Visitors arriving at Fayetteville State’s football home quickly notice the name above the stadium gates.
Luther “Nick” Jeralds Stadium honors a former college football standout, professional player, state legislator and community leader whose impact stretched far beyond the football field.
More than three decades after his death, Jeralds’ legacy remains visible across Fayetteville – from the Broncos’ home stadium to a local middle school that also bears his name.
🏟️ Luther “Nick” Jeralds Stadium
Location: 1401 Murchison Road, Fayetteville, NC 28301
Home of: Fayetteville State Broncos
Capacity: 5,520
Surface: RootZone 3D3 turf (installed in 2021)
The Stadium: Historical Reach with Modern-Day Amenities
Fayetteville State first started playing football in the early 1920s. What is now Luther “Nick” Jeralds Stadium was built around 1949. It was known as Smith Stadium in the 1960s, then later renamed Bronco Stadium to match the school’s nickname.
The venue was renamed again in 1993, this time to honor the lasting legacy of Jeralds, who had passed away at the age of 54 the year before.
While Jeralds Stadium seated more than 8,800 fans at one point, a major $2.5 million renovation in 2003 eventually led to a reduction in capacity to roughly 5,500 as the end zone bleachers were removed to make way for other upgrades.
Fayetteville State became the first school in the CIAA to have an artificial turf field in 2007. The school added a video board to enhance the fan experience in 2013.
In 2021, Fayetteville State installed the new RootZone 3D3 playing surface.
While Jeralds Stadium has undergone multiple renovations over the decades, it remains one of the longest standing homes of CIAA football, the school’s conference home since 1954.
What’s In a Name? The Legacy of Luther Reginald “Nick” Jeralds
Jeralds was born in Orrum in Robeson County in 1938. He attended E.E. Smith High School in Fayetteville and then went on to play football at North Carolina Central.
Jeralds was captain of the Eagles’ team in 1959 and earned All-CIAA in 1960. He made the all-academic honors list for the conference in both 1959 and 1961 before graduating with honors with a bachelor of science in commerce. He’s now in the school’s athletics Hall of Fame.
Jeralds had a brief stint as a professional football player, seeing the field for nine games with the Dallas Texans in 1961, per Pro Football Reference.
Jeralds turned to civic life and was a respected leader around Fayetteville and Cumberland County. He was elected three times to the North Carolina House of Representatives in the 1980s.
Jeralds’ legacy is remembered in two main places in Fayetteville – Fayetteville State’s football stadium on campus and at Luther “Nick” Jeralds Middle School on Ramsey Street close to downtown.
“Soaring Eagles” is an appropriate nickname for a school named for a man who excelled on the football field, in the classroom and in civic life.
Fayetteville State 2026 schedule features compelling home matchups
Fayetteville State’s 2026 schedule offers little room for a slow start. Four of the Broncos’ first five games will be played at Jeralds Stadium, but the home-heavy opening comes against a demanding slate of opponents.
The season begins Aug. 29 with CIAA rival Shaw under the lights in Fayetteville. UNC Pembroke visits the following week before perennial Division II contender Valdosta State arrives on Sept. 12. After a road trip to defending CIAA champion Johnson C. Smith, the Broncos return home Sept. 26 to host Virginia Union, which reached the CIAA championship game for a third consecutive season in 2025.
How Fayetteville State navigates that opening stretch could go a long way toward determining whether coach Richard Hayes’ team is once again a contender for the CIAA title and a berth in the Division II playoffs. The good news for the Broncos is that four of those five games will be played at Jeralds Stadium, where Fayetteville State has compiled a 9-3 record over the past three seasons.
What does it mean?
Luther “Nick” Jeralds Stadium is more than a football venue. It serves as a reminder of one of the region’s most accomplished public figures while continuing to host some of the biggest games in CIAA and Division II football.
More than 75 years after the facility first opened, Fayetteville State’s football home remains a gathering place for students, alumni and fans. The stadium connects generations of Broncos football – from the early days of the program to the conference championship teams that have followed.
Its namesake left a legacy through athletics, academics and public service. Today, every kickoff at Jeralds Stadium serves as a reminder of that legacy and of Fayetteville State’s continuing role as one of the CIAA’s flagship football programs.
Read more Stadium Spotlight Stories:
🏟️ O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium: Two stories, one home for NCCU football
🏟️ Helen and Leonard Moretz Stadium: History and modern flair blend at Lenoir-Rhyne
🏟️ Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium: Where the ECU Pirates raise the flag
