School has started for the fall semester but the construction of Shepard Stadium remains uncompleted forcing the football team to play on the road for all of their games until the stadium is ready.
The new stadium is scheduled for completion in December however, the team will be able to start playing in October, according to Project Deputy Director Ed Cadena.
Delays in the $8.9 million stadium, which will be ready for action Oct. 8 have been caused by the Division of the State Architect (DSA).
“It’s a project to make the stadium ABA compliant,” said Cadena. “but we also focused a lot of the field to the visitor side seating.”
The stadium was supposed to be ready for the first Pierce football home game on Sept. 10, according to Bob Lofrano, the Pierce Athletic Director.
Due to the stadium unavailability, the team has had to practice and play at Moorpark, which makes things a little complicated. The team has to share locker-rooms and traveling has not been easy.
“It’s under a burden, but sometimes adversity brings out who you really are.” said Lofrano. “It’s not the best situation, so, you just make the best of it.”
The situation has had little affect on the players, most of whom seem unfazed by the drama.
The team will play two of their five home games at other locations before moving in to the new Shepard Stadium Oct. 8.
The team has now played three away games, two of which should have been played at home, and lost all of them.
“The thing is also about the home field advantage,” said Pierce College running back Donovan Shirley. “It got all messed up.”
“We haven’t had the opportunity to play on an actual field,” said Elliot Reyes, starting defensive tackle. “It’s dry, with holes (referring to the field at Moorpark they are currently practicing on) and we’ve had twice the amount of injuries than last year.”
The team has two more games before their first home game of the season.
The DSA caused there to be six weeks of delay, according to Lofrano.
“Everyone always wants to blame the working man,” said assistant coach Dave Ochoa. “But it’s middle management that messed up.”
Article Updated by: Kevin Reynolds.
