BULLDOGS GETTING NEW DOGHOUSE

Football returns to Scott as stadium gets started

Carnell Smith, a Scott alumnus and former University of Pittsburgh football player, addresses Scott High students, staff, and elected officials as the school breaks ground for its new stadium.

Students returned to a renovated Scott High School more than two years ago. By fall, they’ll finally have a home field on which to play football.

Toledo Public Schools broke ground Thursday on a football stadium at Scott. For years, Scott and Woodward high schools have been without stadiums, forcing their teams to play home games at other schools.

“We have been waiting for this day for a very long time,” Scott Principal Treva Jeffries said.

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The district also broke ground this month on the Woodward stadium. Woodward and Scott’s facilities are expected to be ready for the fall football season.

Scott’s stadium will be behind its renovated Collingwood Boulevard home. TPS Superintendent Romules Durant, a Waite High School graduate who played football, remembered getting geared up to play games against Scott. He told the team to “own this field,” and then asked the crowd for the trademark Bulldog bark.

“Let me hear the dog pound,” he called to the crowd.

Both fields will be turf, and the Woodward project includes a track, though Scott’s will initially be without one. Scott’s stadium likely will have a concession stand and stadium seating capacity for 500 home fans and 250 visitors. TPS originally estimated twice the seating capacity, but the project’s final construction budget had less money for seating, Business Manager Jim Gant said.

The district has budgeted $1.1 million for each stadium. Private money will be needed to have everything desired in the projects. Scott kicked off its fund-raising effort at Thursday‘s groundbreaking ceremony.

While happy the stadium is finally being constructed, alumni — represented by retired Scott teacher Avie Dixon — hope for something grander. Ms. Dixon said supporters would need to raise $2 million to construct a facility with all the desired amenities. For instance, no lights will be installed at first, meaning home games will have to be played during the day.

Contact Nolan Rosenkrans at: nrosenkrans@theblade.com or 419-724-6086, or on Twitter @NolanRosenkrans.