EUREKA - Jim Brace said he thinks his friend of 30 years, Pete FioRito, would find having a football facility named for him to be "a tremendous compliment."

Brace also believes FioRito would be embarrassed.

"He's not the kind of guy who sought a lot of recognition, but he would be very appreciative," said Brace, who was FioRito's football teammate at Eureka College.

FioRito, who died at age 45 of cancer in 2003, will have his name placed on the football facility during halftime of Saturday's annual homecoming game. Eureka College meets Greenville in an Illini-Badger Conference contest at 1 p.m.

As a defensive back and team captain, FioRito played for the Red Devils in the mid-1970s. FioRito's widow, Diane, who graduated with her husband from Eureka College in 1980, and their sons Tony, 21, Nick, 18, and 12-year-old Joey will be joined by FioRito's teammates for the dedication.

Friends and former teammates of FioRito established a golf outing in his memory to raise funds for the renovation of the football facility at Eureka College. It was, from his friends' and co-workers' perspective, a continuation of an event FioRito started in the early 1990s.

FioRito helped organize a golf tournament in Chicago, with the proceeds going to scholarships for Chicago-area students to attend Eureka College. Over the course of the 13 years FioRito was involved with the event, it raised close to $300,000 for his alma mater.

The initial FioRito Memorial Golf outing, held two years ago, raised roughly $70,000 toward the football facility renovation.

The renovated press box and grandstand, which includes metallic stairs, a wheelchair ramp and handrails for easy access, and new seating, made its debut last month.

Eureka College boosters, known as E-Tribe, joined in too, raising $6,000 at a separate golf outing, for two 25-second play clocks.

Eureka College purchased new signage on the scoreboard and new benches for the sidelines of both teams. In addition, the college paid for installation of electrical work at the stadium. That work came with a $10,000 price tag.

The college also received financial assistance from the Illinois First campaign. Part of the money received was used to renovate three tennis courts and build two new courts. Two new soccer fields are under construction, too.

Even the football coaching staff had a part in the renovation, as student coaches re-lined the field. And head coach Dan Sullivan re-numbered the field, making the numbers larger to come in sync with new NCAA regulations.

The playing field itself will remain known as McKinzie Field, named for Ralph McKinzie, who served as the school's athletic director at Eureka College from 1923-1938.

-;McKinzie coached football from 1921-1937. During that period, McKinzie coached former president Ronald Reagan, who played offensive guard for the team.

FioRito had the honor of presenting a No. 80 Eureka College jersey to Reagan in 1980. Reagan was a 1932 Eureka College graduate. A picture of FioRito presenting the jersey appeared in Life magazine.

The 1977 football team, which included FioRito, will be inducted into the school's Hall of Fame during ceremonies Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Becker Auditorium.

Other inductees to be honored include the 1993-94 women's basketball team, softball pitcher Amy Mulvaney, volleyball player Stephanie (Logan) Morstatter, swimmer Brad Shields, basketball players Mark Blunt and Tom Cassidy, and football player Gil Glisson.