County Approves Funding For New Hillcrest Football Scoreboards, Video System

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday voted to award $63,972 in District 3 Community Development funds to go toward the purchase of new programmable scoreboards and a video system for the Hillcrest High School football stadium.

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As Patch previously reported, the overall cost for the project will be $121,977, which will also be supplemented with a contribution from Buffalo Rock — the soft drink provider for Hillcrest High School.

Specifically, the funds will purchase a new 15' x 20' digital video scoreboard for the north endzone, in addition to a new 7'x 18' auxiliary scoreboard in the south endzone.

The County Commission has been a noted benefactor of TCSS football programs, including $1.4 million approved last September for the new turf surface at Hillcrest, as Patch previously reported.

"The bottom line is, it's very involved, with new scoreboards on each end," District 3 Commissioner Mark Nelson said on Wednesday. "Hillcrest is getting a new synthetic surface this year — it's their turn this year — County High got it last year, so this will enhance that."

Nelson then explained that the scoreboard can be used for soccer, track or other events apart from high school football, such as ad sales to help the school and athletic programs generate additional revenue.

"It's going to really enhance the experience there," Nelson said. "But in our community, when you do things, you do them at the high school stadium, whether it's club football or the color run from the elementary school. Between the turf and this, I think it's going to give us a place our community can come."

Hillcrest football coach Jamie Mitchell led the Patriots to an 11-3 campaign in his first year in 2021 and told Patch the wide-range of recent improvements and upgrades were badly overdue.

"When I got there, there were things that were dated and needed desperate attention," he said. "Our community has just been fantastic, our school board has been fantastic and we're slowly getting ourselves back up to a level that I think will really help our program."

Mitchell then echoed Nelson in mentioning what the new scoreboards and video system will mean, not just for the football program, but the entire surrounding community.

"It's all about trying to make the best game day experience you can for kids, fans and future Patriots when they come to a game," he said. "They will have the opportunity when they're in fourth or fifth grade to see that. It's an attention getter and I think it will help us grow our program."

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