Free State junior Preston Randolph (5) is dragged down by Leavenworth senior special-teams defender David Wilk after a long punt return. The Firebirds routed the Pioneers, 41-0, Thursday, September 13, 2007, at Haskell Stadium.

Ten years ago, when Free State High opened its doors, questions surrounding Lawrence’s outdoor athletic facilities came to the forefront.

More specifically, people began to wonder how much longer Haskell Stadium, home to Lawrence High football for decades, would hold up.

The answer varies, depending on whom you ask. But as the city’s two largest high schools continue to share the same football stadium, proposals, plans and questions about what the future will hold have spread like wildfire throughout the community.

It’s time to stop wondering. It’s time to stop debating. It’s time to start doing. And it’s not for the reasons you might think.

Last week, as the Free State football team played host to Olathe North on Friday night, lightning temporarily delayed the game. During the 29 minutes in which the teams were sent back to their locker rooms, fans were urged to take cover under the concrete bleachers. One problem: Only one side was accessible.

That meant hundreds of Olathe North fans had to traipse their way across the facility to the north side of the stadium in order to avoid danger.

It’s ironic how taking measures to avoid danger actually presented a little.

While fans took cover, students from both schools congregated at the east end of the north bleachers, where the Olathe North students joined together in a chant of “Our House, Our House, Our House.”

Aside from the obvious fact that these students were far too young to know anything about their school’s track record at Haskell Stadium, this gesture created a hostile environment. Quickly.

Free State students standing up for their turf confronted the O-North crew, and security guards and police officers were forced into action. From what I understand, only a small fight broke out, and order was restored quickly. But that was this time. What about next time?

Believe me, I was there not too long ago. I understand how seriously high school students can take these games. I understand how emotionally charged situations like this one can become.

Isn’t the best way to maintain order at an event by keeping the opposing sides out of each other’s faces?

Haskell Stadium does not always allow this. So it’s time to fix it or move into a facility that does.

Last week city officials met with members of the Partners for Lawrence Athletics and Youth, or PLAY, to map out the course that leads to resolution. I applaud such meetings. But they need to either take place more often or be more productive.

Apart from all of the obvious issues surrounding why we need to find a solution to the football venue problem – the ones coaches and administrators like to talk about such as field conditions, fairness and catching up with the rest of the world – the deeper issues carry more weight. They are the memories opposing fans take home with them. They are the way Lawrence is represented and perceived throughout northeast Kansas.

No longer can we let tradition, stubbornness or studies stand in the way. It’s time to solve the problem and move forward. And it should be done quickly before something worse than tearing up a field happens.