athletic director following his retirement from the diamond, overseeing eligibility of athletes and THIS IS BULLDOG COUNTRY working closely with NCAA compliance. On three occasions, he was asked to step in as the university’s interim athletic director. He is a member of the Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame. 24 LATechSports.com #WeAreLATech @LATechBSB LATechBSB 2015 SEASON OUTLOOK Faith. Passion. Loyalty. Integrity. down the lines, re-painted the outfield wall and completed their These are the four standards set by first-year head coach grandest project yet, installing a turf halo with the LA Tech logo Greg Goff and his staff, comprising of Rick McCarty, Jake Wells around home plate. and J.D. Hulse, when they were hired this past June to take over “We came in and just kind of changed the mindset of the the Louisiana Tech baseball program.