A Legacy Begins in Greenville
August 24, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
GREENVILLE – Curtis Heppe has no idea what to expect, but a few guesses and a dream or two of how it will feel tonight to lead his teammates into Greenville's Legacy Field for the first time.
“It’s going to be electric, for sure. It’s a new vibe. It’s high-tech there,” the Yellow Jackets quarterback said Thursday after his team’s final preseason practice.
Those expectations are shared by a community that will be cheering on the local team in a new home after nearly a century at the legendary Black Field.
Workers put the finishing touches on the near-$7 million facility this week in advance of the season's first varsity game, tonight against rival Belding. Legacy Field officially opened for Wednesday’s freshman game, and Heppe said that even for that lower-level appetizer, the stadium began to come alive.
“We’ve just wanted Friday night to come. To get in and see how intense, how nice this place is,” he said. “Coming out of that tunnel, seeing our fans, it’s going to be the best feeling.”
Tonight’s grand opening will be the culmination of efforts from not just administrators, but students and community members as well – down to the name of the stadium itself.
“Legacy Field” was selected by Greenville’s school board. But it came as a suggestion from the school’s student council, which took submissions from classmates and then with faculty and administrators whittled the list to three favorites – Stinger Stadium and Community Field were next on their list.
But that’s just one way Legacy Field is a blend of old and new and ideas from all over town.
“In development, (it’s been) probably 10 years. We’ve been talking about it ever since I’ve been here, that one day we’d be able to do this,” said Greenville athletic director Brian Zdanowski, who is entering his 15th school year at that post. “It came through strategic planning. It came through community input. And then ultimately, our board bought in that there was enough interest in the community.”
Deeply rooted
A walk through Legacy Field is a history lesson. But first, an explanation of the Yellow Jackets’ past.
Black Field had served as the team’s home since 1916. It is nestled downtown next to Greenville’s former high school, which is now a library.
The current high school, about 1.5 miles northwest, was built in 1963. Football teams continued to make the short trip for home games.
Black Field has its charms. With no track surrounding the field like at many multi-purpose stadiums, fans are only a few yards from the sideline. And all of that history added to the mystique for the latest players to wear the uniform.
The field also has had peculiarities. Zdanowski said at one point, the end zones were elevated in the corners. And the field wasn’t always square – a 10-yard penalty might measure 11 on one side of the field but only nine yards on the other.
But after just about every home game, students met for a bonfire on the grounds, an extension of the celebration by neighborhoods that surround Black Field and embraced the team for decades.
“It was the typical focal point of the community,” Zdanowski said.
Some things old, many new
Playing on Black Field was special, Heppe added. But he's equally if not more excited to be part of this new legacy. And architects made sure to bring that community feel to the new home this fall.
Destruction and construction began May 2, the day after last season’s final girls tennis match. The courts formerly sat in what is near the south end zone, and were moved closer to the track and soccer facility.
Amenities at the Yellow Jackets’ new football home are comparable to a college stadium’s, starting at the north side of the field.
Players will enterthrough a tunnel that pours into the field like that of a miniature Spartan Stadium. Surrounding the tunnel are expansive locker rooms both for the home team and visitors, a similarly expansive training room and officials area and plenty of storage that will allow Greenville’s entire football program to be housed under that one roof. Unlike Black Field, tucked neatly among its neighbors, Legacy Field has plenty of parking and lighting, and builders were able to make that possible while also keeping intact a group of large oak trees near the south gate.
The turf is synthetic, like that played on by all but one member of the Yellow Jacket’s O-K Bronze conference. The difference from many is that the field has been dug out from the surrounding property, making it even more a focal point for those who will occupy the roughly 4,000 seats in the surrounding cement bowl. (The removed dirt was used to build two Little League fields on another part of the property.)
The sound system is of course state-of-the-art, and the press box, concessions area and restrooms also are equally expansive. But what locals should notice most are the throwbacks to the past that dot every corner of their new home.
Cut into the brick work near the concession counter is a block from Black Field that had been dedicated by the school’s class of 1924. Atop the building is the Centennial Clock, 100 years old this year, which formerly hung at the entrance the old school and was donated by the class of 1912. It has been housed by Greenville’s museum until being re-donated to the school district to become part of the stadium.
Molded into the cement walls on the west and south sides of the field are the numbers formerly worn by players Henry Loding and Greg Blumberg. Both died from football-related injuries; Loding in 1906 and Blumberg in 1977. Two trophy cases are cut into the stone on the facing of the press box, including one featuring mementos celebrating alum and former Detroit Lions tight end Ty Hallock.
Another addition of historical significance will come later. The school’s first Hall of Fame class will be inducted before the Sept. 7 game, and that display will be housed near the south ticket area so residents and fans can check it out without having the enter the stadium itself.
