Grisham Stadium

Last updated
Grisham Stadium
Grisham Stadium.jpg
Grisham Stadium
Full nameGrisham Stadium, Maddox - Musselwhite Track at Historic Trojan Field
Former namesTrojan Field (1965-1974)
Location Carrollton, Georgia
Owner Carrollton City Schools
OperatorCarrollton City Schools
Capacity 6,500 - 8,000
SurfaceArtificial
Construction
Opened1965 (as Trojan Field)
Renovated2008
Tenants
Carrollton Trojans (GHSA)
(1965-present)
West Georgia Wolves (NCAA D-II)
(1981-2008)
Georgia Storm FC (NPSL)
(2021)

Grisham Stadium, Maddox - Musselwhite Track at Historic Trojan Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Carrollton, Georgia, United States. The stadium is home to the many athletic teams at Carrollton High School and hosts various additional functions for the Carrollton City School District.

Contents

History

Trojan Field

With the construction of a new Carrollton High School in 1963, [N 1] a new athletic stadium was needed adjacent to the school building. The CHS Athletic Booster Club, a unified booster program unique for its time, raised funds to construct a new stadium, which opened on September 3, 1965, and was named Trojan Field on November 5. [1] [2]

Hugh Maddox

Hugh G. Maddox was a track and football coach who in his tenure during the 1950s, was able to secure five consecutive track state titles. He also led the Trojan football team to their first state championship in 1956. In 1971, the Hugh G. Maddox Track in Trojan Field was named in his honor. [3]

Charlie Grisham

Charles Louis "Charlie" Grisham, previously serving under Maddox, was named head coach of the high school football team beginning in 1958. With a career as head coach spanning almost three decades, Grisham led the football team to sixteen regional titles and five additional state champion titles. The stadium was renamed in his honor in 1974. [3] [2] Grisham is the longest serving head football coach at Carrollton to date and has also been inducted into the Georgia State Athletic Hall of Fame.

Craig Musselwhite

In 2021, the Carrollton Board of Education voted to rename the track at Grisham Stadium to Maddox - Musselwhite Track, honoring the then recently retired head coach of track. During his career at the school system, Musselwhite led the track team to five state championships as an assistant coach and eight more as head coach. He also contributed to two consecutive team titles as a student at the school in 1982-1983 and achieved three individual state titles in high jump from his sophomore to senior year. [3]

Other tenants

West Georgia Wolves

The University of West Georgia, having utilized the stadium for its football team since 1981, would continue to do so until the construction of the college's own counterpart in 2009. [4]

Georgia Storm FC

Georgia Storm FC joined the NPSL in 2020 and made its debut season in the 2021 Southeast Conference. Grisham Stadium served as the home field for the Carrollton based team before their move the University of West Georgia soccer field for 2022. [5] [6]

Renovations

2008 overhaul

Grisham Stadium under renovation in 2008. HistoricField.jpg
Grisham Stadium under renovation in 2008.

In 2008, the local school board administration approved a tax-funded plan for renovations of Grisham Stadium along with the development of a new fine arts center and improvements to the nearby gymnasium. The stadium went under extensive renovations, which included a state-of-the-art artificial track and field, complete visitor's locker rooms, and updated concessions along with new home side grandstands and a three-level press box. A new grand entrance was incorporated in 2008-2009 to include a brick memorial walkway. These additions were also linked with the existing "TrojanTron" and Matrix Boards, as well as the home fieldhouse which houses the Trojan Hall of Fame. A 12-foot-tall (3.7 m) bronze Trojan monument also greeted fans upon entering the updated stadium. [7] [8] However, the statue was moved in 2019 to serve as the centerpiece of the newly renovated high school courtyard.

Funding controversy

There was backlash against the school district and its administration at the time due to funding for the facilities falling through. Parents and Carrollton community voices expressed displeasure and concern due to the construction plans exceeding budget and many accused the school system of neglecting the students' academic needs and wasting taxpayer money. There were others in the community that came to defend the district's decision citing the need for Carrollton students' access to athletic facilities. The stadium renovations, having already been completed when cost exceeded limits, forced the school district to delay construction of the arts center and scale down the plans of the gym renovations. [9] [10] [11] [12]

Other renovations

2021

In 2021, the "TrojanTron" scoreboard, having been out of operation for years, was replaced with an entirely LED based screen scoreboard system. The signage on this board and on the press box was also updated to match the newly renamed "Maddox - Musselwhite Track". [13]

2023

The turf field and track were replaced in the spring and summer of 2023 respectively. [14] [15] [16] [17]

Notes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Husky Stadium</span> Stadium at the University of Washington

Husky Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in the northwest United States, located on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. It has been home to the Washington Huskies of the Pac-12 Conference since 1920, hosting their football games.

