Tim Yandell spent more than 6,000 minutes on his cell phone calling alumni from Frater Sodalis. Yandell, Frater Sodalis sponsor, made more than 300 calls over a 16-month span trying to raise money for improvements on an intramural field honoring Larry Sanders for his 25 years as a club sponsor and to commemorate Frater Sodalis' 60th year on campus.

The goal was $75,000 and close to $80,000 in commitments was raised for the Larry C. "Satch" Sanders Field, Yandell said. This donation from Frater Sodalis alumni and current members more than doubles any previous social club gift to the university, said David Connor, development programs manager, in a press release.

This project was chosen because intramural football has been important to Sanders in his 31 years of involvement in the club.

The money came primarily from Frat alumni, Yandell said. The club donated the $1,000 raised from last year's haunted house fund-raiser, said Jeff Sickles, Frater Sodalis president and senior Christian ministry major from Amarillo.

"It wasn't meant to be a project that the guys that are members had to carry," Yandell said. "It was kind of my dream to get all of our alumni involved."

This was the first time many club alumni had given a substantial gift to the university, Yandell said.

"The love that old Frats have for club along with their respect for Larry is the reason they've given so generously to this project," Yandell said.

The money will be used to fund a lighting system, rod-iron fencing and an entrance to the field. The Abilene Independent School District owns the field, which is located next to Taylor Elementary School and across from Sikes and Gardner halls, and has a co-use agreement with ACU for the field, Yandell said.

The columns will stand at 8 feet and the crest of Frater Sodalis will be at the top of an arch, which will be 12 feet at the peak, Yandell said.

The entrance to the field will also have bricks, or a Frat Walk of Fame as Yandell called it, with the names of contributors and will be placed groupings according to giving club levels, Yandell said.

The primary reason for this project was to honor Sanders and the time and effort he has put into the club, Yandell said.

"Being a social club sponsor-a good social club sponsor-means so much more than just popping your head into club on Wednesday nights," Yandell said. "It means getting to know the guys and being a part of their lives in many ways."

He said Sanders' friendship with club members has crossed generations and that is the reason he was able to exceed his goal.

"I think it's a testimony to not only what kind of a sponsor he is but the way he gets in the lives of the guys and gets to know them," Yandell said. "They in turn get to know him and they love him for his commitment to club and his commitment to relationships with these guys."