And one last thing was added to keep with tradition. To the west of the concession area, but within the stadium fence, sits a large gas fire pit for those postgame gatherings – plus a sound system where students can plug in their mp3 players.
“We said we’re not forgetting our past, but we’re embracing our future,” Zdanowski said. “I’m sure a lot of people have said that before. So we really wanted to make sure we got community input on it and do as much as we could to replicate Black Field. … And I think we won some people over. We really wanted to do what we said (we’d do).”
PHOTOS: (Top) Greenville's junior varsity ran through drills during a morning session at Legacy Stadium, which opened this week. (Top middle) The ticket area and gate for fans sit on the south side of the field. (Middle) A poster given out last season celebrated the final to be played at Black Field. (Bottom middle) A number of pieces of Black Field's past and Greenville tradition were brought over to or included in Legacy Field, including Centennial Clock, which formerly was part of the old school.
Legacy Field's press box is split into areas for game workers, coaches and media with a roll-up door for film crews.
Legacy Field sits between Greenville's high school and middle school and adjacent to its soccer and track facilities.
Coaches met in the spacious varsity locker room Monday morning. Junior varsity and freshman locker rooms are connected by a hallway with access to storage areas and the coaches' office.
Players will enter Legacy Field through a tunnel at its north end. Above sits the concession area and restrooms, and the Centennial Clock that once ticked in the old Greenville school.
1st & Goal: 2024 Week 2 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 5, 2024
It’s only Week 2. We’re just getting started.
But at least five games this week look likely to end up counted among the most notable of the regular season, statewide, when all is said and done Oct. 26. Another handful could eventually determine league championships, if past history holds again.
We’re back to our regular schedule, with six games played Thursday night, the great majority tonight and seven games set for Saturday. All listed below are today unless noted, and scores will be updated throughout the weekend on the MHSAA Scores page.
Bay & Thumb
Armada (1-0) at Croswell-Lexington (1-0) WATCH
The Blue Water Area Conference schedule begins tonight, and Croswell-Lexington owns a 19-game winning streak against Armada after claiming last year’s meeting 53-28. But the Tigers are coming off a third-straight winning season, and a third-straight victory last week over perennial power Marine City – and a historic Armada win tonight would throw a wrench into the Pioneers’ plans to take back the BWAC for the first time since 2021.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Haslett (0-1) at Fenton (1-0), Goodrich (0-1) at Linden (0-1) WATCH, Saginaw Heritage (1-0) at Midland Dow (0-1), SATURDAY Harbor Beach (1-0) at Marine City Cardinal Mooney (0-1).
Greater Detroit
Warren De La Salle Collegiate (1-0) at Detroit Martin Luther King (1-0)
This might be one of the most anticipated games statewide this year, not just one of the best of the week in Metro Detroit. The 2023 Division 2 runner-up Pilots began their pursuit of a fourth-straight trip to the Finals with a stunning defensive effort and 21-3 win over Davison last week. King is attempting to get back to the Finals this fall for the third time in four seasons after ending their run in the Division 3 Semifinals a year ago, and the Crusaders opened with a 25-21 win over Ohio powerhouse Cleveland Heights. King and De La Salle last faced each other in a 2017 Semifinal.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY West Bloomfield (1-0) at Birmingham Groves (1-0) WATCH, Clarkston (0-1) at Southfield Arts & Technology (1-0) WATCH, Jackson Lumen Christi (1-0) at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (1-0) WATCH, Muskegon Mona Shores (1-0) at River Rouge (1-0) WATCH.
Mid-Michigan
DeWitt (1-0) at Mason (1-0)
After falling to DeWitt five straight meetings over the eight seasons, Mason defeated the Panthers twice in 2023 – 42-23 during the regular season and 42-7 in a District Final – on the way to finishing Division 3 runner-up. The Bulldogs graduated nearly all of their starters from that run, but the new crew joined four-year starting quarterback Cason Carswell in downing Holt 26-7 to open this fall. DeWitt has nearly its entire lineup back from a year ago and also one of the top quarterbacks both in the Lansing area and statewide – Elliott Larner, who threw for four touchdowns and ran for four in the Panthers’ 69-42 win over Haslett.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Lansing Catholic (1-0) at Lansing Sexton (0-1) WATCH, Olivet (1-0) at Portland (1-0), Hastings (1-0) at Williamston (0-1) WATCH, Bath (0-1) at Pewamo-Westphalia (1-0) WATCH.
