Click here to hear comments from the May 9 press conference
For the second time since the early 1970s, high school football is returning to Bosse Field.
The site of over 500 high school football games from 1915-1971, Bosse Field will host an October high school football game between Reitz Memorial High School and Castle High School. Reitz Memorial, who played in the only other high school football game at Bosse Field since 1971 in 2011, will be the home team for the rivalry matchup.
“It should be a big night,” Evansville Otters Owner Bill Bussing said. “As many of you remember, this was the site of high school football for years until most of the teams got their own stadium.”
The game, which is slated to be played Oct. 18, is part of Reitz Memorial’s “100-Year Series.” The series will involve several Reitz Memorial sports teams competing against local rivals throughout the year.
Reitz Memorial Athletic Director Chad Dockery said they want to celebrate not only the traditions of Reitz Memorial High School and Castle High School but also football in the Evansville community.
“You look back at the history of the teams that played here. The history of this place,” Dockery said. “To be able to bring that back and share it with the community should be a really special night. And we’re looking forward to this place being completely packed and getting to celebrate not just with the two schools but with the rich history here in our community.”
Reitz Memorial Head Coach John Hurley said the game Reitz Memorial played at Bosse Field in 2011 “was a great experience for the kids.” He said it showed the history behind Evansville football being played at Bosse Field.
The October game will feature unique uniforms. The Tigers will wear green in a nod to their history. The press release from Reitz Memorial says both teams will wear special retro jerseys.
“As far as this year, we kind of thought about it being a part of our Founders Series and ties back to Notre Dame,” Hurley said. “We’re going to tie in especially with some green jerseys and things like that.”
Dockery said in the past, the Brothers of Holy Cross handed down uniforms to be worn by Reitz Memorial. A priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross founded the University of Notre Dame in the 1840s.
Dockery was appreciative of Bussing, the Evansville Otters and the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation for allowing the series to take place. The EVSC owns and maintains the field.
The game will be played in the third oldest professional baseball stadium in the country, Bussing said. With baseball season being so short, they like to use the field for other purposes. Bussing thinks it is important to use the site for a high school football game since high school football games were played at Bosse Field for so long.
“We just want to be able to use it for the entire community. Not just for baseball,” Bussing said.
Tickets are available for purchase on both the Reitz Memorial and Castle High School athletics websites. The Reitz Memorial High School athletics website can be reached at https://reitzmemorialathletics.com/.
