By By Chandler Myers
A large tiled cougar head put together like a puzzle with Escambia Academy chiseled below hits your eyes as soon as you step in to the field house.
This is just one of the several new renovations made to the newly remodeled building next to the EA football field.
Renovations include new bathrooms, lockers, office, paneling and the tile that adds a sleek new look.
Head coach Heath Gibson said the renovations are days away from being completed and he is excited with all the new changes.
Gibson’s office has also been rebuilt and will have new furniture for the coach when the season rolls around.
Escambia Academy board chairman Chris Kirk said he decided to do remodel the field house for three reasons.
"I decided to do it for three reasons; one because coach Gibson has done so much for my kids and everyone else's kids that we wanted to give back to him because that's his office and he is our coach,” Kirk said. Second, the place has been in such disrepair for years and it just needed repairs so it could be a cleaner and neater environment for the kids and used as a recruiting tool for the school. Thirdly, I wanted to give back to my alma mater."
Kirk said he did not do the renovations on his own and thanked parents for the effort they put in as well. He added that everyone was happy to pitch in and show support for the idea.
EA has also added new sod to their football field and it has taken over what was large dirt spot for most of the summer.
Gibson said he is happy with the outcome of the sod and looks forward to other teams seeing the field and field house.
“The sod has really given the whole facility a good look and it has grown thick and will be a great field for the players to play on,” Gibson said. “I am just excited that we get to show off this stuff when teams come to play us.”
The Cougars open their season with rival Sparta on Friday at 7 p.m. at Bachelor Field.