By Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Grass on the football field at Blacksburg has been an ongoing saga that has thrown a wrench into home matches this spring. Both soccer and lacrosse have turned home games into away games, but Athletic Director Peter Lyell said he hoped to have both sports on David Crist Field Friday of this week.
The problem dates back to last summer when crews started looking the grass on the football field, determined there were several types of grass and some weeds and sprayed the field with herbicide in order to correct the problem. Instead, most of the grass down the middle of the field died, causing problems and leaving bare soil.
Several football games, including playoff contests last fall had to be moved to new turf at Christiansburg High School. This year, several soccer games also had to be moved to CHS.
The school’s Touchdown Club is trying to raise money that could place turf at the Blacksburg location. The budget was listed at $1.2 million and, according to members of the group, they are hoping private donations will fund the project.
Dave Shelor, who has headed up the effort for the past few months, said things have to come to halt, but the group hopes to relaunch in the very near future.
An estimated $55,000 is currently in a field account.
The boosters lost a considerable amount of money eight years ago when a board member was accused of embezzling funds. Some of that money has been recovered, but very little, thus putting the effort behind the eight ball.
“We are really starting over for the third time,” Shelor said Thursday. “But we will continue to try and work with the (Montgomery County) school board to fund the turf project.”
A turf facility was opened at Christiansburg High School this past August. Late estimates placed the field and a new rubberized track at just over $1.5 million.
Phase II of the project which was not expected to be completed for another year but opened in February includes a new softball field to be located between the current tennis courts and gymnasium.
Phase II will also include additional drainage and stands at the baseball field.
Phase 1.3 of the Christiansburg plan includes the construction of a field house adjacent to the CHS football field along with a new concession stand, restrooms and entrance to the field. The price tag has been estimated at $900,000 for the locker rooms and $1 million for the rest of the project.
But Blacksburg representatives took the fundraising into their own hands and decided to replace the real-grass playing surface and change it to turf much quicker.
“By raising the monies ourselves, we just felt we could get a better playing surface quicker,” Shelor said.
But again, that has been slowed because of the lack of funding, and playing away from home has adversely affected the booster club too. Shelor reports that the club is down $22,000 because of football and many of the spring sports playing on the road.
There is some good news within this effort as the boosters were able to pay for new lights on the field.
For now, Blacksburg athletes will just have to get used to a little mud, staying away from the middle of the field as much as possible.
