Ceremony honors longtime Eisenhower football coach

New Berlin - The Lions of Eisenhower High School will open their season with a tribute to the school's first football coach, the late Frank Granger.

The school's stadium will be named the Frank T. Granger Memorial Field in halftime ceremonies at the team's home opener Friday.

Granger, the football coach from 1969 to 1990, led the Lions to a 131-71 win-loss record, nine conference titles, seven playoff appearances, two state finals and three undefeated seasons. He also coached baseball while at Eisenhower.

Granger died at last Thanksgiving at age 81.

So many donations came into the school athletic fund in Granger's memory that it was thought appropriate to name the field after him. The New Berlin Eisenhower Football Booster Club asked the New Berlin School Board for its approval, which it gave wholeheartedly in June.

"It's an absolute honor to remember him in this way," School Board President David Maxey said at the time.

All alumni who played football or baseball for Granger are encouraged to join others on the field for the halftime ceremony, said Courtney Fryatt, Eisenhower activities and athletic director. They also are encouraged to make donations for several related projects: a new archway at the entrance to the stadium proclaiming Frank T. Granger Memorial Field; a sign affixing Granger's name to the press box; and a memorial plaque. Donations can be made via a special website,frankgranger.com

"This is being done by the Granger alumni who are trying to raise the money, and we are in support of it," Fryatt said.

Granger was named Alumni Coach of the Year in 1986 by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Two years later, he was chosen as one of two head coaches in the Shrine All-Star football game, in which the top players in the southern half of the state play the top players in the northern half in an annual challenge for charity.

In 2003, Granger was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

- Jane Ford-Stewart

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Ceremony to name the Eisenhower football stadium for the school's first coach, Frank Granger

WHEN: halftime ceremonies about 7:45 p.m. Aug. 24 when the Eisenhower Lions will take on the Falcons of Whitnall High School in a 7 p.m. matchup

WHERE: Eisenhower football stadium, 4333 S. Sunny Slope Road