Buffington Says BMS Football Locker Room Renovation Project Ahead of Schedule; Help Still Needed
By Chris Johnson on March 01, 2024
When Bridgeport Middle School football coach Robbie Buffington announced plans to renovate the Braves’ locker room, he was optimistic that he would receive support from the community.
With the project up and running, the support he has received has exceeded all expectations.
“It’s moving full speed ahead,” Buffington said. “The support we are getting from both the high school and my administration as well as the community has been excellent.”
The area being renovated is the building between the weight room and the new bathrooms at Wayne Jamison Field. The BMS football team uses the back part of the building for their locker room area as do the high school team’s opponents. In the spring, the high school girls track team uses the area. In the fall, the high school girls soccer team uses the front area.
Replacing some of the original shelving and other fixtures, a new storage area, a new coaches office and new lockers are just part of the project.
More on the building and the renovation plans can be read HERE
“We are ahead of schedule with what we had hoped to get done before the start of track season,” Buffington said. “But, eventually there will be a deadline for when we have to have the funds to purchase the lockers and right now that is the No. 1 priority and getting that assistance from the community to help with this drive, financially, to purchase the lockers.”
The shell of the new downstairs storage area and coaches office is nearly complete. Original plans had for those two area to be on the left side of the room but they have been constructed on the right side.
“It’s just a matter of the contractors making some common sense decisions that I overlooked,” Buffington said. “We flipped some things and didn’t have to move the water line. It might not seem like a lot but in the grand scheme of things it is. Or going with a metal ceiling. Little things that are not only making this facility really nice but making it so it lasts.”
Buffington said there is plenty of gratitude for to go around for the work done so far and the progress being made.
“I have to give a big shoutout to Bridgeport Youth Football and their president, Aaron Horne. I didn’t intend to get him as involved as he is but he has jumped in head first in helping me out with his contacts, with his businesses.
“I am obviously very thankful to those who have financially donated to get the ball rolling. Those donations have allowed this project to hit the ground running.”
As far as those responsible for the actual physical work being done, Buffington said there are plenty to thank there as well.
“Dillon Carder and his dumpster rental company was the first person to contact me,” he said. “He was able to haul away all of our demolition work.
“City Window and Construction and Beau Henderson who has taken over the lead in the interior construction being done. His father and son crew of Chris and Alex are tremendously skilled at their work. This project isn’t at the stage it is without City Window and Construction.
“Central Supply has donated blocks and other materials to do some repair work to the interior block. We thank Sean Snider for taking the lead with helping us out.
“Jon Calvert has been pitching in with his abilities with various aspects of the project.
“Both Cardinal Electric and Gerald Frederick have donated or will be donating both labor and materials to ensure an upgrade to all electrical and lighting aspects of the project. Zach from Cardinal Electric has been doing the electrical work and doing a great job.
“I also need to give a special thanks to Coach Vernon Louk, who is the project foreman, and Tom Mellott who has assisted with the project in various ways.
“Lastly, Doug Harvey and RDL Concrete are donating materials for the slabs the new lockers will be mounted on.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for those interested in helping the project out financially. It can be accessed HERE
Editor's Note: Top and bottom photos show work being done for the BMS football locker room renovation project. Middle photo is of Buffington.
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