FARMINGTON – After a week of unusually intense heat, Friday evening cooled down and became fall-like just in time for the Mt. Blue Cougar’s first football game of the year.
Mt. Blue would go on to win the game against Cony by a score of 20 to 6.
The event began with a ceremony to rededicate the newly renovated field to Ray Caldwell.
“This was a man who spent most of his life either at the school teaching or on the field coaching. We felt it was really important that he be honored tonight,” Norman Thombs said after the ceremony while he watched the game from the sidelines.
The Mt. Blue football field, which in the past was named Caldwell Field, underwent renovations with the rest of the campus in 2012-13. Former players came forward to suggest that the field be rededicated to Caldwell and the school board unanimously voted to do so in August.
Many of Caldwell’s retired players attended the ceremony to show support to their former coach. Caldwell served as freshman coach at Farmington High School in 1968, coaching for a single year before the consolidation of MSAD 9 created Mt. Blue High School. He would become the varsity coach in 1972, going on to coach for 20 years before retiring in 1992.
“Coach Caldwell had 18 winning seasons, 8 consecutive playoff seasons, won 3 state championships and a Pine Tree Conference Championship,” Thombs said during the ceremony. “It is safe to say that Coach Caldwell left his mark on more than just one football team during his time here.”
As it should be!!!
Great to see every one out to support the local athletes but as far as I knew
That field was considered The Mt. Blue Competition Field, not the Mt Blue football field?
It is also used by at least 3 other teams, all of which should get to use it equally as there home field.
Never quite understood why the field would be called anything else after the move up the hill? Well done to all who worked at getting it right.
It’s back the way it should have always been. Now if we could do the same with a dedication to the High School gymnasium to beloved coach Jim Bessey…..
Amen. I agree with Bob and Bill and danita..
Wish I could have been at the game and dedication! Well-deserved honor by a very dedicated coach and mentor.