DURHAM -- The Shaw University football team christened its new home field Saturday afternoon when the Bears took on Morehouse College at the Durham County Stadium.

"I see a beautiful day, a beautiful stadium," said Randolph Bazeman, who is a Shaw University alumnus and sits on the university’s Board of Trustees.

Last spring, the Shaw Bears worked out a deal with Durham to play their home games at the county stadium. The county pumped $4.5 million into the facility, and Shaw kicked in some more. The result is a cleaned up county stadium.

"It's nice. It's all dapper and clean and fresh," said Shaw freshman Brittney Owens.

Last year, Shaw played its home games in a high school stadium in Raleigh. This season, the Bears will play four games on their new home turf.

"There's nothing better than playing in an actual stadium when you're in college instead of playing in a high school stadium like we used to before we came to college," said Shaw student Reddick Patrick.

Earlier this year, Shaw and St. Augustine's College were hoping the Wake County Commissioners and the city of Raleigh would agree to build a stadium for the two schools to use in Raleigh. Last winter, the Wake County Commissioners voted down such a plan.

One proposed site was at the Beltline and Rock Quarry Road, not far from Watson's Flea Market.

"[We] were very disappointed in that but we know that they were able to find a stadium that is suitable,” said Jimmy Young, who played football when he was a student at Shaw in the 1960s. “[The Durham County Stadium] has been a good venue."

The renovations at the stadium are not complete yet. An artificial turf field and an eight-lane track are still to come.

Shaw's next home game is September 30.