Show F¥ w 1 Wednesday September 22 2004 Is V" p vT3 f jQ 4 fI J ui ' v r CXfiX Playable & safe p vjr IC 1 f I “ it "it' ‘ ri p4:rf jh M A9 Valley Edition Messenger-Gunniso- n Sanpete Messenger Sanpete ' ” t!'nv - ri ?'3x LZst? v ?‘fS'l' vv4f BOB worker glues white marker on new synthetic turf at Badger stadium place while it is being worked on A BAHLMANN The white WWW sandbags hold the turf in at Badger stadium An anony- Close up of the new mous donor provided funding for installation of the new turf Project cost was about $500000 Badgers anxious to play on their new ‘turf’ By Bob Bahlmann t Sports writer I t i EPHRAIM — Due to paperwork and logistics slowing down the installation of the new playing surface at the Snow College football stadium the Badger home opener against Phoenix at 1:30 pm on Sept 25 will be played at Manti High School — but the sults should tie well worth the wait Templar Field has winning tradition — Manti High has only lost one game at home in the last four seasons but the Badgers would still rather start the season in Badger Stadium The synthetic field will replace the natural grass which has been used by Snow College athletes since the stadium was built in 1965 According to Rick Pike Director of Development and Public Relations at Snow College the new surface is being made possible by an anonymous donor Costs associated with the stallation of the new turf are expected to be around half a million dollars “He’s been impressed with our program and coaching staff” said Pike referring to the donor “He asked what he could do to help the program and agreed to fund the project” The described system has been as “very playable and rubvery safe” The Premier-Rber and sand infill system features polyethylene long fibers that are tufted into a durable backing and laid on top of a Regupol pad officials According to field is installed with each a generous amount of rubber and sand or rubber only forcing the bers to remain upright creating a playing surface simulates the playability of natural grass at its best but offers far superior durability” said Jim Dobmeier president of "Having a field that can be used 247 is another benefit and will goa Jong wayhi helping Snow" College drawjn the ppmniunity to t the new stadium” The playing surface is phase one of the stadium renovation project Pike hopes that the synthetic turf along with additional renovations will help bring more events to Snow College “We have six home games on the schedule for next year” he said Pike also plans to approach the Utah High School Activities with proposals Association to schedule Snow College as a site for high school playoffs “We’d like to see them use us for the and championships” he said “Ephraim is as centrally located as you can get and the important thing with the UHSAA seems to be putting fannies in the seats” There has been some discus sion about relocating Snow’s football stadium but the timely donation for the new tui f eased the administration's decision to keep it where it is “President Benson felt strongly that the stadium needed to stay on campus" said Pike to the activity center makes the cast end of campus a natural location for all of Snow College’s athletic events Plans and renderings for phase of the stadium renovation project are expected to be ready by Oct 6 when the Badgers lake on Dixie The new stadium will provide more seating by going higher and steeper By narrowing the existing track new seals can be added to the front of the west stands and two bleachers can be installed on the east side as well “We like the idea of bringing the fans closer to the field" Pike said adding that planners wanted to preserve enough of the track to allow continued public use The renovated stadium will feature a new weight room and training facility on the ground flair The second floor will be used for meeting rooms and offices “The thud floor will be kind of a Badger Club room" said Pike On the cast side facing the field w ill he a press box coach’s box and possibly a president’s box for visiting VIPs On the west will be a windowed banquetentertainmcnt rixim overlooking the campus High drama: ‘Dogs rally to win for injured teammate By Sean Hales Injured Bulldog doing fine Staff writer ’ BEAVER— Holly couldn’t have written a script any more dramatic than what actually happened heroics inspired by the sacrifice of a fallen comrade rallied the Gunnison Bulldog footdeficit late ball team from a vicin the fourth quarter to a tory over the Beaver Beavers Gunnison was trailing with just over three minutes left in Gunnison Beaver GUNNISON — A Gunnison High School football player who was injured in a game against the Beaver Beavers last