Football Senior: Let Us Play One Game at Home

A high school senior marks his year by monumental and remember-for-life events: prom, SATs, choosing a college, graduation, Turkey Day football and homecoming.

But for senior football and field hockey players, homecoming just won't be the same as both teams will see home games moved away from Dedham High School during construction of a new athletic complex and the new Avery School.

"I was immediately disappointed that we wouldn't be allowed to play our entire year at home," said Carmen DelloIacono III, a senior tight end.

The Dedham football team will play Saturday afternoons at Westwood High School, and the field hockey squad will ahead to Noble and Greenough to play home contests.

"I didn't think it be good for our team to play all our games, technically, away," DelloIacono said in a phone interview. "I was disappointed I wouldn't get to play my senior year at home."

DelloIacono, son of the selectman with the same namesake, spoke at a school committee meeting last week, and told school officials that he, his seniors and the field hockey team want a home game this season.

"If we could get at least one, it is better than the situation is now," he said.

But, it doesn't look like that will work out in the athletes' favor.

Tom Ryan, chairman of the school committee, said contractors expect to start work on the new turf field in late-September or early-October.

"They want to have access to the field for grading," Ryan said in a phone interview. "They would like to have it graded out this fall, so it has time to settle over several months, over the winter, so when they install the turf they have a nice, flat field."

DelloIacono said he thought construction wouldn't start until November, thus allowing for at least one home game.

"I was under the impression that construction began mid-November. It gave me a little bit of hope," DelloIacono said.

But, when the district discussed the project prior to the town vote in January, officials said it would start in the fall and that fields would close and move, according to Ryan.

"It's always been out there that this year's fall and spring games would take place at other locations," he said.

The project, originally slated to begin Sept. 1, experienced a delay of one month, adding to the confusion of start dates and field availability.

Fixing the grade of the field could mean a change of venue for practice as well, but that decision is down the road, and will depend on the course of action the contractor takes, Ryan said.

"It's a fluid situation right now. We have to work with the contractor," Ryan said. "We want to get the field done as soon as possible so we can have it for the next school year."

Attempts to interview a member of the field hockey team and athletic director Michael Plansky were not successful.

While DelloIacono asked for one home game this season, Ryan said the bleachers are condemned, work crews will soon tear down the visitor's bleachers, the bathrooms are closed, and the plumbing is shut off to both the concession stand and the bathrooms.

"The site isn't suitable for a home game," Ryan said. "Alternative locations that have been proposed, Westwood High School, and Nobles for field hockey are going to be great alternates for the one season."

The school district will not pay a fee to either host, Ryan said.

"Westwood High has been extremely cooperative and generous in allowing us the use of the facility. The same goes for Nobles. They've been very cooperative in setting up field hockey games," the chairman said.

Field construction will adversely affect spring sports as well. The district will find new homes for lacrosse games, and track practice and meets, Ryan said.

For the players, it boils down to pride for the team and the school, DelloIacono said.

While Ryan said he understands how seniors feel about their final year of games moving to other locations, there is a bigger issue at play.

"We have to temper our sentimental feelings in the name of safety, and we are moving forward on a $25 million project," he said.