Memorial Field

With balloons, marching bands and cheerleaders, Saturday's celebration at John Burroughs High School's Memorial Field in Burbank might have been mistaken for a homecoming game. But the celebration was for something much more important - the long-awaited dedication of the rebuilt athletic facility, a $12.2 million project that had been in planning stages for at least a decade. The new Memorial Field includes a football field, bleachers, lighting and a rubberized track and will be shared by Burbank and Bellarmine-Jefferson high schools for home football games.

As a $12.2 million makeover of Memorial Field at John Burroughs High School nears completion, city leaders and school board members continue debating the possibility of replacing six camphor trees on one end of the field - a move that would cost the district about $21,000. Earlier this month, Burbank Unified School District officials warned that berries from the trees would stain the stadium's artificial-turf surface and the track. Though the stains would not harm the structure, the discoloration would not be covered by any warranty, and district officials said there is little money to spend on extra maintenance.

A year after breaking ground on a $12-million overhaul of Memorial Field, Burbank Unified is preparing to dedicate the athletic facility. District officials have issued an open invitation for the Feb. 25 ribbon-cutting ceremony at Burroughs High School, while also continuing to solicit donations for the ongoing maintenance of the field. Community members who wish to have their name inscribed on one of five donor walls at the site in time for the event must contribute at least $500 by Jan. 30, officials said.

MEMORIAL FIELD — The Burbank High football team was trying to notch its second straight stunning postseason victory in as many weeks. For more than three quarters Friday, it looked as if the Bulldogs were well on their way to accomplishing that monumental feat. However, turnovers and penalties finally caught up to Burbank in the fourth quarter, as West Covina scored 28 unanswered points late in the game to earn a 49-28 CIF Southern Section Southeast Division quarterfinal win at Memorial Field.

BURBANK — Burroughs High football Coach Keith Knoop realized his team would have to make do without a home field for the 2010 season. The coach was told the renovation project to construct a new stadium, running track and football field on the school's Memorial Field site would begin the first week of June. With his team being displaced for a project that would last past the 2010 campaign, Knoop and the Burroughs administrators had to schedule all the Indians' 10 home games on the road.

MEMORIAL FIELD — Fresh off its first CIF Southern Section playoff win since 1954, the Bellermine-Jefferson football team was looking to make a little more history against Linfield Christian. However, the Bell-Jeff offense couldn’t find its rhythm Saturday in a Northeast Division quarterfinal game. Luckily for the Guards, their defense kept them in the game early, but it found itself on the field for long stretches of the second half, as the Lions ended Bell-Jeff’s season with a 26-0 victory at Memorial Field.

A $12.7-million renovation of Memorial Field has ignited a debate about where John Burroughs High School will host its May graduation, with administrators arguing that the facility needs to be protected and students calling for a return to the traditional commencement site. “I definitely want to graduate at Memorial Field,” said senior Austin Ross, 17. “My mother graduated on it, my brother graduated on it and my sister graduated on it. I just feel like it has been a tradition for years at Burroughs.” The high school hosted graduation at its field for decades before a much anticipated overhaul - kicked off in January following years of planning and fundraising - forced officials to move it to the Starlight Bowl last year.

BURBANK — They spent countless hours and large portions of their high school years competing and practicing on the football field and running track at Memorial Field. Many players and coaches from Burroughs High and Burbank have fond memories of toiling on the sometimes muddy, often barren and uneven football venue or trying to deal with outdated track and field facilities and an outdated dirt running surface. But that was the old Memorial Field. Some of those same coaches and players got a chance to view the new state-of-the-art Memorial Field that was unveiled Saturday in a dedication ceremony of the facility on the campus of Burroughs High.

BURROUGHS HIGH — Burroughs High Athletic Director Marty Garrison gets a kick out of looking for former athletes to induct into the school's hall of fame. Scanning through years of information and a large group of deserving individuals, Garrison and others make sure that each year the Burroughs Athletic Hall of Fame is well represented by former Indians standouts. Throughout the years, Garrison said he is continually surprised at the response he gets when he tells a former athlete about his or her induction.

The venue was different, but the spirit was the same as Burbank and Burroughs high schools saluted their 2011 homecoming courts during the most anticipated football game of the year Friday evening. Burbank High School's homecoming king and queen were Austin Pope and Nisa Marckese. The other homecoming court members were Daniel Starkand, Andrea Reyes, Alex Voskanian, Tina Mirzakhanian, Killian Huntley, Annie Rahman, Danny Murphy, Ranah Elzaiat, Alec Agana and Marvette Hardnett. Burroughs High School's homecoming king and queen were Adam Velasco and Tayler Nunez.