week is apparently okay and was back in school on Monday Gunnison wide receiver and kicker Chad Avery was the victim of a late hit by Beaver player Tyler McMullin Avery was transported to the Beaver hospital and treated and released for whiplash Dennis Avery Chad's father said that Chad pulled muscles in his vertebrae and neck but that “I le’s doing well he’s going to be fine” to Gunnison According Head Coach Rhett Jackson 29 27 the game when the team started a line On drive from its own that possession Beaver defender Tyler McMullin hit an unsuspecting Chad Avery in the back “It was very late and very cious” said Gunnison Head Coach Rhett Jackson about the hit “If that was one of my kids w ho made the hit he wouldn’t be playing” The hit sent Avery to the hospital and it didn’t take the rest of the team long to capitalize on the emotion And in true Hollywood style as the ambulance hauling Avery turned on its lights and pulled out of the stadium Gunnison running back Ben Dailey was finishing off a pass reception for a touchdown and the victory “They were pretty fired up They responded like they should have” Jackson said “I’m glad w e made it count” Jackson said that the players executed the play to perfection but he had been saving the play for the perfect moment “I was holding it holding it then they brought everybody They had eight guys on the line of scrimmage” which meant Dailey only had three defenders in the secondary to beat “He was not going to be desaid about Dailey’s He his way through the defense to produce the nied" Jackson run COPY even if Avery gets the required medical release he will likely not play in this week’s game - Ball slips through in the game due SEAN HALES MESSENGER PHOTO the fingers of Gunnison receiver Chad Avery in recent game against Beaver Avery was injured late to a late hit which Inspired Gunnison to come from behind and win the game score But it wasn’t quite oxer yet The quick Gunnison score gave Beaver over two minutes to move the ball downfield which the Beavers had shown they could do Beaver had performed surgery on Gunnison’s secondary on two early drives with short precise passes and big runs after the catch However the Hollywood 'Dogs weren’t finished and ended the game in style On the ensuing possession by Beaver they were able to produce before Gunnison one defensive back Jay Bartholomew jumped in front of a Beaver ceiver to pick off the ball Jackson said there was a ‘7 that was one of my kids who made the hit he wouldn't be playing — Coach ’ Rhett Jackson Gunnison defender every where there needed to be w hich forced the Beaver quarterback to throw an Gunnison running back Joey Crane got the ball and produced seven yards pass “it was absolutely perfect coverage” said Jackson But Beaver still had timeouts and on a second and six Gunnison beneeded at least one fore they could start kneeling on the ball “In die huddle I told the boys ‘diis is why we lift weights and do blitz di ills and work so hard: to finish the deal”’ said Jackson “They were banged up and still played hard” said Jackson and continued that as far as his team’s work ethic is concerned “1 never feel like I’ve been cheated on the effort scale Our k ids’ effort is impeccable” The game against Beaver w as afTair which added more Hollywood flair The eight touchdown plays by both teams aver a aged 35 yards which included a run by Gunnison quarterback Ryan Irandsen also passed for a touchdown to Guy Miller and Avery rambled eight yards for a score before he was injured The Bulldogs will navel to Salt Lake this week to play behemoth Juan Diego Last yearGunnison pioduccd 308 rushing yards against the Soaring Eagle and Jackson notes that this year his team has more speed and is more athletic “Last year we got their attention" said Jackson He said that to beat Juan Diego his team is going to have to eliminate tK’ mistakes tl have allowed oilier teams to produce big plays against Juan Diego As far as the late hit goes McMullin was allowed to continue playing in the game despite the brutal nature of the hit Dennis Avery said he was disappointed that the officials allowed McMullin to continue in the game and even more dis- appointed that the Beaver coaching staff didn’t voluntarily remove him from the game He also said he was disappointed in the entire attitude of the Beaver football program noting that at the end of the game as Gunnison was kneeling on the ball to run the clock out another Beaver player hit the Gunnison quarterback w hile he was kneeling Jackson didn't want to comment on the issue beyond say ing that the hit “w as very late and very vicious” and that “if that was vine of my kids wouldn't be play ing" he |