SMC Panthers still dream of dedicated football field

By Tyler Antle and Nathan Watson

PITTSBURG, Kan — Staff and athletes at St. Mary’s Colgan High School say improvements to the school’s athletic training facilities have renewed their interest to have a dedicated football stadium.

While Colgan has improved their baseball and softball facilities, the football program still shares Hutchinson Field with Pittsburg High School. Colgan pays a fee to play there, and while the larger stadium accommodates big home crowds, it still has its drawbacks. 

Pittsburg High’s large “P” logo can be seen in the middle of the field, as can purple end zones. The field’s appearance causes many Colgan players to feel like the stadium isn’t theirs, as the purple coloring creates a contrast to Colgan’s blue uniforms. 

Colgan senior running back Klayton Adamson said that while he has gotten used to the weird feeling, his wish for Colgan’s own field still remains.

Former players have shared similar views.

“It was definitely a little awkward” playing on Hutchinson Field, said former Colgan quarterback and all-state sprinter Tucker Harrell. “I mean, during our games we had to play on a field with a large purple P in the middle of it.”

Interest for the school’s own football field stretches beyond the players. Coaching staff of multiple sports have also said they want to see it happen.

“If I could have anything built, it would be our own football field,” said head girls basketball coach Abby Farabi.

However, school officials say there are limitations. Head football coach Sean Seematter said the space limitations on campus make it difficult to build a whole stadium without purchasing more property.

“Our campus property limits where facilities can be placed,” Seematter said.

A new football stadium could also mean a new track for the school, fixing several problems with the current one.

The straight parts measure 125 meters, making the track 450 meters long in total, exceeding the measurements of a traditional track by 50 meters. In addition, the curves are much sharper than normal, causing sprinting on curves to be much more difficult and different from what athletes experience in competition.

“I hated it in practice,” Harrell said. “It was impossible to run the curves at full speed, and the straights felt like they took forever.”

However, despite the Colgan community’s desire for their own stadium, no plans have been made for change any time soon.