Photo by: Jennifer Compston-Strough
Three Bellaire Elementary students spend time together Friday night at the season’s opening home game. From left: fourth-grader Jolena, fifth-grader Gracie and third-grader Evelyn.
Bringing Nelson Field back to life after 90 years means more than just being able to play football on Friday nights – it’s about providing opportunities for future generations of Bellaire High School students.
That’s how Joey Galloway, a 1990 graduate who was a standout player for the Big Reds, turned NFL wide receiver and now works as a college football commentator for ESPN, sees it too. He was there Friday when Bellaire hosted its first game under new LED lighting, part of a $500,000 stadium renovation project.
“It’s great for these kids to have the opportunity to host a playoff game,” said Galloway, who watched from the sidelines. “At the same time, it’s sad that the tradition is being lost. But it’s great to be here and watch a game on a Friday night.”
Galloway said this will likely be his only chance to see the Big Reds play this season, as his work at ESPN will prevent him from visiting the area once the college season begins.
“I think the improvements have been incredible,” Galloway said of the changes at the stadium. “The concession stand, the locker room, the artificial turf field. I mean, it’s incredible what they’ve put into this program – and great for these young kids. …
“When we played here, the grass didn’t look like this. The practice field wasn’t grass. We played on dirt, rocks and a lot of other stuff. It’s great to see how far this program has come.”
Several alumni, students and fans agreed with Galloway’s assessment, including that it’s hard when traditions change. Ed Good, a 1977 graduate who played football, said he was a little reluctant to see the change.
“There’s just something special about Saturday afternoon football games at Nelson Field,” Good said.
However, he added that he sees the benefits of lighting the field. He said the lighting will increase player safety and noted that the changes will be beneficial for both the community and schools.
“I’ll be coming to the games on Friday nights,” he added with grudging humor. “…It’s just a weird feeling being here on a Friday night and seeing the lights reflecting off their helmets.”
Good attended the game against Buckeye Local – which Bellaire won 38-6 – with 1974 graduates Dan Angus and Jack Cera. Angus and Good are both members of the school’s alumni association, and Cera was a star athlete who later became a state legislator.
When his friends pointed out that Cera had set a 20-year school record with a 97-yard interception return for a touchdown, Cera said he understood some of the reasoning behind the lighting on the field. He said the interception came on a Saturday afternoon in early September against then-St. John Central High School, and he noted that it felt like it was 31 degrees on the field that day. He joked that he “passed out in the end zone” as his teammates mobbed him in celebration.
With temperatures now even higher at the start of the high school football season in mid- to late August, Cera said it is safer for the students involved to be able to play on other nights on Fridays.
Like Good, Cera looked back positively on Saturday afternoon’s games, saying some of the fiercest rivalries would draw 5,000 spectators to the stands.
And although Angus also has fond memories of the Saturday afternoon games, he had only positive things to say about the updates.
“I think it looks great,” Angus said. “The whole facility is fabulous. When we were growing up, we heard these rumors that it would never be lit.”
He referred to a community “myth” that the purchase agreement for the stadium site included a stipulation that lights could never be installed there. The three men stressed that Bellaire “could not have a better steward than Derrick McAfee,” who investigated the purchase agreement and found that the “myth” was simply not true.
“Community folklore,” McAfee said earlier this year.
Good noted that organizations other than the football team will benefit from the improvements on the field, noting in particular that the marching band did an “amazing job” playing the national anthem to open the evening.
Cera speculated that hosting games on Friday nights could attract larger crowds, which in turn would be good for surrounding businesses.
Bill Schmitt, city councilor and owner/operator of the Holistic Cloud, also made this point while watching the game.
“This is very positive for the community,” Schmitt said. “Business was incredibly good today, and that will continue after the game for places like Gulla’s and McDonald’s.”
Schmitt said he was born in Bellaire and moved away as a child but returned in 11th and 12th grades of high school, so he attended many Saturday games at Nelson Field. He believes the benefits of the improvements are difficult to quantify.
“I think it means more games. I think it means more excitement,” he said. “It’s just another aspect of our football games. The kids can look forward to knowing that they can play under the lights on Friday night and that there will be thousands of people watching them under the lights here at home.”
“I think it’s inspiration and motivation for our team to play harder. It’s inspiration to give the crowd a win. It draws their attention.”
Shirley Wallace grilled hot dogs at the concession stand in support of the band. The Bellaire native and BHS graduate said she believes the crowd was “a lot bigger” Friday and that it will likely be the same Friday night.
Vince Gianangeli has roots in Bellaire but did not attend Bellaire High.
“I was in St. John, but I’m rooting for Bellaire,” he said.
Gianangeli won the primary for a seat on the Belmont County Board of Commissioners. The Republican is unopposed in the November general election and is expected to take office in January, unseating fellow Republican Josh Meyer. On Friday, Gianangeli had the honor of raising the American flag at the start of the game as part of the Legion Riders.
But it was a fifth-grader named Gracie who perhaps best summed up people’s feelings about the new lighting at Nelson Field.
“I love them,” she said. “They’re cool.”
