Lloyd Memorial football coach Kyle Niederman compared it to wanting that dessert so badly, but you know you can’t have it.
Yet.
Soon the Juggernauts and the community will be able to enjoy the new football field at the high school. Completion of the project is expected to be in June.
A new synthetic turf field with a new track surrounding it accompanied with stadium bleachers highlight the $3.3 million dollar project on Cecil Dees Field.
“The field itself is in and complete. Things will continue over the next several weeks with bleacher installation, concrete work, asphalt work, fencing. Just some more little pieces lingering out there,” Erlanger-Elsmere Independent Schools Superintendent Chad Molley said.
While spring practice had to be held either on the baseball field outfield, parking lot or gym, Niederman and the football team are hopeful to get some work in on the football filed during June prior to the dead period that runs June 25-July 9.
“We take pride in being adaptable and being flexible,” Niederman said.
That mindset showed last season as the Juggernauts were one of the turnaround stories of the season. After a 3-7 campaign in 2021, Lloyd went 10-4 in 2022 and made the state semifinals for the first time in 19 years. They were also awarded the Northern Kentucky Officials Association sportsmanship of the year award last year.
“Kids have done a great job of embracing what we need to do to be successful in life. They’ve responded very well to that. They’re doing a great job of packing up, staying focused and it’s a really neat progression,” Niederman said.
Now they return quite a bit with just eight seniors departed as they enter a new class and district, moving up to 3A in the 5th District with Bourbon County, Lexington Catholic and Pendleton County.
“As many as we have coming back, they’re still 15, 16, 17-year-old kids. We’re focusing on getting better, showing up and doing the right things in the classroom. Being coachable is what we talk about all the time,” Niederman said. “We feel like we’ve turned a corner on what people say and think about our program. We really feel like we’re trending positively in that direction. Moving up to a new class is exciting and also makes you a little nervous. But we’re looking forward to new challenges and opponents. We look forward to playing different schools in different stadiums.”
All throughout the run last season, the team constantly harped on the community having their backs. Now the community will get the chance to not only continue to see the winning product on the field, but also enjoy what has transpired over the last six months.
“It’s an investment in our school, kids and community. We’re a community based school system and this is one of the hubs of the facility that is used by the high school, middle school and community organizations. We’re investing in all those things. It’s not just football, but the band can practice on it. It gives the pee-wee football teams a chance to practice and play there without any overuse. It presents more opportunity and communities that we serve to host some events. Graduation will be here next year,” Molley said.
The Juggernauts will play their first official game on their new turf August 18 when they host Newport Central Catholic.