Lacavera Field debuts Friday night
Months of anticipation will culminate this Friday night when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish senior football team opens Lacavera Field with an exhibition game at 7 p.m. against Waterloo’s Laurel Heights.
“We were out last (Wednesday) night for a practice at 7 p.m. and we turned the lights on. The kids were just loving it and it’s surreal,” Notre Dame head coach Tim Bisci said. “People look at the old field where you couldn’t see a guy’s knees from one side of the track to the other and here we are with this. It couldn’t have come out any better.”
Bisci believes Laurel Heights finished in the middle of the pack in their league last season.
“The way that it all came about is they are all Laurier guys. Ralph Spoltore, their offensive coordinator, I played with him at Laurier and his son is the quarterback. And Josh Alexander was at Laurier when I was coaching in the late 1990s and he is the head coach. They called and asked if we were interested in playing and I said, ‘Here’s the stipulation. We play on Friday night and we play at Notre Dame.’ They asked why and I told them they would see when they get here.”
Notre Dame principal Andrew Boon has been eagerly anticipating the moment like everyone at the school.
“It is the first time in our history we are hosting a Friday Night Lights football game,” he said. “For us being part of the community, we are excited that Lacavera Field is now a reality after two years of planning and executing.”
Two weeks later, the school will hold its 75th reunion on Sept. 30 and the Irish will host the Saint Paul Patriots at 4 p.m. followed by anniversary celebrations in the school.
“We are thrilled that the changes at our school are impacting the kids and giving not just football players but our entire school community a chance to enjoy this first-rate facility,” Boon said.
The students have been enjoying the new field.
“Phys-ed classes are using it and the kids are so excited. I came out here at lunchtime and some kids were having a sprinting contest. It was hilarious.”
Many of the school’s spring sports teams have already approached Boon about using the facility for night events and other activities.
“Parents want to be able to come out and watch their kids.”
Finishing touches continue to be done on the faculty including: two entrances gates, including one that will have a Lacavera Field sign over an archway; upgrades to the portables used by the football team; paving of the back lot; additional bleachers, and, signage to recognize donors.
“Two years ago, we put out a little video and showed what our field was like and kind of told the community that any amount it would like to contribute to it will go towards making this dream possible,” Boon said. “Our school board has obviously been fantastic but we as a school did pretty well. We raised about $800,000.”
The new facility includes the turf field, a track, a new scoreboard, new stands and the back tennis court has been redone into an outdoor basketball court and two pickle ball courts.
Donations are still being accepted for the facility. They can be made at https://ncdsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/4/73/false/true?fundDestination=Notre%20Dame%20College%20Turf%20Fund (https://ncdsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/4/73/false/true?fundDestination=Notre%20Dame%20College%20Turf%20Fund