Hancock to Host First On-Campus Football Home Games this Fall
The wait for the Allan Hancock College football team to establish a true home-field advantage will finally end in a months. College administrators, head football coach Kris Dutra, and athletic boosters announced on Thursday plans are under way to host the first ever on-campus football games on the college's Santa Maria campus during the 2015 season.
"Countless dominoes needed to fall into place at the right time to make this happen," said Kim Ensing, Hancock's athletic director. "Thanks to the Hancock College Boosters, Superintendent Kevin Walthers, Vice President of Facilities Felix Hernandez Jr., and numerous other people, the dream of playing football games on campus is coming true."
Since the college relocated to its current location nearly 50 years ago, the Hancock football team has never played a home game on the Santa Maria campus. The Bulldogs will play all five of their home football games during the 2015 schedule at Hancock. They played their home games prior to this season nearly 10 miles from campus at Righetti High School, and before that at Santa Maria High School.
The games will take place in the college's $2.3 million state-of-the-art track facility that opened January 2014. The project was made possible with funding from Measure I, which the community approved in 2006. The City of Santa Maria also contributed funds for the facility.
In order to host games on campus, the college will have bleachers installed on the west side of the track in mid-August. The bleachers will seat nearly 1,300 people. A press box to accommodate members of the media, two coaches' boxes, play-by-play staff, as well as other support staff will go on the east side of the track. A scoreboard donated by Arroyo Grande High School will be installed on the northeast side of the facility.
"The bleachers, press box and scoreboard are temporary. The Boosters have generously pledged their support to raise funds for a new state-of-the-art video scoreboard. The college and other fundraising efforts will help fund other permanent features down the road," added Ensing.
Playing home games on campus will eliminate the need to bus Hancock players and their equipment across town, as well as allow the Bulldogs to establish a true home field advantage.
"Before this, every game we played was an away game," said head coach Kris Dutra who is entering his 14th season as head coach. "Now, our players and fans will experience a more collegiate game of football. We have a true home field and with that comes a tremendous sense of pride. My players and coaches are extremely happy, as well as grateful for the support of the administration and boosters who made this possible."
The football team kicks off official practice on Thursday, August 13. The squad will host a scrimmage on its home field on Saturday, Aug. 22. Hancock opens the 2015 season at home Saturday, September 5, against Santa Ana. The opener, as well as the other home games, will start at 2 p.m.
Guests are encouraged to use parking lots 8 and 9 which are located near the track and accessible from South College Drive on game days. Parking for home games will be free.