Posted by Dan Jensen
The football stadium was recently been renamed. It had previously been District Stadium since all the high schools in the district used it as a home field. It is now Veterans Memorial Stadium.
What do y'all think of the name? Well, it had quite a dinky name and I guess it is a popular choice these days in honor of our fallen warriors but I never really cared for such. Memorial Stadium at the University of Texas was renamed to Darrell K. Royal-Memorial Stadium. Just call it Darrell Royal Stadium in honor of the school's greatest coach. Clear Creek long ago named its gymnasium George Carlisle Field House and that is certainly appropriate.
Naming rights are the thing now. Corporations give a lot of money and in return for the good advertising. Individuals give generously to a college project and it is named after them.
Why didn't someone do that at Clear Creek? Who, you ask? Dub Kelly reportedly made millions in the building business after his baseball coaching days and Jay Buhner had big contracts totaling about $37 million playing major league baseball. Did board member Ralph Parr think to solicit them? Any other board member? Doubtful.
Hey, how about Lynn Davis? Another big money man who probably loves Clear Creek sports more that the two above. Lynn Davis Stadium. Now that does have quite a good ring, doesn't it? I think I will have Ralph Parr contact him.
Naming things in that area has always been a problem. Clear Lake has never been clear and neither has that muddy creek. So why go to all the trouble to name a football stadium. We got along fine when we just called it the football field. And we used to play basketball in the gym.
But if we do name it after someone or something, then I guess it ought to be some big favorite football player or coach - like the Carlisle name. Have we ever had such in the football program? I have no problem naming something after Veterans but I do not see much veteran influence in and around that area - no military bases or hospitals unless you count the old Ellington Field base. How about after some astronaut that lived in the area?
Of course, Lynn Davis would be good. I could claim to be kin to him and maybe get into a game free sometime.
Posted by: Ed Davis | November 19, 2007 at 05:39 PM
I thought they would at least name it for one of the athletic directors or maybe one of the one princpals.
I didn't ever think it would be Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Posted by: debbie cooper | December 05, 2007 at 05:56 PM
The school board never contacts me about anything but here are some of my thoughts.
Why not name it after a former Clear Creek football star? This would be complicated somewhat since Clear Lake and Clear Brook also use the stadium as a home field but I would want it named after a Clear Creek former star.
Another thing about naming things after people. Once upon a time that was generally not done for those still living.
Here is my candidate. Someone who unfortunately is deceased and someone who played on the field in its very first year. The person is Tom Goodman, a very fine all round athlete whose best sport was football.
The school board ought to start consulting with me on such things.
Posted by: Dan Jensen | December 06, 2007 at 10:45 AM
When you talk about big money guys you should include, Bill McGuire who lead CC to a second place finsh in the State Basketball Tourney my Junior year. He received the largest golden parachute in corporate history from United Health Care of 1.3 Billion dollars a couple of years ago. He could buy CC a new football, baseball, and basketball facilities, and still not be hurting.
Posted by: Terry Mathis | December 06, 2007 at 05:19 PM