'Sacred' soil gets airlifted to new stadium

Gaffney High School Indian mascot Jeffrey Cole spreads dirt and grass from W.K. Brumbach Stadium onto the field at the "new Reservation" during pregame activities Friday. See game details on Page 12. It's a trip Gaffney High Indian mascot Jeffrey Cole and Gaffney High football fans will never forget.

The journey, which was televised on the new football stadium's video scoreboard as part of a pre-game ceremony, began Friday at W.K. Brumbach Stadium, the former home of the Indians for 70 years.

With outstretched arms, the Indian mascot paid tribute to the hallowed grounds of the former Reservation, its teams and players who made the stadium so memorable.

He then fell to his knees and began digging in the grass near midfield to unearth a football.

He also gathered some of the dirt on the field and placed it in a pouch.

After one last yell, he stepped into a waiting helicopter with ball and dirt in tow for the short trip to the Indians' new Reservation.

As the fans spied the advancing helicopter, they rose and cheered. Not even the whipping helicopter rotors could drown out the noisy throng.

When the helicopter landed at midfield, the mascot disembarked with the football high over his head.

His job nearly complete, he sprinkled the dirt of the old Reservation onto the sod of the new Reservation with hopes the spirits, good fortune and string of state championships follow the team to its new home.

Before rejoining his cheerleading squad, the Indian mascot reflected on his work.

"This is something I will never forget," Cole said.