NNHS Boys Vow to Keep "Homemade" Record Board

The new Newton North is supposed to have state-of-the-art everything, which is one reason it is the most expensive high school in state history. But if the Newton North boys track team has its way, the new school will inherit a much-beloved piece of the old school -- a homemade placard that lists track and field school records (boys only) and has served as inspiration for a generation of Tigers.

The board, which Coach Blackburn built in his garage six years ago, graces the wall of the SOA (Simulated Outdoor Area) in the old Newton North. Before and after every indoor practice, members of the boys team stare at the board and imagine having their names up there, recorded in bright orange paint by Coach Blackburn's still steady hand. In fact, the affection for the old board is so great that when team captains heard that a new "official" record board was planned for the new school, they wrote letters to the School Committee and local papers protesting the decision and asking that the old board be installed in the new facility.

On the one hand, it's easy to sympathize with the athletes, since the old record board obviously has sentimental meaning for them. But some say it's time for the old board to go. As one former athlete (who preferred to remain anonymous) said, "It would be cool to have an actual, you know, real record board. I think some of the times up there are suspect, anyway. I mean, there are no FAT times up there, and there isn't even an outdoor mile time listed... it just says 'Chris Barnicle' and no time... what's up with that?"

A spokesperson for the school building committee denied that there was any plan to move the old board, and dismissed the idea of keeping it as a "prank" by graduating seniors who had nothing better to do with the last two months of their high school careers. When asked about a new board, this official was vague. "We'll have to see about that. It's not as simple as transferring information from one place to another. The first thing is, we'd have to verify that all these records are accurate. We'd also have to add the girls records, of course. I'm not sure the city wants another override just to pay for a luxury like that."

I finally got a chance to talk to Coach Blackburn himself, who was philosophical about all the controversy swirling around a project he had intended as a simple gift to his team: "It's probably time for the old board to go. I was looking up at it the other day and realized that some kids' names are up there two or three times. That's not right. If one kid ends up with several records, that means other kids have been deprived of the opportunity. We should try to spread the records around a little."

One thing seems clear: board or no board, current team member are eager for the season to begin so they can start going after actual records. Who would doubt the Tigers as we begin April? Fools, that's who.