PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — Stadium Field, which first opened during the early 1920s, in Parkersburg desperately needed a facelift this offseason, as the entire bleacher and seating upgrades have totaled nearly $2 million. An inspection last year determined the stadium’s grandstand was no longer safe to use.
The Big Reds were able to go through drills on the field during the month of June.
“We were still able to practice because they were demolishing,” Parkersburg head coach Don Reeves said. “The biggest problem was they had three concrete saws going at the same time. We were coaching, but it was hard for the players to hear us.”
The problems, however, could come on August 30th when the Big Reds are slated for their home opener against Warren, Ohio.
“Right now, it is questionable,” Reeves said. “We are going to have it ready as if we could open it. Funding is pretty tight right now. Just to get it open, we need around $100,000 or $150,000 to buy seating brackets and hand rails and those types of things. We need to get that order in the next week.”
If Stadium Field is not ready to host the game, one option includes moving the game to Marietta College in Ohio. It’s possible, maybe even probable, that more home games will have to be moved if those funds don’t come in soon.
In fact, project officials in Wood County Tuesday evening said it was ‘doubtful’ the Big Reds would be able to host a game at Stadium Field this season due to the renovations.
But aside from stadium repairs, the Big Reds will also be looking to fix their record this season as they went 4-6 last year. In fact, since winning back-to-back state championships in 2006 and 2007, the Big Reds have lost a combined 26 games over the past five seasons.
“We spent a lot of time this summer getting physically stronger and getting tougher — preparing us for the type of conference we play in and getting us ready for the playoffs,” Reeves said.
And not only will Parkersburg face a daunting MSAC schedule, the Big Reds will also face cross-town rival Parkersburg South to close out the regular season.
“For the next few years, that will be our 10th game of the season,” Reeves said. “We’re going to go into it, hopefully, with playoff implications.”
Reeves will have plenty of returning players to help make that playoff run.
Quarterback Aaron Roberts and running back Chandler Hamilton both led the team offensively last season and they will be tasked with playing on both sides of the ball this year — Roberts will play linebacker and Hamilton will be a defensive back.
One challenge facing Parkersburg will be replacing its interior lineman.
“Last year, we were still young and filling the gaps with sophomores,” he said. “We graduated four of our top five linemen last year. If we can fill in those guys on both sides of the line, hopefully our record reflect that a great deal.”
The Big Reds enter the season just five wins away from 800 all-time victories — but Reeve’s aspirations are higher than that.
“Our expectation is always to be going to Wheeling Island to be playing for a championship,” Reeves said. “Anything less than that is not what the fans and players want. We play to go to Wheeling. We plan to be in the playoffs.”
PARKERSBURG 2013 Football Schedule |
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1 | 08/30/13 07:30PM | H | WARREN LOCAL,OH H.S. | – | ||||
2 | 09/06/13 07:30PM | H | OPEN | – | ||||
3 | 09/13/13 07:30PM | A | CABELL MIDLAND | – | ||||
4 | 09/20/13 07:30PM | H | CAPITAL | – | ||||
5 | 09/27/13 07:30PM | H | MARIETTA,OH H.S. | – | ||||
6 | 10/04/13 07:30PM | A | SOUTH CHARLESTON | – | ||||
7 | 10/11/13 07:30PM | A | WOODROW WILSON | – | ||||
8 | 10/18/13 07:30PM | H | HUNTINGTON | – | ||||
9 | 10/25/13 07:30PM | H | GEORGE WASHINGTON | – | ||||
10 | 11/01/13 07:30PM | A | RIVERSIDE | – | ||||
11 | 11/08/13 07:30PM | A | PARKERSBURG SOUTH | – |
– Wes McKinney