University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lights Added To Football Practice Field
10/30/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Lights Added To Football Practice Field
?Lighting the football practice fields has been a goal of ours for some time." Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini said. "It finally has become a reality with the gracious contribution through the Joe P. Park Endowment and the leadership of our strong support group in Memphis. This is a very important facility improvement needed to advance our football program at Southern Miss.?
During the months of November and December, it becomes dark during practice time (3:30 - 5:30). In the past, it has been necessary for the team to pack up during the middle of practice and move to the lighted field at M.M. Roberts Stadium. This obviously causes extra wear on the stadium field turf. Plus it is a disadvantage to move 150 players and support personnel, equipment and supplies to a new location. Also, during preseason practices (two-a-days) it gives the team an option to practice at night to avoid the summer heat.
"We are really appreciative to the Memphis group for providing the funding for the great addition to our practice fields," Southern Miss Head Football Coach Jeff Bower said. "With the addition of lights, we can now stay on one field after it turns dark. Before, we had to start at the practice fields and then finish the last half of practice at the game stadium, so now we can have the light to finish at the same field. It also will help us deal with the heat during preseason practices. We can practice at night when things are a bit cooler, because of having the lights."
Football Practice Field Lights
Pole Mounting Height:70 ft.; Pole wind speed rating:90 mph; No. of poles: Six (6) galvanized steel. 1,500-watt metal halide Manufacturer: Hubbell Lighting, Inc. of Christensburg, Virginia; Funding Amount: $100,000; Funding provided by: Joe P. Park Endowment, Set up by Gary Parr, Cliff Doyle, Gene Gipson and Larry Pister of Memphis; Others that assisted in the project South Mississippi Electric Power Association, Doleac Electric and USM Physical Plant.
