If you used your imagination, at first glance, they almost looked like sailors conducting a scrub down on America's lead ship, the supercarrier USS Nimitz.
But no, they were just "civvies," and they were laboring hard in Marietta High's weight room during a very warm Friday morning on the Davis Avenue campus.
"The scene's impressive," said first-year MHS head football coach Bob Springer. "Quinton and Dad Coffield, Nick Spurr, Trey Littleton, and Mike Hogan were on their hands and knees giving the floor a final scrub."
Springer paused.
"Jan (Springer's wife) and I cleaned mirrors and windows while Troy - the head guy on the custodial staff at the school - and his crew also scrubbed," Springer continued. "Rick Coley was walking around, carefully removing any glue remaining on the new flooring - and I've got to say this, without Rick, there would be no finished product."
At about 10 a.m. Friday, the work was completed, and the new flooring was in top-top shape for putting the weights in the room the following day (Saturday morning).
"Hey, the custodial crew helped us while also meeting their own deadlines," Springer said. "We really appreciate that."
Springer added that while the work on the flooring activity was taking place, "John Lehman had sent a truck to York, Pa., to pick up the ISO rubber coated safety weights."
"You know, of course, they were paid for thanks to our well-advertised Futrell, Gearhart, Leach, and Baker fundraiser and the contribution from John and Toni Gillard, plus the Wharff Foundation gift," the coach said.
Futrell, Gearhart, Leach, and Baker sounds almost like a musical group, like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, doesn't it? Well, the thing is, these guys - Justin Futrell, Mitchel Gearhart, Tanner Leach, and Deeder Baker - are all Marietta Tiger football players, and they really do rock in the mind of Springer.
"They raised over $3,000," Springer said.
On Saturday morning, all the weights were loaded into the newly-scrubbed room in preparation for the Grand Opening, which is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. today.
Springer said that "there is a variety of weights (size), and usage is proper for both boys and girls."
"We additionally have five non-free weight machines which were purchased with our lady athletes in mind," the coach continued. "We also purchased a large number of lower weight dumbbells for their use."
All the donors are expected to be at the Grand Opening, and they can see for themselves all the hard work that went into the "totally private-money funded project" at Marietta High.
"The place shines, and we want our donors to be proud of their involvemnt," said Springer, whose Tiger football team kicked off its first day of practice at 8 a.m. this morning, starting a very eventful orange and black day.
Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor and can be reached at 376-5441 or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com