Villanova Stadium is a 12,500 seat stadium located on the campus of Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veterans Memorial Stadium (Troy University)</span>

Veterans Memorial Stadium at Larry Blakeney Field is a stadium in Troy, Alabama. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the Troy University Trojans. The seating capacity is 30,470. The stadium was originally built in 1950, and has regularly been expanded, renovated and improved since then. The stadium was named in honor of the college students and local residents who gave their lives during World War II. The field received its name from retired head coach Larry Blakeney, the coach with the most wins in Troy history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium</span> Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas

Bill Snyder Family Stadium is a stadium in Manhattan, Kansas. It is used for American football, and is the home field of the Kansas State University Wildcats football team. It is named after the family of head coach Bill Snyder. Over the past 31 seasons – from 1990 through the 2022 season – K-State is 169–51–1 (.767) at home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waldo Stadium</span> Sports stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Waldo Stadium is a stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is primarily used for football, and has been the home of Western Michigan University Broncos football in rudimentary form since 1914, and as a complete stadium since 1939. It currently has a capacity of 30,200 spectators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peden Stadium</span> Football stadium on the campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio

Peden Stadium, also known as Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium since August 2022, is an American football stadium on the campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Situated on the banks of the Hocking River with a seated capacity of 24,000, Peden Stadium has been the home of the Ohio Bobcats Football team since 1929. An example of early 20th Century sports venues, it is the oldest college football venue in the Mid-American Conference, the second oldest in Ohio, and the 29th oldest college stadium in the nation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USC Trojans</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Southern California

The USC Trojans are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy. The program participates in the Pac-12 Conference and has won 136 team national championships, 112 of which are National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national championships. USC's official colors are cardinal and gold. The Trojans have a cross-town rivalry in several sports with UCLA. However, USC's football rivalry with Notre Dame predates the UCLA rivalry by three years. The Notre Dame rivalry stems mainly from the annual football game played between these two universities and is considered the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football. The Trojans also enjoy a rivalry with the Stanford Cardinal. The USC Trojans are considered one of the most successful college athletic programs of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chambersburg Area Senior High School</span> Public high school in Borough of Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States

Chambersburg Area Senior High School (CASHS) is a public high school located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The school serves grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. Students come from Chambersburg and surrounding townships of Hamilton, Greene, Lurgan, Letterkenny and Guilford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrollton High School (Carrollton, Georgia)</span> Public high school in Carrollton, Georgia, United States

Carrollton High School is a public high school in Carrollton, Georgia, United States, part of the Carrollton City School System. The school's mascot is the Trojan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milton Frank Stadium</span> Multi-purpose stadium in Alabama

Milton Frank Stadium is a 12,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Huntsville, Alabama. It was used for Alabama A&M football games before the creation of Louis Crews Stadium. It is currently used mainly for Huntsville City Schools high school and middle school football and soccer games and track meets. Construction began in 1949 and the stadium was opened in 1962 as Huntsville Stadium. It was soon renamed Milton Frank Stadium in honor of Milton Frank, the long-time football coach and athletic director of Huntsville High School and chairman of Huntsville City School Board of Education. In the 1990s, the grass field was replaced with artificial turf and a new track replaced the original asphalt track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bearcat Stadium</span>

Bearcat Stadium is the football stadium of the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats in Maryville, Missouri and is the oldest continuous site for any NCAA Division II school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee High School (Georgia)</span> Public high school in Douglas, Georgia, United States

Coffee High School is a public high school in Douglas, Georgia, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie S Henderson Stadium</span> High school football stadium in Atlanta, Georgia

Eddie S Henderson Stadium is an Atlanta Public School football stadium located in Midtown Atlanta, south of Piedmont Park. The stadium is one of two stadiums owned and managed by the Atlanta Public School (APS) system, the other being Lakewood Stadium. It is the only high school stadium in APS that is located on the campus of a high school. The stadium was used as a training site for athletes during the 1996 Olympic Games, and occasionally hosts public practices for the Atlanta Falcons. Henderson Stadium was designed by Richard Aeck, and is considered a masterpiece of modern engineering expression. For the fall of 2009, Henderson Stadium was closed due to renovation. All games were played at Lakewood Stadium and the Georgia Dome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hare Field</span>

Hare Field is a multi-sport facility located in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. The facility opened in 1965 and is owned by the Hillsboro School District. Hare Field includes a baseball stadium, a football stadium, practice fields, and track and field equipment. The venue hosts high school sports, open track meets, youth sports, and occasionally college sports. The football stadium seats over 5,000 fans, was the first high school field in Oregon with an all-weather field, and was named one of the best venues to watch high school football in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ware County High School</span> School in Waycross, Georgia, United States

Ware County High School is the only public high school in Ware County, Georgia, United States. It is located in the city of Waycross.

