From the Bench: Indian Moments at Wheeling Ending and Man with BHS Ties Plays (Positive) Role In It
By Jeff Toquinto on May 26, 2024 from Sports Blog
There is no guarantee that Bridgeport High School will be playing for a Class AAA state football championship in 2024. If the Indians do make it there, they are guaranteed to be playing the title game in Charleston – not Wheeling.
As many of you already know, Wheeling Island has been good to the Bridgeport football program when it comes to championship games. Until losing the bid to Charleston to host in 2024, Wheeling held the championship games since 1994. Bridgeport was there in 2000, 2001,
2013, 2014, 2015, and 2019. The only loss came in 2001.
2013, 2014, 2015, and 2019. The only loss came in 2001.
In the Indians’ storied history, half of their 10 state championships have been earned on that field. Now, if they earn the opportunity to get back to a state title game, it will not require a trip to the panhandle.
Instead, for the first time in 29 years, if Bridgeport can make it back to a title game they will require a trip to Charleston. It is not completely unfamiliar territory. You only have to rewind to 1986 to find the Tribe winning a state title in the Capital City and another one in 1979. The last title before the move to Wheeling came in 1988, which was the state title game played in Morgantown.
How long ago was it? It used to simply be called Laidley Field. Today, it is the University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field.
Typically, I would be apprehensive at this move. I attended other championship football games there, and some postseason games, and 
was less than impressed. The venue was a perfect setting, but decades ago there was just a feeling no one really cared if the fans or the media was there. I never got that feeling in Wheeling.
was less than impressed. The venue was a perfect setting, but decades ago there was just a feeling no one really cared if the fans or the media was there. I never got that feeling in Wheeling.
The reason for the lack of apprehension decades later is simple. One person very intimate with the knowledge of high school sports and with how to host a statewide event – who also had deep, deep ties to the BHS football program – is one of the players involved in the move.
The person – Tim Brady. You remember Tim?
For years, he was the color analyst for Travis Jones and the Indians Football Network with dynamic chemistry. Brady also headed up the Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitors Bureau in the 2010s and has a deep understanding of expectations when it comes to state championship football and visitors coming to an area.
Brady, who in full disclosure is a person I consider an incredibly good friend, talked with me about Charleston bidding on getting the championships back and what was being done to bring facilities up to par. Why talk to Brady? For those that do not know, he is the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO. He was, and is, heavily involved in the return of the state championship football games to Charleston.
The good news is that, as I anticipated, the move is being made with millions in improvements.
“There is new management at Laidley Field that has emphasized improving the facilities there. The Kanawha County Board of Education, who owns the facility, has been incredibly supportive and they knew the upgrades needed to make it happen.
“With what I see going on I can easily say I am comfortable that we have the football championships for the next three years,” Brady continued. “It’s up to everyone involved here to make sure we show we were worthy of this and have a strong case to have it return to Charleston the next time it is up for bid.”
There will likely be competition. This past year, Charleston did more than end Wheeling’s run. They also got past Bluefield’s Mitchell
Stadium, and a combined bid from Morgantown’s Milan Puskar Stadium and Huntington’s Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Stadium, and a combined bid from Morgantown’s Milan Puskar Stadium and Huntington’s Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
“I was happy for Wheeling to host it and I think the WVSSAC was as well. With it out to bid this year, I saw the opportunity to host it,” said Brady.
Brady said one thing that made him more comfortable was the commitment to improvements to the facility. And they are currently under way.
According to a recent article in MetroNews, the locker rooms are in the midst of a complete makeover including the installation of new lockers and floors getting work, roofs being repaired, new doors being installed along with new frames to go with them.
The same article said the UC press box at Laidley and concession area will see work next month. The total work comes to $2.875 million.
There is more, according to the article. Areas under the bleachers will be resealed, paving in areas at the field are anticipated to begin mid-June, and the facility’s main parking lot will see repairs.
Brady pointed out that areas are seeing power washing and there has been the recent upgrade to internet. He said high-speed internet has been installed around the ticket areas that will be a big boost, especially for the mobile ticketing the WVSSAC prefers at their events.
“Understand the improvements being made are not just for the benefit of the championships. They are for the students, families, and all of Kanawha County as it is a vast community facility, and everyone will benefit from this. It’s similar to when a project may be done for the football program at Wayne Jamison Field; everything from the soccer program to the Hotsinpiller 5K benefits as well,” Brady said.
As for the repairs, parking, at least since the announcement was made, was one of the biggest concerns I have heard for those who have been to Laidley Field no matter what event or whether Bridgeport is in it or not. And more on the availability front as opposed to the condition of existing parking.
Brady said availability will not be a problem. He said it is much improved for those who have not been there for a while.
“Along with the current parking, there is a state employee parking lot across the street from Laidley Field. In collaboration with the state, we have access to those lots,” said Brady. “Anyone staying in our downtown, the downtown hotels will have shuttle service for those who would rather leave their vehicles there,” said Brady. “We will do what we can to assure the parking landscape is a positive experience.”
Brady said none of this would have happened without the partnership of the Kanawha County Board of Education. In particular, he pointed 
to work done by Deputy Superintendent Dr. Paula Potter.
to work done by Deputy Superintendent Dr. Paula Potter.
“She’s been our point person on this, but the entire board and the employees have been behind this,” said Brady.
Brady knows from the tourism point of view it is critical to have a good face at the event along with the other needed intangibles. He also knows no matter how well the group plans, there will be something unforeseen that will need addressed.
“That’s the benefit of a multi-year contract,” said Brady. “You know going in something will get missed or forgotten in that first year. It’s the nature of things when dealing with something of this magnitude. It’s hard to fix a problem when you haven’t identified it, but once we know, it will be fixed in year two.”
Brady said they would love to host this event beyond three years. He pointed to Charleton hosting basketball, volleyball, track and field, and baseball for years.
“If we do an excellent job, and having the relationships we fostered with the WVSSAC, we feel good that we can get this past this first three-year run. I will say if that doesn’t happen, there is great collaboration in the tourism industry in West Virginia that I would extend my hand and gladly work with the next hosts,” said Brady. “Right now, we just want to be the best host we can be for the next three years.”
One thing Brady would not be disappointed in seeing take place in the next three years is for Bridgeport to bring its football team to Charleston for a Class AAA title game. For years, as noted above, he was intimately involved with BHS and part of a three-man team with Jones and Ryan Nicewarner.
“When we won this bid, I was hopeful during our tenure I would get to welcome my friends from Bridgeport,” said Brady. “Today, whether there are people here for the state baseball tournament or track meet or anything else, it’s exciting to see old friends from Bridgeport. So, yes, I would hope the Indians find a way to roll their way to Charleston.”
Editor's Note: Top photo, by Joey Signorelli, shows Anthony Bonamico making a game-saving deflection on the final play of Bridgeport's 2013 14-13 Class AA title game win over Wayne in Wheeling. Second photo shows Tim Brady working the sidelines for MetroNews during the same game. Third photo is the Laidley Field logo that will once again be associated with the state championship. Bottom photo shows Brady, far right, with Travis Jones, left, and Ryan Nicewarner when the trio were handling the radio calls for the Indians.
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