Rockford, MI – In January 2020, the Board of Education officially renamed the Ted Carlson Memorial Stadium the Carlson-Munger Stadium to honor two men whose contributions exemplify Ram Pride.

When the stadium opened in 1991, its namesake was Ted Carlson, a community member who served as a trustee on the Rockford Board of Education and was well known as Rockford’s own “super fan” of Rockford sports.

One year later, Ralph Munger was hired as the Rams varsity head football coach, and nobody could have predicted how the next 28 seasons would play out. It was the beginning of a legacy, resulting in three MHSAA Division I state titles, 25 consecutive playoff years, and six undefeated regular seasons. When all was said and done, Coach Munger holds a 75% win/loss total career record. But numbers aside, Coach Munger instilled a sense of responsibility and pride in the student-athletes whose lives he touched and built on the pride Mr. Carlson embodied.

Mr. Carlson and Coach Munger, each in his own way, has defined and promoted “Ram Pride” throughout the community. Ram Pride isn’t only represented in high school sports, but in all of Rockford’s schools, academics, the arts, and the community in general. It is our culture.

A formal rededication ceremony is scheduled to take place just prior to the varsity football home opener on Thursday, August 26, 2021, when the Rams will take on Sterling Heights Stevenson. The rededication ceremony will begin at approximately 6:40 p.m., just prior to the 7:00 kickoff.