Schedule changes @ Columbia. Bellville fans take note...

[Necked]

Rain delays shake up calendar in Columbia

By Joel Luna
The Facts

Published August 15, 2007

WEST COLUMBIA — Rain delays will cause some changes to the Columbia Roughneck football schedule.

Because of 20 to 25 days of rain between June and July, construction of the Sport Field Realgrass Pro at Griggs Field has been set back. But other repairs at the field also are adding to the problem.

“Because of all the rain during the summer, it is going to change our schedule a bit,” interim Athletics Director Steve Galloway said. “The turf on the field is running behind, but we are also replacing the bleachers on the home side and that is going to cause the delay.”

Both of Columbia’s scrimmages now will be played on the road starting with Saturday’s trip to Manvel. They also will scrimmage Aug. 24 at El Campo.

The season opener will not be affected since they play Aug. 31 at Brazosport. However, the Roughnecks will be seeing more of Hopper Field than their usual yearly visit.

Two scheduled home games — Sept. 7 vs. Bellville and Sept. 14 vs. St. Pius — will be played at Hopper starting at 7:30 p.m. The St. Pius contest will be moved to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 13 because the Exporters will be hosting Sweeny on Sept. 14.

“Subvarsity will play at Hopper on that Thursday when we play Brazosport,” Galloway said. “They will also play on that Wednesday when we play St. Pius on that Thursday.” Installation of the bleachers at Griggs Field now is scheduled to begin Aug. 20, three weeks later than intended. With all the rains their schedule has moved back, and it is a 30-day job for the bleachers, which will be aluminum now.”

Also affected will be Homecoming and Parents Night. In what will be an even more interesting matchup this year, the ’Necks will host Sweeny on Sept. 28 for homecoming. It also will officially be the first home game for Columbia at Griggs Field.

Parents night also has been moved to the Oct. 12 contest against Wharton.

“It’s been interesting, but we can’t do much about the weather,” first-year Columbia Coach Leland Surovik said. “We can’t do anything about the weather. I called Jesse Crow at BISD and asked if we could borrow Hopper Field from them. It doesn’t matter where we play, we are going to show up and get after it. Our turf should be ready by the time the season begins, so when it comes around to practice time we will practice there.”

Construction on the turf began right after graduation in May.

Joel Luna is the sports editor to The Facts. He can be reached at (979) 237-0160.

[mac77]

They finished the dirt work and set the goalposts today on Griggs Field. They are supposed to cement the goalposts tomorrow but with TS Erin who knows when that will happen. The TDC brought their trailer over to the field today but who knows when they'll get started on the stands.

[FormerBellvilleBrahma]

Was looking forward to seeing the new field, but will have to wait untill next time around if we play. Were is Brazosport, do they have turf or grass?

[Johnnypaycheck]

they have field turf. very nice stadium. get on 36 south, go thru West Columbia, and about 25 miles past the dub, you'll get to Freeport. Take the angleton exit by the sewer treatment plant, stadium will be on the left. can't miss it.

[themsu97]

B'Port is in Freeport and that is where Hopper Field is... you would probably take 36 south about as far as it goes... until you reached I think 288 B in Freeport and then the stadium would be about a mile up on the left... that is a very nice stadium...
looking forward to seeing Columbia's new digs... hope they do something with the press box... to ensure its collapse, just put a few of the coaches up there from the dub and it will collapse from the weight...
see you on Saturday mac...

[FormerBellvilleBrahma]

Brazosport is past West Columbia? If so why did the coaches meet in the middle instead of making the trip longer for Bellville?
Did the Bellville coach agree to a longer trip?

[carter08]

And now I can go see Brazosport/ Sweeny.

3 weeks in a row at Hopper. That's gonna be crazy.

[mac77]

Originally posted by FormerBellvilleBrahma
Brazosport is past West Columbia? If so why did the coaches meet in the middle instead of making the trip longer for Bellville?
Did the Bellville coach agree to a longer trip?

It's a home game for Columbia. Only in the playoffs do both coaches have to agree on neutral sites. It's only about 20 miles more.

[18handicap]

Columbia's home game -- regular season, not playoffs -- they can play where ever they pretty much want. Hopper Field is a really nice field to place at now. But then with the extra 25 miles, you don't have to go - you have that option!! LOL -- I'm sure you are going, so save the extra $6.00 of gas money and go on down there.

