TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- A brand new state of the art lighting system has been installed at Memorial Stadium and those lights promise to bring a new level of excitement to Sycamore events inside the home of Sycamore Football and Women's Soccer. These projects are all part of the athletics capital campaign -- Elevate -- The Campaign For Sycamore Athletics. Director of Athletics Sherard Clinkscales is proud to announce that the lights at Memorial Stadium are in operation and have already been met with rave reviews. Sycamore fans will get to see the tremendous improvement for themselves during night time women's soccer matches as well as during the football season opener on August 31 against Eastern Illinois which begins at 7 pm (ET).  

Elevate is the first-of-its-kind athletics only fundraising campaign in the history of the department. Indiana State Athletics has identified key fundraising projects that will address immediate needs and create lasting hallmarks for the program. Donor support of Elevate is critical to the development of all Sycamore student-athletes and will have a direct impact beginning with the 2017-18 academic year. The four projects that gifts to Elevate will directly support include the brand new Sports Performance Center and Nutrition Station; the Sycamore Fuel Initiative -- which will provide extra healthy meals to our student-athletes; Sycamore Football Coaches Office and Player Lounge Renovation and the installation of a Sycamore Track and Field Interactive Display which will celebrate the rich history of that program.

Additionally, through the generous support of Indiana State University President Dr. Daniel J. Bradley, the university is providing additional funds for the first two completed projects that are also part of Elevate. The first is the John McNichols Training Track and the second is upgrades to Memorial Stadium. New state-of-the-art lights have been installed at Memorial Stadium and we will take a look at those later this month. The final phase of the upgrades to Memorial Stadium comes next summer with a complete replacement of the field turf used by football and women's soccer.

The most important aspect of Elevate is that these different projects will benefit every student-athlete on every team through the funds that are being raised. 

Today's focus is on the is on the work being completed at Memorial Stadium and how the lights will increase the fan and student-athlete experience. Head coach Curt Mallory knows the importance of being able to play night games once again in the Wabash Valley and also the fact that this improves the student-athlete safety for both football and women's soccer by providing better playing conditions for the Sycamores. The lighting will also improve the broadcast quality of football and women's soccer games on The Valley On ESPN3.

"That first night game is going to bring a lot of excitement and energy," coach Mallory said. "There is nothing like a night game when the fans have the chance to build up to kickoff out in the tailgate area and really start to anticipate the kickoff. There is nothing like a college football night game."

The lights come on for the first time on Friday, August 18 when the women's soccer team hosts Illinois-Chicago at 7 pm. The football team opens their 2017 season at Memorial Stadium under the lights on Thursday, August 31 against long-time rival Eastern Illinois at 7 pm.

"To see Memorial Stadium lit up at night ... it just gives you goose bumps," coach Mallory said. "The lighting is spectacular. We are just excited to get started and for the first game to get here."

To learn more about the Elevate campaign or to donate please click here.