Published: August 23, 2008 12:09 am            

Portage unveiling a new scoreboard

When spectators walk into Portage Stadium for the Mustangs football home opener on Sept. 5 against Blacklick Valley, they may have to pinch themselves to make sure they are in the right place.

Former Portage player Tyler Trimbath spearheaded a major project at Portage, one which didn’t cost the school district anything, and which came about at no cost to taxpayers.

The result of the fundraiser is a state-of-the-art video screen scoreboard, 43 feet long by 38 feet high.

With installation fees, the cost of the project came in at $115,000.

“Ten months ago, we found out we needed a new scoreboard,” Trimbath said. “We wanted to make it unique.”

Trimbath, who played for Mustangs coach Gary Gouse from 2001-04 at free safety and split end, is a member of the school board. He began thinking outside the box when it came to the fundraising project for the scoreboard.

“The school district gave me permission to do this totally separate,” Trimbath said. “It’s all 100 percent (funded by) advertisers. There was zero cost to the district.”

After talking with Gouse, Trimbath went home and drew a scoreboard with boxes containing advertisements on it.

“I got together with (assistant football coach and former Mustang player) Jeremy Burkett and we decided what we were going to do,” Trimbath said. “We sold ads to different businesses. The largest ad was bought by Gamesa and each ad went for a certain dollar amount. I came up with a total cost.

“What makes this project different is that it will have a 12x12 digital screen that will play full video. We wanted to be able to raise money and that way the football boosters would be able to sell the ads on the full-video screen. To see something like this you would have to go to a college. When it’s finally done, there won’t be anything like it.”

Gouse is appreciative of Trimbath’s undertaking.

“I am deeply indebted to the efforts and what he did for us, for the team and for the community,” Gouse said. “It’s been an unbelievable task. How he has the connections to pull this together is amazing.”

Trimbath said he felt that he was giving something back to the football program.

“The reason I’m doing this is that I respect these kids so much because I was a past player and I respect Coach Gouse. I would do anything for him,” Trimbath said. “I remember playing, I used to get so excited over new things whatever it was – if the press box would be painted or whatever. The stands would be filled for games.

“To see your picture up on a digital screen, it’s like playing in the pros. You just don’t have that luxury.

“It was a long process, but it didn’t cost the taxpayers any money. It was paid for by advertising. We’re still selling advertising if anyone wants to get in on this.”

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.