URI Athletic Hall of Famer Mark S. Cruise ’81, M.A. ’84, and his wife, Sue Cruise ’84, have gifted $2 million to their alma mater to establish a new athletic endowment and rename the football practice field, the university announced on Tuesday.

“This is a significant contribution that’s going to have a huge impact for our football program and our athletic department in general,” Interim Athletic Director Brittney Miles said. “We’re just really excited to keep building on the momentum that we have going right now.”

Cruise came to the University of Rhode Island on a full football scholarship in 1977, developing into a co-captain and second-team All-Yankee Conference player in his fourth year. $1.5 million of Cruise’s contribution will look to afford an athlete the same opportunity he received, according to a press release.

The vast majority of the funds will create the Mark ’81 ’84 & Sue ’84 Cruise Endowed Scholarship program, providing an annual scholarship to a university student-athlete, preferably a football player from within the area of Cruise’s hometown: Brockton, Mass.

“We’re always trying to go ahead and increase our scholarships; this gets us another one closer,” URI Head Coach Jim Fleming said. “I think the scholarship is going to have to go to a specific kid that has similar characteristics to Mark.”

The remaining $500,000 will go to the naming rights of the practice field and support URI’s renovations to the football locker rooms and Meade Stadium. 

The naming rights gift will rename the practice field to the “Mark S. Cruise ’81 ’84 Football Practice Field,” subject to approval by the URI Board of Trustees and the Rhode Island General Assembly. 

“I consider them not only incredible supporters of what we’ve been able to accomplish on the football field, but incredible personal friends,” Fleming said. “They have been supportive every step of the way.”

This gift comes in the midst of a program record six-straight winning seasons, highlighted by two conference championships in the past two years.

“Where we are right now, I think, is as good a position that URI football has ever been in,” Fleming said. “We all seem to have really embraced what we have been able to do on the football field and what that contributes to the university.”

It is a stark contrast to the program that, following a 2-10 record in 2019, had posted a 17th losing season in its last 18 years. 

“Coach Fleming and his staff have, without a doubt, given the URI football program a major shot in the arm from the day he stepped on campus,” Cruise said in a note to The Cigar. “The timing of our contribution is not only influenced by observing Coach Fleming’s process and winning culture, but also influenced by observing the positive interactions his team has with President Marc Parlange and the URI athletic department’s leadership, both past and present.”

Cruise credited the involvement of President Parlange, Associate Athletic Director of Development Garrett Waller, Assistant Director of Development John May, former Vice President and Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn and Miles for helping to make this gift a reality.

The scholarship is intended for individuals displaying the characteristics of a blue-collar community. Specifically, grit, determination and pride.

“I think we’ll find plenty of people that are worthy of this,” Fleming said. “I think our program is built on those kinds of people.”