Districts Deal With Gridiron Gridlock

Football season is around the corner and some schools are experiencing gridiron gridlock.  The News On 6's Jeffrey Smith reports districts are scrambling to put the finishing touches on new fields before the season's first huddle.

There are several high schools in the area that began putting down new turf before prom.  Four months later, the work's not done.  School officials say they didn't plan on such a wet and rainy spring.  With season openers starting in just two weeks, the construction effort is headed for overtime.

Fixing the field.  Building the bleachers.  Even nailing down the goal posts.  Friday was a busy afternoon at Claremore High School.

The Zebras will open their season next month, but right now, the yard markers aren't even in place.

"It'll still be a construction zone, and we'll make the best we can of it," said Claremore Athletic Director Randy Pearson.

Athletic Director Randy Pearson says in March the grass was ripped up and that's when the heavens opened up.

Workers say they lost 51 days of work because of the downpours.  After almost two months of delays, the new turf is being unveiled.

"It's been brutal.  It's been really bad.  It's rained and rained and rained," said construction foreman Kevin Rogers.

Everything is brand new for this season, from the turf field to the bleachers.  But, Claremore isn't the only school district fighting wet weather to get the field ready in time for opening day.

At Bixby High School, the field doesn't look like much of a place to play football.

"It started at the end of last year, in April.  And, because of the rain, we're about 45 days behind," said Bixby Athletic Director Stephanie Blackwell.

Officials wanted the million-dollar field in place for the first day of school, but there was a lot of fumbling with the pipes.

"They'd have to lay the drains, and then it would rain.  And then, they'd have to do it again.  So, they'd get ready to lay the drains, and it'll all cave in," said Bixby Athletic Director Stephanie Blackwell.

As Claremore counts the days till the first snap, workers say there's just enough time to wrap up if Mother Nature doesn't drop another ball.

Claremore says the field will be good to go, but other renovations like the restrooms and field house won't be finished by the home opener.

Bixby gets its turf on Monday.

And, the Bartlesville Bruins are unveiling a $750,000 new field of their own.  It will be finished at the very end of the month, just a week before the first game.