Bidding a fond Farewell

Bidding a fond farewell

By JEFF TULLY-Burbank Leader
Published: Wednesday, November 12, 2008

It has served as a field of dreams for many football players and coaches for six decades. It has also been a place where more than a few nightmares were realized.Since the 1940s, Memorial Field on the campus of Burroughs High has served as the home venue for the Indians, as well as Burbank High. In recent years, even Bellarmine-Jefferson has called its cozy confines home.Every November, the field is also the site of the ongoing cross-town rivalry contest between the two schools.

The “Big Game’ traditionally draws huge crowds and it’s often the biggest game of the year.When the Indians and Bulldogs players step onto the field for Friday’s rivalry game, they will be the last group to take part in a Big Game contest at the old facility.Following the season, the field is scheduled to be torn down and a new venue erected in its place.It will mark the beginning of a new era, and unfortunately, the end of another.

The Big Game has provided countless thrilling memories and magical moments. Over the years, athletes have played in driving rainstorms, had to battle fierce winds and had to contend with ankle-deep mud.Once, after days of heavy rain, a helicopter was called in to hover low over the field to dry it out.Although the field has seen its share of glory, the old lady has not held up well over the decades. The stadium stands are weathered, the press box is outdated and the field itself is in bad shape.However, before the old girl is laid to rest, she deserves one last salute — a salute to the Big Games over the last 60 years.

It started in 1949, when All-American Paul Cemeron and Pere LiPera — who would later become the Burbank coach — led the Bulldogs to a 12-7 win against Burroughs, which had been converted from a junior high.The Indians got revenge the next year, however, as Louis Elias waded through “Lake Memorial” on a 41-yard carry for the game’s only score, as the Indians won, 6-0.Burroughs was also victorious in 1959, defeating a depleted Burbank squad, 19-0. The Bulldogs had to play with mostly junior varsity players after 19 varsity athletes were suspended for taking part in an egging incident on the Burroughs campus.In one of the biggest upsets of the series, the Indians came into the 1967 game undefeated. However, 173 yards passing by Dale Cirscione and an 85-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Randy Ivie — who took so long running the ball back the fans could have visited the snack stand and still made it back in time — paced Burbank to a 20-19 win.

With a Foothill League championship on the line, Kenny Walker scored two touchdowns and quarterback Leo Orange piloted the Burbank offense in a 14-0 win against the Indians in the 1972 contest.Burroughs got its revenge in the next three games, however, shutting out Burbank three straight years — 6-0 in 1973, 36-0 in 1974 and 40-0 in 1975.George Florez emerged as the star of the 1976 game, as he kicked a 41-yard field goal as time ran out to give Burbank a 17-14 win.Playing for their fourth consecutive Foothill League title, the Indians got a scare in 1980 and had to work for a 25-17 victory. Burroughs was led by the successful running back duo of Edgar Penaranda and Rick Williams.The Indians were driving to win the 1991 game with less than two minutes remaining when Bulldogs Mike Lyneis intercepted a pass at his own 15-yard line to seal a 14-12 win for Burbank.

Things got ugly in the 1995 game when the contest was halted with 3:21 remaining after the two teams were involved in a brawl. Paced by quarterback J.K. Scott and receiver Glenn Adriatico, Burroughs ended up winning the contest, 21-0.In the 50th-year anniversary game in 1998, Burroughs quarterback Joe Kroells passed for 280 yards and four touchdowns and receiver Kyle Cremarosa amassed 223 yards and three touchdowns to lift the Indians to a 26-21 win.

With Burroughs winning the 10 previous Big Games, quarterback Mike McDonald hooked up with Jesse Ayers on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 3:28 to play for the game-winning score in the 2003 game, giving Burbank a 24-18 win.Perhaps more of that Big Game magic will be on display in Friday’s contest, as the locals take part in the 60th meeting.In its 60 years, Memorial Field has definitely seen its share of great moments.

Although it’s time to say good-bye to the facility that has served its teams well for decades, the memories that have been created over the years will always remain.