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Continued stadium delays force Jays, Crusaders to move first home games
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By Bob Watson bwatson@newstribune.com
Too much rain and construction delays will keep both the Jefferson City Jays and Helias Crusaders from playing their first home games at Adkins Stadium, the normal site for both schools.
Jefferson City Schools Superintendent Bert Kimble said Thursday the Jays have reached an agreement with Lincoln University to play their Sept. 12 game against Fayetteville, Ark., at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
“We're going to move the first game ... because the track is incomplete,” Kimble explained. “The contract (allowed) for about 30 days of rain.”
But Mid-Missouri's experienced nearly three times that amount of rain, delaying some of the construction work.
In addition, Kimble said, the subcontractor laying the football field's artificial turf was supposed to be finished at the end of July, but didn't leave Jefferson City until last week - and the field had to be finished before the final work could begin on the track.
The Crusaders will play their Sept. 13 game against Farmington at the Falcon Athletic Complex at Blair Oaks High School in Wardsville. The game will start at 7 p.m. as originally scheduled.
“It's an awfully nice place to play and you know the field conditions are going to be good,” Helias Athletic director Stan Ochsner said.
“We're happy to have them out here,” Blair Oaks athletic director Ryan Fick said. “We know they're in a Difficult situation and we're glad we're able to help alleviate their dilemma.”
Reed Stadium is not available to Helias on Sept. 13.
Lincoln athletic director Paula Jackson said the situation basically came down to it being too tough for the field to handle two games in two days.
“When the initial request came in, we went to every department that's involved in game-day activities - public safety, buildings and grounds, those type of people - to get a consensus on the situation,” Jackson said.
“Their opinion was that we had a request from Jefferson City for Friday and we could handle that.
“Then, Helias asked for Saturday. Our big issue was that our team hadn't even played here and how we could keep the field nice for our opening game, especially considering the weather we've been having?”
Lincoln plays its first home game on Sept. 20.
“I don't blame Lincoln for that decision,” Ochsner said.
Jefferson City will pay the university $1,000 for renting Reed Stadium - the same as Lincoln charged Blair Oaks before the Wardsville complex was built.
Helias will pay Blair Oaks $1,525 for using the Falcons' stadium, based on the fee-schedule the Blair Oaks' school board adopted a couple years ago, Superintendent Jim Jones said Friday morning.
Kimble said he hopes Adkins Stadium will be ready by the Sept. 19 Jays home game against Columbia Rock Bridge and Helias' Sept. 20 game against Wentzville Holt.
But, Kimble said, Sam Fisher, owner of the company installing the track, has made no guarantees, only telling Kimble: “It depends on the weather.”
Tom Rackers and Tony Hawley of the News Tribune staff contributed information used in this story.
Jefferson City Schools Superintendent Bert Kimble said Thursday the Jays have reached an agreement with Lincoln University to play their Sept. 12 game against Fayetteville, Ark., at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
“We're going to move the first game ... because the track is incomplete,” Kimble explained. “The contract (allowed) for about 30 days of rain.”
But Mid-Missouri's experienced nearly three times that amount of rain, delaying some of the construction work.
In addition, Kimble said, the subcontractor laying the football field's artificial turf was supposed to be finished at the end of July, but didn't leave Jefferson City until last week - and the field had to be finished before the final work could begin on the track.
The Crusaders will play their Sept. 13 game against Farmington at the Falcon Athletic Complex at Blair Oaks High School in Wardsville. The game will start at 7 p.m. as originally scheduled.
“It's an awfully nice place to play and you know the field conditions are going to be good,” Helias Athletic director Stan Ochsner said.
“We're happy to have them out here,” Blair Oaks athletic director Ryan Fick said. “We know they're in a Difficult situation and we're glad we're able to help alleviate their dilemma.”
Reed Stadium is not available to Helias on Sept. 13.
Lincoln athletic director Paula Jackson said the situation basically came down to it being too tough for the field to handle two games in two days.
“When the initial request came in, we went to every department that's involved in game-day activities - public safety, buildings and grounds, those type of people - to get a consensus on the situation,” Jackson said.
“Their opinion was that we had a request from Jefferson City for Friday and we could handle that.
“Then, Helias asked for Saturday. Our big issue was that our team hadn't even played here and how we could keep the field nice for our opening game, especially considering the weather we've been having?”
Lincoln plays its first home game on Sept. 20.
“I don't blame Lincoln for that decision,” Ochsner said.
Jefferson City will pay the university $1,000 for renting Reed Stadium - the same as Lincoln charged Blair Oaks before the Wardsville complex was built.
Helias will pay Blair Oaks $1,525 for using the Falcons' stadium, based on the fee-schedule the Blair Oaks' school board adopted a couple years ago, Superintendent Jim Jones said Friday morning.
Kimble said he hopes Adkins Stadium will be ready by the Sept. 19 Jays home game against Columbia Rock Bridge and Helias' Sept. 20 game against Wentzville Holt.
But, Kimble said, Sam Fisher, owner of the company installing the track, has made no guarantees, only telling Kimble: “It depends on the weather.”
Tom Rackers and Tony Hawley of the News Tribune staff contributed information used in this story.
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JCpatriot wrote on Sep 12, 2008 4:58 PM: