The time has come for Iowa State’s football stadium to be known simply as Jack Trice Field. No more Cyclone Stadium, no more Cyclone Stadium-Jack Trice Field, just Jack Trice Field.

Before I give reasons why I think the ISU administration should honor Trice, I think it should be pointed out that I don’t think Trice should be honored simply because he was the first African-American to play for ISU. I don’t think he should be honored anymore than the first Asian-American, Mexican-American or Irish-American that played for ISU. I think the case to honor Trice by dropping the Cyclone Stadium prefix transcends race. Trice should be honored because he actually gave his life playing for the Cyclones.

Trice died of complications of injuries suffered in a game at the University of Minnesota during the 1923 season, according to the 1996 Iowa State football media guide.

Trice was trying to fight through a block while playing defense. Realizing he would not be able to reach the ball carrier, he dove at the play trying to disrupt the play. Instead he fell to the ground and was trampled in the process. He was not able to continue playing.

Trice was able to walk off the injury and return to Ames, but later died of lung hemorrhages and internal bleeding on Monday from injuries suffered during the game.

Trice had written a letter to himself on his thoughts going into the Minnesota game in it he wrote:

“The honor of my race, family and self is at stake,” Trice wrote. “Everyone is expecting me to do big things. I will. My whole body and soul are to be thrown recklessly about the field.

“Every time the ball is snapped, I will be trying to do more more than my part. Fight low, with your eyes open and toward the play. Watch out for crossbucks and reverse end runs. Be on your toes every minute if you expect to make good.”

After reading what Trice wrote, I don’t think anyone would argue that that is what college athletics should be all about.

The debate to rename the stadium in Trice’s name has raged for more than a decade. At the time, the administration figured they could not just come out and rename it Jack Trice Stadium because that might offend some white athletic contributors.

I think it is time for the ISU administration to take a definite stand now on the stadium. I am not going to devote a sports column to my views on Catt Hall, McDonald’s and other non-sports controversies, but the one thing that bugged me on all these issues was all the pussy-footing that took place on the part of the ISU administration.

I think the ISU administration should give a statement that states, “Yes we are going to honor this former player by naming the stadium, not just half it, in his honor. Not because he was the first African-American football player at ISU, but because he gave his life to the football team. If this offends the Ku Klux Klan, the Aryan Nation or the Freeman Movement we, as an administration, don’t care.”

I don’t look for the administration to do any of this soon. Instead they will follow their normal path and try to please all sides on the matter, no matter how mundane.

Maybe I am making too much of the situation, but after reading all Trice has done for the ISU football program, I don’t think a half-hearted tribute is adequate.

Bill Kopatich is a senior in journalism from Des Moines.