May 09, 2006
By Pat Litowitz
New Castle News
So long, New Castle. Hello, Ellwood City?
The New Castle Area School Board rejected the request of a city-based, semi-pro football team to play its home games at Taggart Stadium. In a letter sent to the New Castle Knights last week, district solicitor Charles Sapienza advised the team that the school board would not enter into a contract with the club.
“No specific reasons were given, although the letter did inform me that all facts had been considered,” Knights’ general manager Dave Cochenour wrote in an e-mail to the New Castle News.
Cochenour and Knights head coach Rick Sumner had sought to address the board about the matter during its work session yesterday. However, before the meeting started, Sapienza met with the Knights’ representatives and asked them not to attend.
“I was disappointed that we did not have the opportunity to address the concerns of the board and to help this great partnership with the school board, the city of New Castle and Lawrence County succeed in New Castle,” Cochenour said.
As the team tried to gain a foothold in Taggart Stadium, a personality conflict developed between team owner, the Rev. David Gailbreath, and the school board and district officials. Sapienza said the board set those issues aside and made its decision on the information provided.
“There’s no hard feelings,” he said. “We’re professionals here.”
After leaving the Croton school where the meetings are conducted, Cochenour and Sumner headed south to Ellwood City to meet with school board members and distinct officials. The team petitioned the district to use Helling Stadium as its home field.
The early response is not promising.
Superintendent Frank Aloi said the board would consider the Knights’ request but has concerns. He said there are about 60 school events, not just football, scheduled for the stadium.
Board member LeRoy Cortez said he would hate to commit to a group outside the Ellwood school community.
“All school-sponsored activities have priority,” he said. “Whatever is left over is not much.”
An answer from Ellwood City officials is expected by Thursday.
As a last resort, the team is prepared to open its season at a facility across from Flaherty Field in New Castle’s Croton area.
“We are going to negotiate to expand that (site) for game play and to upgrade the facilities to support that,” Cochenour said. “This is still in the planning stages.
“But make no mistake we will play somewhere.”
Despite the setbacks, the Knights announced that they have been accepted as members of the North American Football League’s Grass Roots Division. The announcement makes the Knights eligible for post-season play in 2006.
Officials also announced that the team’s name would be changed next season to the Lawrence County Knights.
(Reporter MaryAlice Meli contributed to this report.)
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