I didn't think I was asleep THAT long, but does everyone else know that Althoff is nearing completion on a new stadium? I went to the Belleville News-Democrat site Sports page looking for some articles on Metro Area teams and found a very short video clip on the finishing touches to the Crusaders new stadium. The idea is proffered that it could be ready to host a home game in two weeks!! Hibernation is a wonderful thing but boy, do you miss a lot of what's going on.
Althoff Stadium
- Thread starter Hinterland
- Start date
Althoff has never played a varsity game on campus and the stadium will soon open. The surface is the same is 9 of the Big 10 schools and this is phase 1. Following will be concessions and bathrooms, then baseball/softball fields.
This investment follows a new STEM lab and performing arts center.
I took my girls to the Althoff campus a couple of years ago - and their only real comparison was to Fremd where they went to school. They were SHOCKED at the facilities - a cinder track with weeds overtaking it surrounding a hard patch of clay with some grass in places.
After 60 years, it's time we had our own stadium.
This investment follows a new STEM lab and performing arts center.
I took my girls to the Althoff campus a couple of years ago - and their only real comparison was to Fremd where they went to school. They were SHOCKED at the facilities - a cinder track with weeds overtaking it surrounding a hard patch of clay with some grass in places.
After 60 years, it's time we had our own stadium.
According to Coach Schott, who gave live stream commentary on the game the other night, it MIGHT open this week. If they can get the fencing up around the field and a few more touches done, they will.
If not, then in October when they play at home again.
Lot's of great memories at Township Stadium though. My first was from 1980 when Coach Schott's wife was my first grade teacher at Queen of Peace. It was the year Althoff won its first state title.
Back then, the whole community showed up for games and my family was no different. Parents sat in one area and kids roamed around safely.
At half time, a group of boys ended of on the field with a Nerf ball and we played "football" - more accurately, Smear the Queer (sorry PC crowd.) Kids from QP all had our cool school jackets but the other grade school kids were out there too.
The following Monday, Mrs. Cooper, our principal, came to our classroom (and the older kids too) and forbade us from doing that again - it made QP look bad ... The next weekend and rest of the season, we all had to watch as the Blessed Sacrament, St. Mary, St. Henry, St. Augustine and the Cathedral kids all played under the lights while we watched. It made me sad.
IN 1986 - which featured many of my future teammates' older brothers - they were highly ranked and had a BRUTAL defense. Late in the season, Granite City (led by the Hogan Twins), broke the East Side winning streak at 40+ games. We played GC the following week and shut them out in front of a overflow crowd. That was when there was seating - equal size - behind both benches. Had to have been 10,000+ at that game.
(That team fell in the semis to Alleman 44-0 after some team extracurriculars in the hotel the night before ... game marred with brawls, one caused with the MOST BRUTAL clean hit I've even seen by Coach Schott's sophomore son, Steven, who later played at Duke. There was a "practice" after that game as soon as the bus got back to Belleville, Some laws may have been broken.)
That loss (during my 7th grade year) made my senior year finals against Alleman that much more important for us to win.
If not, then in October when they play at home again.
Lot's of great memories at Township Stadium though. My first was from 1980 when Coach Schott's wife was my first grade teacher at Queen of Peace. It was the year Althoff won its first state title.
Back then, the whole community showed up for games and my family was no different. Parents sat in one area and kids roamed around safely.
At half time, a group of boys ended of on the field with a Nerf ball and we played "football" - more accurately, Smear the Queer (sorry PC crowd.) Kids from QP all had our cool school jackets but the other grade school kids were out there too.
The following Monday, Mrs. Cooper, our principal, came to our classroom (and the older kids too) and forbade us from doing that again - it made QP look bad ... The next weekend and rest of the season, we all had to watch as the Blessed Sacrament, St. Mary, St. Henry, St. Augustine and the Cathedral kids all played under the lights while we watched. It made me sad.
IN 1986 - which featured many of my future teammates' older brothers - they were highly ranked and had a BRUTAL defense. Late in the season, Granite City (led by the Hogan Twins), broke the East Side winning streak at 40+ games. We played GC the following week and shut them out in front of a overflow crowd. That was when there was seating - equal size - behind both benches. Had to have been 10,000+ at that game.
(That team fell in the semis to Alleman 44-0 after some team extracurriculars in the hotel the night before ... game marred with brawls, one caused with the MOST BRUTAL clean hit I've even seen by Coach Schott's sophomore son, Steven, who later played at Duke. There was a "practice" after that game as soon as the bus got back to Belleville, Some laws may have been broken.)
That loss (during my 7th grade year) made my senior year finals against Alleman that much more important for us to win.
The stadium opens tomorrow night - festivities during the day with the local Fox station covering the pep rally.
My teammmate and former Missouri football player, Vic Faust, who is the Fox evening anchor, will preside over events.
My teammmate and former Missouri football player, Vic Faust, who is the Fox evening anchor, will preside over events.
