Committee: stadium can be named after Dalton

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Editor

For former Burlington High School football coach Hans Block – and more than a few other supporters – renaming the current Burlington Athletic Stadium as “Don Dalton Stadium” simply makes sense.

“We believe Don is very deserving of this recognition,” said Block at Monday night’s Burlington Area School District Buildings, Grounds and Transportation Committee meeting.

Block produced letters of support to back up the proposal – from authors as esteemed as Tony Romo and local Wall of Fame inductee Dr. Mike Dussault – and no one objected to the idea that the stadium should be named after Dalton, a Hall of Fame athletic director and football coach at the school during the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

While the plan got a 2-1 vote of support from the committee, the bigger issue of the district’s existing policy regarding naming rights remains.

While committee members Bill Campbell and Jim Bousman voted yes to the proposal to rename the stadium, Phil Ketterhagen voted no – and explained why.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Ketterhagen said. But he added that the policy in the BASD handbook needed to be changed – not just worked around or pushed aside when inconvenient.

The current BASD naming policy “strongly recommends” that, in order to name any facility or field after a person, that person must be deceased at least 10 years. That policy is currently under review by an ad hoc committee that will address, among other things, naming rights, sponsorships and advertising – all of which could help fund facilities upgrades.

However, in the meantime, the current grassroots movement for recognizing Dalton – honored by several state and national groups, including the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association – has clear support.

In his letter, current Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said, “I have known Coach Dalton since grade school, and still enjoy our time together to this day. I have always admired Coach Dalton for not only what he has done for Burlington football, but also for what he has done for the Burlington community.”

Dalton was a member of the original “Partners” program, getting the community and the high school to stand up against alcohol and drug use. He was also the athletic director when varsity soccer was added to the roster of sports offered by the school.

Another letter by a student, who was forced to serve a suspension for being at a party where alcohol was served (but where she did not drink), voiced support for Dalton as well.

“He thought I should take the suspension to prove I learned a lesson,” said Abby Galstad. “And I did. He taught me that sometimes it’s worth fighting, and other times, you choose your battles.”

Block estimated the cost of reworking the sign at the entrance of the stadium and possibly the scoreboard at the current athletic field would cost $12,000, and expected to have the money raised by an Aug. 22 celebration of the renaming.

In addition, Block said, naming the stadium after Dalton still leaves opportunities for other entities to sponsor and achieve naming rights for the football/soccer field as well as the adjacent track, baseball, softball and tennis facilities.

However, deeper issues remain with the current policy. New board member Todd Terry said the policy as it stands is “ridiculous,” and no one seemed ready to argue against that. However, making the change did involve a motion that temporarily suspended the policy.

“The policy’s a mess,” said citizen rep Barry Schmaling. “That policy’s got to get fixed.”

The issue will go before the full board for a vote Monday.