Behrman Faces Time Crunch
Schools concerned by lack of repairs

June 11, 2007
by Pierce W. Huff
The Times Picayune

Behrman Stadium has been a source of pride and frustration for West Bank high school football teams and fans since it opened nearly 70 years ago.

In the early 1990s, Behrman was so worn from overuse teams complained about the decrepit condition. But in 1997, the City of New Orleans spent $1.6 million on renovations.

But just when Behrman was in the midst of a comeback, Hurricane Katrina hit. The fierce winds readjusted the stadium's light towers, and its field was beaten up as it was used as a camp site for hurricane-relief workers in Algiers.

Now Behrman is in repair limbo again.

Officials at Karr and O.Perry Walker high schools submitted their playing dates three months ago based on assurances from NORD officials the stadium would be ready. And officials with the schools were under the assumption, based on information provided by NORD, the repairs would have been started by now.

But as of Monday, there was no repair work at Behrman.

The stadium's turf is uneven and damaged, and the light towers have missing and burned-out bulbs. But the stadium's bleachers and rubberized track are in good shape, making it good enough for use by the New Orleans Recreation Department.

NORD officials say the repairs to Behrman are coming, but the Algiers Charter Schools which use the stadium are starting to get antsy.

NORD Director Larry Barabino Jr. said the LSU grounds crew has volunteered to assist the city's Parks and Parkway Division to refurbish the field.

There will not be any new grass planted, but Barabino said it will take one day for workers to grade and level the field, which will make it playable for the upcoming football season, and the work is scheduled to start this weekend.

Barabino said NORD has started the bid process to replace the light bulbs. Barabino said there is no timeline as to when the light bulbs will be replaced, but he is confident the work will be finished in time for the upcoming season.

NORD Athletic Coordinator Ray Goodwill also is confident that the repairs at Behrman will be made in time for the upcoming season. Goodwill said the light repairs are just "minor work."

Goodwill said the field isn't that badly damaged.

We just have some holes at the field that need to be filled, but there's not a lot," he said. "We played two football programs there last year with the 10s-and-11s, and the 12s-and-13s for NORD."

But it's the waiting process that has made it tough for the schools which use Behrman.

Karr has four home games scheduled at Behrman, the first one against fellow Algiers team Walker on Oct. 5.

"They told me we're going to be playing there, so I think we're going to be playing there," Karr Coach Jabbar Juluke said.

Walker has five home games scheduled for Behrman, starting with its Aug. 31 opener against Clark.

"Obviously, we're very concerned, but we have all the confidence in NORD and in the process," said Brian Gibson, the athletic director of the Algiers Charter Schools. "I've had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Barabino, and he's been very good about supplying information to us."