Nottingham High School Named Field for Dorsey Levens
The Syracuse school honored its former standout athlete with a dedication ceremony at the football field.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Football
Live Poll
Do you believe honoring local high school sports legends provides meaningful motivation for current students?
Nottingham High School has officially named its football field after NFL veteran and school alumnus Dorsey Levens. The dedication occurred during a halftime ceremony as part of the school's effort to honor its athletic legends.
Why it matters
The tribute serves to highlight the legacy of homegrown talent and inspire current students. Former athletic director Alton Hicks spearheaded the initiative to formally recognize the school's most notable sports figures.
Dorsey Levens amassed over 3,000 rushing yards during his career at Nottingham and later played 11 years in the NFL. The school football team lost their game against Watertown with a final score of 36-8.
The players
Dorsey Levens
He is a former NFL player who attended Nottingham High School and now resides in Atlanta.
Alton Hicks
He is the former athletic director at Nottingham High School who initiated the effort to honor the school's athletic legends.
Nottingham High School
This is a public secondary school located in Syracuse, New York.
The details
During the event, school officials placed Levens' name atop the football field's press box and unveiled a plaque on the concession stand. The honoree, who is now 56 years old, attended Nottingham from 1984 to 1989 and was also a three-time All-State basketball player.
Timeline
Levens attended Nottingham High School from 1984 to 1989.
Levens played for Nottingham football teams during the late 1980s.
The football field was officially named after Levens on October 1, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This dedication follows the pattern established by the Nottingham High School athletic heritage recognition program, which also honored Willetta Spease in November 2025. It underscores a broader institutional shift to codify the history of the school's sports program.
The school has formally established a new tradition of permanent facility naming that will influence future recognition ceremonies. Attendees and community members can now view the new press box signage and concession stand plaque at the stadium.
The takeaway
Honoring alumni through facility naming rights creates a tangible link between a school's history and its current student athletes. Schools seeking to build similar legacies can implement structured recognition programs to foster community pride.
Further reading
Learn more about local high school sports developments in the Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Syracuse.
Live Poll
Do you believe honoring local high school sports legends provides meaningful motivation for current students?
