Crew is outstanding in their field
Staff reporter
We all take it for granted.
The football field at Warrior Stadium always looks the same during the season with its manicured lawn and perfect, white markings.
Little does the average person know the amount of work required for the field to look the way it does.
Dick Maggard, USD #408 transportation director, has been marking the field for the past 15 years. With assistance from retired custodian Bob Good and maintenance worker Quinn Trapp, the crew was busy this past week preparing the field.
Down to an exact science, the experienced crew used string and stakes to mark the field. The field markings then were mowed shorter than the rest of the field.
With string and stakes in place, the lines were spray painted with latex field marking paint.
It's not just a few lines and team boxes on the sidelines. When this group marks the field, they really mark the field.
A yard line is marked every five yards, hash marks are made down the center, short lines every yard, and numbers are painted every 10 yards. Players' boxes also are striped.
This isn't a one-time deal. The crew does this before every home football game. How long does it take? Oh, about 12 hours each time.
The paint washes and wears off during use which requires the continual maintenance.
About 60 gallons of paint was used the first time and then 48 gallons for each time after.
Times have changed during Maggard's tenure.
"It used to be a lot more simple but now we've added more markings and numbers," Maggard said.
The equipment also has improved during the years but the paint and CO-2 canisters are still on a walk-behind, four-wheeled dolly.
While Maggard walks and paints, Good and Trapp keep the string tight so Maggard has a straight line to follow.
"This is a fun job," Good said with all sincerity. "It's a great way to spend my retirement."
Compliments from visitors are common.
"It's great when referees come in and say our field looks better than college fields," Good said.
Hot, cold, or wet weather does not deter the group. The field gets painted one way or the other.
"We don't paint it when there are back-to-back games (middle school game on Thursday night and high school game on Friday)," Maggard said. Otherwise, the paint goes on after every home JV football game on Monday night and varsity game on Friday.
Maintenance crews also keep the grass manicured during the season which is another reason to repaint before each game.
In addition to the main field, the crew also paints two practice fields.
"Those aren't as extensive because we just paint yard lines and hash marks," Maggard said.
The practice fields are only painted three times during the season.
Stripes also are provided on an open area at MHS for the band to use for practice.
"We take a lot of pride in what we do," Maggard said. And it shows.
