Allan Hancock College (AHC) football players will enjoy their first home field advantage during the 2015 season, announced the college’s athletics department from the new field on June 17. The Allan Hancock College Bulldogs have played home games on Ernest Righetti and Santa Maria high schools’ fields for decades, but through the collaboration of the college and fundraising programs, the community college will have a full track and field ready for guests by the beginning of the fall semester.
“Countless dominoes needed to fall into place at the right time to make this happen,” said Athletic Director Kim Ensing in a statement released by the college. “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.”
The field still requires bleacher seating installation, which will be completed in August, as well as a press box, coaches’ boxes, and an area for play-by-play staff. A scoreboard was also donated by Arroyo Grande High School.
“The bleachers, press box, and scoreboard are temporary,” Ensing said. “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.”
The Bulldogs will host five games during the 2015 season beginning with the season opener on Sept. 5 against Santa Ana. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. The home team begins official practice on Aug. 13. The squad will host a scrimmage on the field on Aug. 22. Guests are encouraged to use parking lots 8 and 9 at Hancock.
The press event was followed by a scholarship signing for linebacker Willi Iribarren, a Lompoc High School graduate who will sign with Humboldt State in Division II and led the Bulldogs in tackles last year.
More information is available through Hancock’s athletics department at hancockcollege.edu or 922-6966.
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 2, 2015.