[Bull19]

Originally posted by FormerBellvilleBrahma
Brazosport is past West Columbia? If so why did the coaches meet in the middle instead of making the trip longer for Bellville?
Did the Bellville coach agree to a longer trip?

thats a pretty good little drive to brazosport. a good hour and a half to two hours from bellville considering traffic .....correct me if im wrong on that

[carter08]

Originally posted by Bull19
thats a pretty good little drive to brazosport. a good hour and a half to two hours from bellville considering traffic .....correct me if im wrong on that

its only 25 more minutes than a drive to Columbia.

[FormerBellvilleBrahma]

Originally posted by mac77
It's a home game for Columbia. Only in the playoffs do both coaches have to agree on neutral sites. It's only about 20 miles more.

Bellville has not agreed to go further than West Columbia, Heard the coaches were trying to find a closer field. Might be a Thursday night in Katy? Playoffs or not the coach has all the right to not want to travel past West Columbia.

[18handicap]

They don't have to play if they can't agree. Why can't Bellville help out Columbia in this matter. It's not that far.

[Bull19]

Originally posted by 18handicap
They don't have to play if they can't agree. Why can't Bellville help out Columbia in this matter. It's not that far.

why does columbia have to be selfish and play even farther away when something can be worked out at a closer field?

[Bull19]

yes it is a good trip from bellville considering traffic

[Emerson1]

What is it with these 3a schools and horrible planning? Isn't Graham having to play their home games at another stadium to? Since they don't have soccer why aren't they starting construction right after football ends or during march or april?

[Bull's-eye]

Rosenberg has a nice stadium and would be a closer drive for Bellville. Columbia's drive would be increased just a little and with the possibilities of hurricanes, going farther from the coast would make sense.

[Necked]

Originally posted by Emerson1
...why aren't they starting construction right after football ends or during march or april?

Can't speak for the other cities, but Columbia did. I believe the field itself is going to be ready for play on time, but it was the bleacher repairs that are causing the problem. All the rains this summer forced the construction companies to push all their outdoor projects back, thus the one month setback on the bleacher repairs.....

[Johnnypaycheck]

it looks like 1/2 the bleachers are done as of friday night 8/24/07. turf should be ready by this friday night. final inspections of bleachers/scoreboard/turf/etc might mean this game could possibly be in WC. WE CAN ONLY HOPE...

[scrub c]

Originally posted by Bull's-eye
Rosenberg has a nice stadium and would be a closer drive for Bellville. Columbia's drive would be increased just a little and with the possibilities of hurricanes, going farther from the coast would make sense.

Rosenberg has a great field/stadium... Im guessing it was not available. No matter, We will be playing in Fleaport, but stop by West Columbia's field on the way to Fleaport and check it out. Its gonna be really nice. (except for the pressbox)

constriction pics starting in may...(high speed users-large gif)

http://www.cbisd.com/chs/chssports/griggsgif.gif

[MarginalTalent]

The Graham stadium updates were part of a bond package that didn't come to a vote until May. The bond includes remodeling and addition to the high school, new practice facilities, parking, remodeled stadium restrooms and a new softball stadium. We didn't have millions of dollars laying around to start in December.

The stadium will be complete in a week. Plenty of time for the season home opener.

[Johnnypaycheck]

Drove by Griggs tonight. the workers were laying out the turf in the endzones and it appears that the bleachers are just about complete, like 5 more rows in one section left.

[18handicap]

We're getting ready for construction to our fieldhouses and Tigerland Stadium at A&M Consolidated too. The field will be replaced with field turf and the pressbox will be renovated. The stadium fieldhouse will be gutted and renovated and expanded by about 40% starting at the beginning of 2008. The old fieldhouse next to the softball field will be demolished and a new multi-sport field house, double in size will be built. This means that offseason football, soccer, track, and softball will feel some major, but temporary effects from the construction, but it will be well worth it.

[scrub c]

latest pics


http://www.cbisd.com/chs/CHSsports/griggsthumbs.htm

[Bull19]

so will the game be played there or not?

[FormerBellvilleBrahma]

Originally posted by Bull19
so will the game be played there or not?

Looks like the field would be ready for the Bellville game?