Photo courtesy of Richie Wade

East Ridge High School football coach Tim James is inviting all former Pioneer football players back for a special night at Raymond James Stadium/Shanks Field. 

James, who has followed in his father’s footsteps coaching at East Ridge, has earmarked the Brainerd game on Sept. 8 as a homecoming of sorts for anyone who has donned the Orange and White.

“We would love to have as many classes as possible represented,” he said. “We will recognize you by decade (you played) at halftime.”

James said he is planning a tailgate party on the site of the future field house at 6 p.m.

The football game will be the occasion of officially dedicating the sports complex at East Ridge High School in honor of Mac Franklin and Ed Woodham.

Franklin is a former football coach and principal at East Ridge. Woodham coached the ERHS wrestling team to State Championships in 1967 and 1972.

The City of East Ridge assumed ownership of the school’s baseball and softball fields, the practice soccer field, the football stadium and the tennis courts, earlier this year. As such, city staff has begun refurbishing the once neglected athletic facilities. 

The East Ridge Alumni and Supporters Association, formed after the City of East Ridge condemned Raymond James Stadium as  being unsafe, has raised tens of thousands of dollars to build a field house and other facilities at the stadium.

On Thursday morning, Bobby Hudgens, President of the East Ridge Alumni and Supporters Association, said that Hamilton County Commissioner Tim Boyd will be on hand at halftime of the game to present a $50,000 check to the group which will be earmarked for construction of new restrooms at the stadium. Hudgens said that Boyd’s check will put the group’s fundraising effort well over $100,000. He said that the group has “a ways to go” in raising the money needed to build a new field house for Raymond James Stadium.