BURBANK — They spent countless hours and large portions of their high school years competing and practicing on the football field and running track at Memorial Field. Many players and coaches from Burroughs High and Burbank have fond memories of toiling on the sometimes muddy, often barren and uneven football venue or trying to deal with outdated track and field facilities and an outdated dirt running surface. But that was the old Memorial Field. Some of those same coaches and players got a chance to view the new state-of-the-art Memorial Field that was unveiled Saturday in a dedication ceremony of the facility on the campus of Burroughs High.

With balloons, marching bands and cheerleaders, Saturday's celebration at John Burroughs High School's Memorial Field in Burbank might have been mistaken for a homecoming game. But the celebration was for something much more important - the long-awaited dedication of the rebuilt athletic facility, a $12.2 million project that had been in planning stages for at least a decade. The new Memorial Field includes a football field, bleachers, lighting and a rubberized track and will be shared by Burbank and Bellarmine-Jefferson high schools for home football games.

As a $12.2 million makeover of Memorial Field at John Burroughs High School nears completion, city leaders and school board members continue debating the possibility of replacing six camphor trees on one end of the field - a move that would cost the district about $21,000. Earlier this month, Burbank Unified School District officials warned that berries from the trees would stain the stadium's artificial-turf surface and the track. Though the stains would not harm the structure, the discoloration would not be covered by any warranty, and district officials said there is little money to spend on extra maintenance.

A year after breaking ground on a $12-million overhaul of Memorial Field, Burbank Unified is preparing to dedicate the athletic facility. District officials have issued an open invitation for the Feb. 25 ribbon-cutting ceremony at Burroughs High School, while also continuing to solicit donations for the ongoing maintenance of the field. Community members who wish to have their name inscribed on one of five donor walls at the site in time for the event must contribute at least $500 by Jan. 30, officials said.

Throughout the past year, the local community experienced its share of important, interesting and unfortunate sports stories. Some of the stories touched us, some informed us and others just entertained us. Although many of the stories deserve recognition, a select few stood out among the others. Chosen by the Leader, here is a list of the top 10 sports stories of 2011. 1 Burroughs baseball program rocked by underage drinking scandal : The school was embarrassed and its program was shut down after a situation involving Indians players and an assistant coach came to light.

The solution reached by Burbank Unified administrators and their students on the unpopular decision to hold the Burroughs High School graduation off-site is a lesson even Congress could draw upon. And given the utter dysfunction on Capitol Hill, no, that's not an overstatement. When Burbank Unified officials - leery of having hundreds of excited graduate high-heels and dress shoes mulching a shiny new multi-million-dollar Memorial Field - announced plans to move the ceremony to Starlight Bowl, there was a collective moan from the class of 2012, which had eagerly anticipated returning to home field advantage.

Burroughs High School seniors will graduate from Memorial Field in May after pushing for a return to the traditional site, officials confirmed this week. “'Relieved' is a good word,” said senior Austin Ross. “Everyone I have talked to is really glad it is back at our school.” Special efforts will be made to protect the new track and field, Principal Emilio Urioste said in an email. “The school site council discussed and investigated the matter thoroughly,” Urioste said.

It was an unusual experience attending Friday's annual "Big Game" football contest between cross-town rivals Burroughs High and Burbank. This was the first time the game between the two city teams was played outside of Burbank. Although the venue at Arcadia High is nice enough, it just didn't have the atmosphere of Memorial Field. Because of ongoing renovations to the stadium on the campus at Burroughs High, the Indians and Bulldogs had to find another place in which to stage their annual clash.

The venue was different, but the spirit was the same as Burbank and Burroughs high schools saluted their 2011 homecoming courts during the most anticipated football game of the year Friday evening. Burbank High School's homecoming king and queen were Austin Pope and Nisa Marckese. The other homecoming court members were Daniel Starkand, Andrea Reyes, Alex Voskanian, Tina Mirzakhanian, Killian Huntley, Annie Rahman, Danny Murphy, Ranah Elzaiat, Alec Agana and Marvette Hardnett. Burroughs High School's homecoming king and queen were Adam Velasco and Tayler Nunez.

A $12.7-million renovation of Memorial Field has ignited a debate about where John Burroughs High School will host its May graduation, with administrators arguing that the facility needs to be protected and students calling for a return to the traditional commencement site. “I definitely want to graduate at Memorial Field,” said senior Austin Ross, 17. “My mother graduated on it, my brother graduated on it and my sister graduated on it. I just feel like it has been a tradition for years at Burroughs.” The high school hosted graduation at its field for decades before a much anticipated overhaul - kicked off in January following years of planning and fundraising - forced officials to move it to the Starlight Bowl last year.