Blue Devils lifting trash, not weights
By Michael Orr

Pile of trash and construction debris that was picked up by the players themselves. Photo by Michael Orr

The Dreher Blue Devils football team opened spring practice on May 5, practicing on- site for the first time since spring practice last season. Coach Bill Bacon and his team previously spent their time practicing at Memorial Stadium as construction on the new Dreher high school took place. Just weeks ago it appeared the team would again be kept from their own practice field as trash and construction debris littered the field and deep divots left the ground uneven. With the football storage shed destroyed and left in the middle of the field, the area looked strangely abandoned next to the gleaming new building in front of it.

Understandably, Coach Bacon feared for the safety of his players in trying to use a field in such conditions. "The football team has been taking time away from weightlifting to clean the rocks, bricks, glass, nails, screws and pipes off of the field," said Bacon, explaining how his team would have been at a competitive disadvantage if the field was not cleared.

The blocking sled that has not been used in several years due to construction constraints.

As of May 6, the field is not in ideal condition. The team is able to practice, but it cannot maximize time or space. For example, due to the reduced area for practice, the team cannot use a blocking sled, practice offensive formations or zone defenses due to the lack of accurate field width. They must crowd all of the different position- specific workouts, trying not to interfere with one another.

Ignoring momentarily the size issues, the field is also barely covered by a thin layer of grass. Rather than use sod to replace the grass ruined by construction over the past year, the field was instead sprayed by a process called hydroseeding. Seeds are spread out over the field but are laid topically. When mid- April rains poured down on Columbia, the seeds were simply washed away and hardly any new grass grew on the field.

According to the athletic department, proposals have been submitted to the Richland One school district for sodding that would take place in late July. The hope would be that the field would be ready for full- time fall practice beginning in early August. In the meantime, Coach Bacon worries his team will not be able to take advantage of the new South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) rule allowing for fully padded practices in the spring because of the current field conditions.

Photos by Michael Orr Bacon's old football storage shed that was destroyed during construction and left in the middle of the field. Photo by Morgen Orr Dreher's Rashad Benbow runs defensive pursuit drills at Spring practice as Coach Bill Bacon looks on.