2014 Home Football Opener at Starkville High in Trouble

July 22, 2014

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — Four schools in the viewing area are making the move to field turf this off-season and one is finding it difficult to have it completed.

Starkville High School is facing a major predicament going into the 2014-15 school year as the school’s new field turf football field remains well behind schedule due to a major delay.

(Larry Johnson)
Starkville High’s new field turf is well behind schedule following a summer storm that caused the project to be put into question.

According to Starkville High School athletic director Dr. Stan Miller, the $1.4 million project has hit a major stumbling block after a summer storm that caused the liner on the field to be blown off which allowed water to get under the liner.

After drains and rocks were put down, soft spots began to appear on the surface for the field turf field. For field turf to be laid, the surface of the field has to be perfectly set with no soft spots.

Clear River Construction is the contractor of this project and they have been called back by Starkville High to make repairs in time for the school’s home football opener on August 22nd versus Noxubee County.

Due to the possibility of not having the field ready for the home opener, Starkville is scrambling to find a possible replacement venue for the beginning of the season.

“Coach Jamie Mitchell, myself and the high school principal will meet early next week and we are going to look at alternative sites,” Dr. Miller said. “I have no idea at this point and time what those alternative sites are. But within two weeks from now we have to make a decision.”

Dr. Miller said the first three home games (Noxubee County, West Point and Columbus) are ‘in jeopardy’ due to the construction problems.

Starkville School District has already postponed the sales of season tickets because of the field turf difficulties. The August 22nd home opener versus Noxubee County, which would have drawn a crowd of over 7,500 according to Dr. Miller, may have to be moved to an alternative venue.

WCBI will continue to stay updated on this story and keep you posted with the latest.