SLIPPERY ROCK — George Mihalik stood on the track, facing an overflow crowd in the stands, surrounded by immediate and extended family, friends and his Slippery Rock University football team.

And the SRU coach knew exactly what to do.

“I took time to smell the roses,” he said. “I embraced the moment. I lived the moment.”

He lived history.

During a halftime ceremony Saturday night, SRU's N.Kerr Thompson Stadium was officially renamed Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

SRU president Robert Smith presented Mihalik with a plaque that included pictures of the scoreboard and pressbox, both showing the stadium's new name.

“As Dr. Smith was addressing the crowd, all I could think was, ‘It's about to happen. It's going to change. It's going to change forever,'” Mihalik said.

During his speech, Smith said Mihalik “is more than just a coach. He's a teacher, mentor and friend to thousands of student-athletes.”

An emotion-filled Mihalik took the microphone and addressed the throng himself.

“I've always been proud to wear the Green and White,” he said. “I've always been proud to represent you, the Rock Nation.

“And I've always been proud to represent the greatest student body in the conference. This is a special night.”

Mihalik is in his 24th season as SRU head football coach and has spent 40 years with The Rock as a player, assistant or head coach. His 155 wins are a program record. N.Kerr Thompson is second on The Rock's all-time list of football coaching wins with 126.

Herb Thompson, a first cousin of Thompson's once removed, was on hand to represent his family.

“My family's been in Butler County since 1799,” he said. “My family is proud to share the name of this stadium with George. We're thrilled about it.

“What he's done here is tremendous — and he's not done doing it.”

Mihalik's wife, Laura, recalled sitting in the stands back in 1972, watching George quarterback The Rock.

“Who could have ever thought back then that we'd be doing this?,” she said, fighting back tears. “How proud our parents would be. And he deserves it, doesn't he?”

The team insisted upon being on the field during the ceremony.

“He's our coach,” linebacker Zach Sheridan said. “He's always there for us. We wanted to be there for him. That man helps us all the time.”

Running back Akeem Satterfield agreed.

“No one deserves this more than him,” Satterfield said.

Nearly $225,000 was raised over the weekend for the newly formed George Mihalik Scholarship Fund. The money will go into the football recruiting budget.

“That ceremony was more than I anticipated,” Mihalik said. “I couldn't believe how many people were there, everybody was so gracious. ... I will never, never forget this.”