INDIANAPOLIS — Friday is all about Operation Football at Indiana high schools. However, IPS' Crispus Attucks High School hasn't been able to play on its home turf for more than a decade. Now, it's getting some much-needed renovations.
"Every high school team, they got a homecoming, and we have to travel somewhere else to do our homecoming," student athlete Darrell Taylor said.
Taylor and the Tigers have to be the away team every practice and game.
"It's hard to practice on a condemned field, and we have to worry about our safety and others' safety," Taylor said.
"Since I've been athletic director, we haven't hosted a track meet ever," Chris Hawkins said.
With overgrown trees and condemned stands, the 62-year-old field is showing its age.
"It's kind of heartbreaking, but we've got to get what we get," Taylor said.
Taylor is finally getting a new place to play.
"Our students deserve better, and today is the day we give it to them," IPS Superintendent Dr. Aleesia Johnson said Friday.
Alumni and current students and staff broke ground on the new field at the school Friday. Sept. 13.
The $6 million project will include synthetic turf, an eight-lane track and brand-new grandstands. The field will also pivot 90 degrees.
"The field is going to look nice. It's going to look nice," Taylor said of the project, which is set to be completed in 2025. "Realize we're going to get a field my senior year and be the first person to play on it since decades, it's amazing."
It will finally mean a level playing field and a home team advantage for the Tigers.
"We just want to be on par with other high schools, other townships and other organizations, have the same opportunities that other schools and other districts have," Hawkins said.
Shortridge and George Washington high schools are also getting field renovations. Arsenal Tech will see new grandstands.
The upgrades include a $250,000 contribution from the Indianapolis Colts through the NFL Grassroots Program for a new synthetic turf field. Funding for this project is being paid for through bonds.