Northern Lower Peninsula
Kingsley (0-1) at Gaylord (0-1) WATCH
Forget for a minute that both fell in openers last week. Gaylord is coming off its best season since 2002 after finishing 11-1, and Kingsley is the reigning Division 6 champion with one of its two losses last fall in a 42-39 classic against the Blue Devils. Back to last week, Kingsley did lose 24-22 but it was a rematch of its 2023 Semifinal win over Reed City. Gaylord’s defeat came against longtime former league foe Traverse City West, but the defense that gave up only 14.5 points per game last season remained on point, allowing just six to the Titans.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Maple City Glen Lake (1-0) at Frankfort (1-0) WATCH, Boyne City (0-1) at Elk Rapids (1-0), Parma Western (1-0) at Traverse City Central (1-0) WATCH. SATURDAY Lawton (1-0) at Traverse City St. Francis (1-0) WATCH.
Southeast & Border
Saline (1-0) at Dexter (1-0)
The Southeastern Conference Red season also begins tonight, and with the matchup that eventually determined last year’s league championship. That went to Saline, thanks to a 41-25 victory over Dexter, and the Hornets opened last week by doubling up Brighton 41-20. The Dreadnaughts actually come into this rematch on a higher note than a year ago after edging Livonia Franklin 27-26 last week, avenging their 33-27 loss to Franklin from last season’s opener.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Whitmore Lake (1-0) at Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (1-0), Addison (1-0) at Manchester (1-0) WATCH, Three Rivers (1-0) at Adrian (0-1) WATCH, Jonesville (1-0) at Napoleon (0-1).
Southwest Corridor
White Pigeon (1-0) at Buchanan (1-0) WATCH
More statewide fanfare should be given to White Pigeon’s fantastic run over the last three seasons, as the Chiefs went a combined 29-7 with three trips to Division 8 Regional Finals. They opened in dominant fashion 52-14 over Reading last week, but get a Buchanan team that also has been quietly solid with a combined 15-6 record over the last two seasons – and with two of last year’s defeats by seven points apiece. The Bucks opened last week with a 32-6 rumbling over Saugatuck, which avenged a 25-14 opening loss to the Trailblazers from a year ago.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY St. Joseph (1-0) at Edwardsburg (1-0), Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (1-0) at Portage Central (0-1) WATCH, Battle Creek Central (0-1) at Battle Creek Harper Creek (1-0), Midland (1-0) at Portage Northern (0-1) WATCH.
Upper Peninsula
Calumet (1-0) at Ishpeming Westwood (1-0) WATCH
Both of these teams are looking for bounce-back seasons, and off on the right foot. Calumet went 3-6 a year ago, its first sub-.500 finish since 2013, but opened with a 50-0 shutout of West Iron County last week. Westwood won once in 2023, its fewest victories since going 2-7 in 2016, but opened last week with a 36-12 win over Bark River-Harris, which finished 5-4 a year ago and defeated the Patriots 50-14 to start last season. Calumet defeated Westwood in last season’s matchup 42-22.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Hancock (1-0) at Menominee (1-0) WATCH, Iron Mountain (1-0) at Bark River-Harris (0-1) WATCH, Houghton (0-1) at Kingsford (1-0) WATCH, Gladstone (0-1) at Negaunee (1-0) WATCH.
West Michigan
Muskegon (0-1) at Rockford (1-0) WATCH
West Michigan has several intriguing matchups this week, especially in places with new coaches this fall. But this one always will rise to the highest level of statewide interest. Rockford won their season-opening clash last year 27-7, and Muskegon actually started last year 0-2 before winning 12 straight games and the Division 2 title. Both programs surely benefit greatly from these mega matchups early, and that’s key perspective as the Big Reds also opened this season with a loss, 28-13 to Zeeland West. Rockford is a combined 32-3 over the last three seasons and may be on the verge of something even bigger this fall after defeating Detroit Cass Tech 30-23 in their opener.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY East Kentwood (1-0) at Byron Center (1-0), Grand Rapids South Christian (1-0) at East Grand Rapids (1-0) WATCH, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (1-0) at Jenison (1-0), Caledonia (1-0) at Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (0-1) WATCH.
8-Player
Martin (1-0) at Bridgman (1-0)
With Martin the reigning two-time Division 1 champion, and Bridgman building a combined 35-game winning streak going back to 2020 (but with an enrollment too large to compete in the 8-player playoffs), it’s safe to say these have been two of the elite handful of teams in the state to start this decade. And their matchups have been must-see; Bridgman won 35-34 in 2022 and 14-12 last season. Although Bridgman also faces 2023 Division 1 runner-up Indian River Inland Lakes in Week 4, this could prove for both to be their biggest game of the regular season again.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Morrice (1-0) at Merrill (1-0) WATCH, Lake Linden-Hubbell (0-1) at Munising (1-0) WATCH. SATURDAY Newberry (0-1) vs. Climax-Scotts (0-1) at Gaylord, Marion (1-0) at Onekama (1-0) WATCH.
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PHOTO A Montague ball carrier attempts to break free last week from multiple Forest Hills Eastern defenders, including Jordan Shabazz (23). FHE won the opener 48-7. (Photo by Michigan Sports Photo.)