FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 9, 2005

CONTACT: Daniel P. Finney, (515) 271-2833, daniel.finney@drake.edu

D.M. ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL TO PLAY HOME FOOTBALL GAMES AT NEWLY RENOVATED DRAKE STADIUM IN PACT BETWEEN SCHOOLS

Des Moines Roosevelt High School’s football team will finally have a home field advantage.

In a pact between neighborhood schools, Roosevelt will play its home games at the newly renovated Drake Stadium starting next fall. The move gives the Roughriders a home stadium for the first time since 1966 and continues Drake University’s commitment to giving back to its neighbors and advancing a lifelong partnership with Des Moines public schools.

“Roosevelt is our neighborhood high school and Drake University values its neighbors,” said Drake President David Maxwell. “This is an example of two great institutions working together to benefit their community. We couldn’t be more pleased to have the Roosevelt football team return to its home at Drake Stadium.”

Roosevelt played its home football games at Drake Stadium in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, before Drake took down its stadium lights in 1967. As part of the ongoing renovation of the Stadium, lights have returned the sports facility at 2719 Forest Ave.

“When we started working on the stadium project more than five years ago, it was always our intent that the stadium will serve the community as well as Drake," said Drake Athletic Director Dave Blank. "We are excited to provide Roosevelt, our community neighbor, a great venue to host their football games.”

Of the five Des Moines city high schools, only Roosevelt does not have a neighborhood stadium at which to play home games. Roosevelt of late has been playing all “home” games at Hutchens Stadium, which is adjacent to Lincoln High School. Next fall, the Roughriders will play on a state-of-the-art FieldTurf artificial surface inside a Division I football stadium.

“This will be a homecoming for Roosevelt,” said Roosevelt Principal Anita Micich, who holds two degrees from Drake. “It will mean so much to our students and fans to have our home field at Drake Stadium again. We’re very excited about this renewed partnership with Drake.”

Drake and Des Moines’ schools connections run deeper than athletics. Roosevelt’s orchestra, for example, performs on the Jordan Stage at Sheslow Auditorium on Drake’s campus. Des Moines schools and Drake partner on dozens of academic programs for all levels, including Head Start, college prep programs and other outreach.

“This is another example of the exciting partnership between Des Moines schools and Drake University,” said Eric Witherspoon, Des Moines schools superintendent. “The relationship between these two educational institutions has long-term benefits for students, faculty, staff and the community as a whole and will continue to do so for years to come.”

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