Tiger s Inaugurate New Kalahari Field TheHuronTigersbegananeweraatHuronMemorialStadiumonFriday evening, August 22, 2008 with a 20 6 victory over the Vermilion Sailors. In the process they retained possession of the Win Oar, a trophy awarded the winner of this rivalry for over forty years. Pregame ceremonies dedicated the new Kalahari Field, a full summer in the making. Representatives of Kalahari Resort, including owner Todd Nelson and his wife, and Barnes Nursery s Jarret and Julie Barnes Foster, accepted the thanks of a grateful community. Also on the field to receive an ovation were the men who were instrumental in building the original Huron Memorial Stadium as well as the menwho played on that first season in 72, amassing a 10 0 record. Three cheerleaders from that season also graced the field. Finally, after the band parents were introduced, kickoff took place for the first game ever to be played for keeps on the new surface. Huron took the opening kickoff, but too much adrenaline forced a turnover, and Vermilion, not the Tigers, scored the first points on the new turf. The Tigers then settled down and by game s end scored three unanswered touchdowns for a 20 6 final score, cementing the first of many more victories in this new home.
In a rare peek inside the locker room during pregame rituals, team head coach Tony Legando exhorts his players to play hard and carry on the tradition of many of those went before them. Joining the team were members of the 72 team and many of those who had helped build the original stadium.
Coach Tony Legando leads the players in prayer that the game be played hard and clean and that no one incur injury. As the sign above states, it s all about tradition in Huron football.
Some of the shakers and movers who were instrumental in the stadium project back in the early 70 s gather for pregame ceremonies: Coach Ed Taylor, 61, Ed Asher, 46, Jack Mulaney, Duane Warren, 58, Coach Tony Munafo, and Tike Majoy, 51.
Team members from 72 and cheerleaders return to help dedicate the new field.
Aerial photographs of the new Field were presented to Todd Nelson, Jarret and Julie Barnes Foster, and Gary Haas, vice president of the Rudolph/Libbe Construction Company which did much of the work on the new ticket booths. Joy Hillman, on the right, represented the Huron Board of Education.
Just a few of the many men responsible for the construction of the Huron Memorial Stadium in the early 70 s, surrounded by many of the players in that first game, and also players in another first game. These men, older now, dared to dream big and lay the groundwork, literally, for the present reality which will probably change again in about forty years. Did someone say inflatable DOME!
That s it, Tike, hold it so all can read it! This commemorative plaque will hang proudly with all the other plaques gracing the walls of the locker room in Huron Memorial Stadium to help inspire future generations of players.
A vast sea of red cheers on the Tigers, led by this year s Tiger mascot.
Our band performed superbly under the direction of first year band director, Adam Ladd, an OSU grad. Notice that a couple of our football players are also adept in music and march at half time, too true two way players!
The flag corps put on a graceful display coordinated with the band s music.
Tigers driving on an early possession on their new field.
Bulling in for the score, under the watchful eye of the tiger.
Hoisting the evening s trophy high, the victors parade the Win Oar back to their locker room wall where it belongs for at least another year.
At game s end, a joyous crowd was invited down onto the new field to test it out for themselves. Kids of all ages raced, romped, and rolled on the artificial turf. Only the lights going out sent them home. Forty years from now they can say there were there!