Wilkins Stadium at Rip Powell Field

Capacity: 6,000

Wilkins Stadium has served as the home of Mulerider Football since 1949 and remains one of Southern Arkansas University’s most recognizable athletic venues. The stadium is named in honor of former Magnolia A&M President Colonel Charles S. Wilkins and has been the site of generations of memorable moments in Mulerider Football history.

On September 19, 2015, the playing surface at Wilkins Stadium was formally named Rip Powell Field in honor of legendary Mulerider head football coach Raymond “Rip” Powell. Powell led the Muleriders to 62 victories during his 10 seasons as head coach. The naming was made possible in part through the generosity of his former players, who raised more than $100,000 in his honor for improvements to the Mulerider football facility.

The football-only facility features grandstand seating on both sides of the field with a capacity of 6,000. Overlooking Rip Powell Field is the GeoSurfaces Press Box, named in recognition of GeoSurfaces’ longstanding partnership with Southern Arkansas University and Mulerider Athletics. The press box serves as the hub for game-day operations and includes space for media and broadcast personnel. The stadium also features ticketing areas and concessions to serve Mulerider fans on game day.

The facility also features the Auburn Smith Field House, which houses the Mulerider Football locker room as well as coaches’ offices and meeting spaces. The team locker room was renovated in 2016 with new lockers and has the capacity to accommodate more than 125 student-athletes.

Wilkins Stadium has undergone numerous improvements throughout its history as Southern Arkansas University has continued to invest in both the student-athlete and fan experience. In 2016, a new artificial playing surface was installed by GeoSurfaces along with LED stadium lighting. The LED lighting system received additional upgrades in 2019.

2026 Renovation

In 2026, Wilkins Stadium and Rip Powell Field underwent one of the most significant transformations in the facility’s history. The project included a complete exterior renovation of Wilkins Stadium featuring new metal, brick and signage, providing the historic venue with a modernized appearance while maintaining its longstanding identity as the home of Mulerider Football. The project was completed by GeoSurfaces, a TenCate company and longtime partner of Mulerider Athletics.

The project also included the removal of the previous artificial playing surface and installation of Pivot Performance Turf at Rip Powell Field. The innovative surface is designed to deliver grass-like athlete performance without performance infill while providing consistent traction and controlled release to support speed, acceleration, cutting and movement in varying weather conditions. At the time the project was announced, Southern Arkansas was set to become one of the first universities in the nation to feature the new technology.

The first two phases of the 2026 enhancement project were funded entirely through private gifts and pledges from alumni and friends of Southern Arkansas University, continuing a tradition of private support that has played an important role in the development of Mulerider athletic facilities.

The 2026 improvements represent the latest chapter in the continued evolution of a stadium that has been home to Mulerider Football for more than 75 years. From Wilkins Stadium and Rip Powell Field to the GeoSurfaces Press Box and Auburn Smith Field House, the facility recognizes individuals and partners who have made a lasting impact on Southern Arkansas University while continuing to provide Mulerider student-athletes and fans with a first-class football environment.

One of the venue’s milestone moments came on September 14, 2019, when more than 5,000 fans witnessed the 200th Mulerider victory at Wilkins Stadium. Sophomore placekicker Austin Wilkerson connected on a 48-yard field goal as time expired to give Southern Arkansas a dramatic 30-28 victory over Oklahoma Baptist.