About The Willie Lanier HBCU Program
Legends & Heroes Rebuilding HBCUs Gridirons One Field at a Time
The Willie Lanier HBCU Program is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that establishes collaborative partnerships to provide financial support to participating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) athletic fields.
Our legends and heroes are like-minded individuals joining forces to rebuild damaged and outdated fields at our most treasured 50 to 100-year-old historic institutions by installing state-of-the-art athletic fields that undoubtedly will elevate the competitive playing field for its students and empower communities.
“The project seeks to install new state-of-the-art playing surfaces at nearly 36 HBCU football stadiums. Virginia Union University’s 113-year-old football stadium is the first HBCU to have FieldTurf installed.”
The goal is to raise $50 million over the next two years with minimal to no cost to the schools, and to bring HBCUs athletic facilities up to a competitive level by providing new turf football fields to programs playing on grass for over 50 years and resurfacing existing fields that are outdated and in dire need of repair and upgrade.
Through the Honey Bear Project’s initiative, we will increase the students’ level of competitiveness while also bringing awareness to the plight of HBCUs athletic programs. This project can also ignite new developments in those communities and foster economic growth.
OUR MISSION
Willie Lanier is on a mission to provide quality turf fields to improve the college football experience by replacing damaged, outdated and non-turf fields at all participating HBCUs at minimal cost to the colleges. To bring Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) athletic facilities up to a competitive level by providing new turf football fields to programs playing on grass for over 50 years and resurfacing existing fields that are outdated and in dire need of an upgrade.
Through the Wille Lanier HBCU program efforts, we will increase HBCU’s level of competitiveness, and improve the college football experience by replacing damaged, outdated and non-turf fields at a minimal cost to the colleges. We will also bring awareness to the plight of its athletic programs. This project can also ignite new developments in those communities and foster economic growth.
OUR VISION
To upgrade all HBCUs outdated grass fields and upgrade all HBCUs current turf fields through donations from strategic partners throughout North America.
Support for HBCUs is essential for continuing education and cultural inclusion.
Education happens within the context of a larger community. Our approach extends beyond the athletic fields to a deeper community need to help ensure students at HBCUs have the necessary support to do their best learning on campus and in life. Willie Lanier, Buck Buchanan, Doug Williams, Jerry Rice, Walter Payton, Michael Strahan, Sterling Sharpe and David “Deacon” Jones are but a few of football greats who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
The Program.
About The Program
NFL Hall of Famer Willie "Honey Bear" Lanier, FieldTurf and the LandTek Group joined forces to launch the Honey Bear Project - a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
The mission of the Honey Bear Project is to replace damaged, outdated and non-turf fields to all participating HBCU's at minimal or no cost.
The project seeks to install new state-of-the-art playing surfaces at nearly 36 HBCU football stadiums.
Virginia Union University's 113-year old football stadium is the first HBCU to have FieldTurf installed.
The field has been renamed the Willie Lanier Field-Hovey Stadium.
The project seeks to raise $50 million over the next two years.
The Build.
About The Fields
FieldTurf controls all aspects of the manufacturing value chain. From start to finish, we’re in control of your field.
FIBER PRODUCTION
Our fibers are produced at Tarkett’s very own facility in Germany. The quality control process at the facility includes stringent testing of the yarn properties (tensile strength, uniformity, color verification).
TUFTING AND COATING
Once the fiber is produced, it is ready for tufting and coating which takes place at our 500,000 square-foot facility in Calhoun, Georgia.
EXPERT INSTALLATION
FieldTurf has some of the most experienced and knowledgeable installations crews in the industry.
The History.
About HBCU Football
On December 27, 1892, the first Black Intercollegiate football game was played between Biddle College (now Johnson C. Smith University) and Livingstone College.
Most of the nations ( HBCU's play in one of (4) athletic conferences.
Willie Lanier, Buck Buchanan, Doug Williams, Jerry Rice, Walter Payton, Michael Strahan, Sterling Sharpe and David "Deacon" Jones are but a few of football greats who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
30 HBCU football players are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame attending schools such as Morgan State, Bethune-Cookman, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, Florida A&M and Grambling State.
Virginia Union University's Hovey Stadium is the second oldest college football stadium still in use in the United States behind Harvard University.