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Campaign aims to raise $3M for Rayen Stadium
By Denise Dick
youngstowN
East High School football players Rayfield Bell and Malik Minor say a home stadium would allow the team to build a fan base to cheer them on.
“Instead of our fans’ having to travel to another stadium to see us play, they could come to our games at our stadium,” said Bell, 16, a junior strong safety and quarterback for the Panthers.
The cheering and more spectators will help motivate the players, he said.
Sophomore Minor, 16, running back and middle linebacker, agreed.
“We’ll have more of a fan base when we’re home, and it will be better for safety,” he said.
A campaign announced Wednesday and co-chaired by the Rev. Dr. Lewis Macklin II and Jim Tressel, former head football coach at Youngstown State and Ohio State universities, seeks to raise $3 million to renovate Rayen Stadium. The goal is to play football at Rayen in September 2012.
Superintendent Connie Hathorn said his first priority is academics, but athletics, too, play a part in building the whole child.
“Children in the Youngstown City Schools deserve a stadium,” he said.
Since 1993, high-school football players haven’t had a home stadium, traveling throughout the Mahoning Valley and beyond to play and scheduling home games at YSU.
But scheduling at YSU has become more difficult as the university’s women’s soccer team uses the field Friday nights, and YSU football uses it Saturdays. Mooney and Ursuline also play home games at YSU.
Tressel, who attended Wednesday’s news conference by telephone, likened the stadium renovation to a come-from-behind victory on the field.
“Some of the greatest games I remember were comebacks,” he said.
“It is time for a comeback for Rayen Stadium,” the coach said. “I’m excited to be involved.”
Of the $3 million goal, $1.2 million already has been raised. The city school board allocated $1 million from money generated through the sale of bonds as part of the Ohio School Facilities Commission project to rebuild school buildings. That money can be used only for construction.
The Rayen Foundation has pledged $200,000 for naming rights to the stadium.
“Rayen Stadium occupies a special place in the rich history of athletics in Youngstown,” said Charles Rudibaugh, a Rayen trustee. “It was the birthplace of the penalty flag.”
Dwight “Dike” Beede, longtime YSU football coach, originated the idea of using the flags in 1941 to signal a penalty on the field.
“Before, it was a whistle, but people couldn’t always hear the whistle,” Rudibaugh said.
Beede’s wife stitched the first four foul flags. YSU used to play at Rayen, and several famous athletes, including Hall of Famer Roger Staubach, played there during its history.
“We’re excited about seeing Rayen Stadium back in activity next fall,” Rudibaugh said.