Week 1: Athens @ Gallia Academy

[A-Town Big Dog]

Blue Devil freshman are suppose to play Athens this Thursday at 5:30.... The official Blue Devil Football site has the game being play at Athens & the Gallipolis City schools site has it as a home game.... Can't be both ways.....LOL.... Does anyone know who is running the Blue Devil Football site?

I was told earlier today the game is at Gallia.

[91blue14]

yes the freshmen play at home thursday. i hope no rain.

[ole_Bobcat]

Rain. Oh boy the field will b shot after one game...

the thing that puzzles me is, with the amount of use that Memorial Field gets with MFL,jr high,freshmen& jv and no chance of gaining enough funds to build a field that rivals Jacksons ,lol.
Why don't they install turf at the sewer pit they call memorial feild?
The overall setup is ok but the field is prob the worst in southern ohio (meigs is close 2nd)

[6-4-3=2]

Is there limited parking at Memorial Field? What would be my best bet for parking? Just find something on the street? Any help is appreciated.

[GAHS83]

Is there limited parking at Memorial Field? What would be my best bet for parking? Just find something on the street? Any help is appreciated.

The lower lot is all handicapped this year.

Finding something on the street is your only option.

[superblue]

Rain. Oh boy the field will b shot after one game...

the thing that puzzles me is, with the amount of use that Memorial Field gets with MFL,jr high,freshmen& jv and no chance of gaining enough funds to build a field that rivals Jacksons ,lol.
Why don't they install turf at the sewer pit they call memorial feild?
The overall setup is ok but the field is prob the worst in southern ohio (meigs is close 2nd)

Where do you suggest we get the $800,000 needed for the turf? The locker rooms and weight room also need upgraded.....

[ole_Bobcat]

I would have thought that when you spent millions on a monstrosity of a school with a gym with 60' ceilings you could have channeled a few dollars toward the field?

[GalliaGrad78]

I think that our beloved state bureaucrats would not allow any money to be spent on a football field.

And besides ole bobcat, I didn't see anyone on here begging you to come visit our "sewer pit"

I for one, hope we play there for many years to come.

[Mighty Mighty Devils]

Rain. Oh boy the field will b shot after one game...

the thing that puzzles me is, with the amount of use that Memorial Field gets with MFL,jr high,freshmen& jv and no chance of gaining enough funds to build a field that rivals Jacksons ,lol.
Why don't they install turf at the sewer pit they call memorial feild?
The overall setup is ok but the field is prob the worst in southern ohio (meigs is close 2nd)

I f you don't like it stay at home!!!!! judging from most of your posts your a miserable person to be around anyway. We work with what we have. Memorial Field Home of the Blue Devils and them boys will defend there turf on friday night's also footbal is a game to be played in the dirt not on turf

[Mighty Mighty Devils]

I think that our beloved state bureaucrats would not allow any money to be spent on a football field.

And besides ole bobcat, I didn't see anyone on here begging you to come visit our "sewer pit"

I for one, hope we play there for many years to come.

I hear ya!!!!

[jottings]

Best place to park prior to the game is the Washington School parking lot atop the hill and the Ohio Valley Main Bamk parking lot across the street from Washington School.

[JChipwood]

The school, as has been stated and proven many times over, was full the day we moved in so definitely not too big, maybe not big enough but definitely not too big. The gym ceiling being 60' was probably built that way so we didn't have to worry about balls hitting the rafters and was designed after research of gyms with problem areas to prevent being a laughing stock in a new facility. In our most recent lean years we have been unable to fill the seats, that is a given but if we are able to build a program with community support equivalent to what we had in the 80's and 90's we will fill it regularly. It is full at graduation and I expect with creative thinking could be utilized more to capacity. At least it was thought out enough, unlike one area school, that we haven't cut our art and musical programs to fund the operating expenses, yet anyway.

Bottom line is, as stated, you CANNOT spend money allocated to the main facility on a freestanding facility regardless of the intended purpose of said ficility i.e. a football stadium. Therefore any money "put back" for that purpose would have been recovered by the state and not credited leaving the school system and tax payers paying tax on the full amount of monies even if we failed to spend the entire amount.

Back to the game....... good luck Devils and hoping for a great game with zero injuries for both teams.

[superblue]

The gym "was designed after research of gyms with problem areas to prevent being a laughing stock in a new facility " Wonder who researched the upper pull out bleachers.... If you sit in the first 8 rows or so you cannot see the gym floor because of the peoples heads in the lower bleachers.. Plus the side courts can't be used for full court games because the bleachers are to close to the end lines..

[JChipwood]

Oh i agree it has problem areas. The bottom couple rows of the upper section don't have clear vision of the entire court. I have sat in row 6 in the upper section and could see the entire surface.... Nonetheless my statement was in regards to the school being too big which it isn't at all and to having 60' ceilings which is laughable at best. I know the reasoning and thought process behind the side courts but admit it was not the best plan if the intent was to ever be able to utilize those courts for play rather than just practice, drills, shooting, and clinics. Every gym has some sort of problem area but at least ours isn't a LOW CEILING, c'mon man, to me that is like a new gym with limited seating at a new school.

[superblue]

I am with ya JC.... The ceiling height may have been determined by the upper level gym... I really have no problem with the gym as a whole.... A weight room and larger locker rooms would have been nice.... And you are correct about the school size, to small.....

[6-4-3=2]

Thanks for the parking suggestions, guys.

[JChipwood]

My understanding was that a weightroom was a given but the design didn't allow for it, again designed too small. Definitely needed in a new facility and larger locker rooms would've been great also, doesn't seem like a whole lot to ask for really. I didn't really consider the upper level gym determining the ceiling height but you are probably spot on super.

A few years back we made the playoffs and I read a report that said GAHS was the only playoff school without in school weight lifting out of 192 qualifiers. It showed on the field too.

[Vladd]

Good luck to the Gallia Academy team. Gallia in a close one.

[JChipwood]

Unless you are early the elem school lot and bank lot will be full so street may be the best option with only a block or block and 1/2 walk so it isn't bad. Grace United Methodist Church lot runs from 2nd to 3rd avenues and provides several spaces with only a 1 block walk then down the hill to the field, not too bad.

Travel safe from Athens and good luck, especially after this Friday!!

[superblue]

Just returned from Memorial Field where the Athens freshman defeated GAHS 22-6... I was impressed with the Athens team...Good speed & size... Great talent at the skill positions... If Athens can keep this group together they will be a force in the varsity years.... GAHS only had 12 players dressed..... Athens was late and GAHS was on the field for about an hour before the game started and I believe it took its toll on them.... Not using this as an excuse because Athens definitely had the better team....