The Carrollton City School District is a public school district in Carroll County, Georgia, United States, based in and serving the city of Carrollton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Georgia Wolves</span> Athletic teams representing the University of West Georgia

The West Georgia Wolves are the athletic teams that represent the University of West Georgia, located in Carrollton, Georgia, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Wolves compete as members of the Gulf South Conference for all 13 varsity sports. West Georgia has been a member of the GSC since 1983. On September 8, 2023, West Georgia announced they would be joining NCAA Division I as members of the ASUN Conference, effective July 1, 2024. The football team will join the United Athletic Conference, a football-only partnership between the ASUN and the Western Athletic Conference, at the same time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford High School (Michigan)</span> School in Oxford, Michigan

Oxford High School is a coed public secondary institution located in Oxford, Michigan within the Oxford Community Schools district. The school draws from an area of The Village of Oxford and Oxford Township, as well as portions of Orion Township, Dryden Township, Metamora Township and Addison Township. It is one of the largest districts, geographically, in southeastern lower Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barron Stadium</span>

Barron Stadium is a 6,500-seat football field and track & field stadium in Rome, Georgia. It is home to the Shorter University Hawks and Rome High School Wolves football teams. The facility hosted the NAIA Football National Championship from 2008-13 and the NCCAA Victory Bowl in 2013-14, as well as the NCCAA track championships from 2014-16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Behrman Stadium</span> Stadium in New Orleans

Behrman Stadium is a sports playing facility located in Algiers, New Orleans. It is a 5,000-seat stadium with standing-room only areas in the end zone.

References

  1. ↑ Carrollton City Schools - History Archived 2010-07-03 at the Wayback Machine , Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  2. 1 2 FOSTER, JULIANNE. "New facility pays tribute to CHS Athletic Booster Club". Times-Georgian. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  3. 1 2 3 Foster, Julianne (2021-06-07). "Track to be renamed to honor long-time coach Musselwhite". The City Menus. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  4. ↑ "West Georgia Wolves". 2007-10-07. Archived from the original on 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  5. ↑ "Grisham Stadium". Georgia Storm FC. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  6. ↑ "Georgia Storm Soccer Academy Joins the NPSL for the 2021 Season". National Premier Soccer League. 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  7. ↑ "Carrollton ready to unveil newly renovated Grisham Stadium | Times-Georgian Archives". times-georgian.newsbank.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  8. ↑ Beck, Jimmy (2015-04-29). "Carrollton's Grisham Stadium Recognized as One of The Nation's Best". The City Menus. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  9. ↑ "Cost issues with school SPLOST projects | Times-Georgian Archives". times-georgian.newsbank.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  10. ↑ "Renovations right on schedule|Grisham Stadium will be ready for Trojan's home opener on Sept. 12 | Times-Georgian Archives". times-georgian.newsbank.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  11. ↑ "Stadium bathroom issue explained | Times-Georgian Archives". times-georgian.newsbank.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  12. ↑ "Changes push Grisham Stadium renovation costs to 10 million | Times-Georgian Archives". times-georgian.newsbank.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  13. ↑ ALLEN, STEPHANIE. "Carrollton's 'TrojanTron' placed on PUP list". Times-Georgian. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  14. ↑ "Sports Turf Company to Renovate Carrollton High School's Grisham Stadium and Maddox-Musselwhite Track". blog.sportsturf.net. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  15. ↑ MINISH, DAN. "Grisham Stadium field and track to be renovated in $1.4 million project". Times-Georgian. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  16. ↑ SKINNER, MATT (2023-07-19). "Grisham Stadium, Maddox-Musselwhite Track renovations finished". Times-Georgian. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  17. ↑ "Sports Turf Debuts Newly Renovated Grisham Stadium and Maddox-Musselwhite Track at Carrollton High School". The City Menus. 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-07-27.

33°33′51″N85°04′54″W / 33.564262°N 85.081723°W / 33.564262; -85.081723

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.