Date: Fri 18-Jul-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SS

Quick Words:

EdInk-Zito-Reed-football

Full Text:

Ed Ink for 7/18/97: Lights Out At Jenner Stadium

Was it an error, a bad call, or just a poor game plan? Call it what you will,

but the end result seems to be a fumbled football season this fall for Newtown

High School. Mixed in with the $26 million addition and renovation at the high

school was drainage work for the football field and some new construction for

the track and field events. Blessed with a rather mild winter, everything was

to be ready for an early start on the project this spring.

The early start did not happen, but delays did. "The site contractor has not

performed," according to John Reed, superintendent of schools, and the sod

which was to be in place by the first part of June has yet to be laid. The

consequences are disturbing, disruptive and disappointing to the hundreds of

people who either participate in or turn out to watch the eleven-game season

played by the Nighthawks. And this was to be an extra special year under the

newly installed lights at Jenner Stadium.

The Blue and Gold Club, the mover behind this lighting project, has been

making its final push towards the $95,000 goal and the lights are now in

place. To the disappointment of those who have supported this project, the

lights will, more than likely, not come on this season.

From a financial standpoint, money earned from tickets, refreshments, etc, at

the home games is used to foot many of the athletic costs for the spring

programs. In past years about $20,000 has been taken in, and now that slack

will have to be taken up through shifts in other budgets.

In May football coach Bob Zito sent a football schedule to The Bee which

included both home and away games. Shortly after it was published he was made

aware of the situation, one which undoubtedly will put unnecessary strain on

his football program.

Right now it is really not important to lay the blame for this mess on

someone's head, for it probably should be spread around among several parties.

What is important is to do everything humanly possible to have that field

ready for the football team to use this fall, and under their new lights. The

Bee has learned from several sod experts that it can take as little as one

month for a newly sodded field to be ready for play. It would seem to us that

time is still on the side of the Nighthawks and it is now up to the powers

that be in the school system to make sure it happens.

And we would like to add our "thank you" to all those who have helped with the

cost of the new lighting project, and to those who have yet to come forward to

meet this goal. We regret that we cannot extend a "thank you" to Bruce Jenner

himself, since we have learned from Blue and Gold Club members that he

declined to make a donation. Has anyone thought of a better name for the

stadium?