Normally, Conroe Tiger football fans pack the stands at Buddy Moorhead Stadium that first Friday evening in August to ‘Meet the Tigers’, the unofficial kickoff to the season.
It was a different scene this year.
The Conroe athletic department opted to introduce the community to the brand-new gymnasium, a part of a multi-phase ongoing renovation project that started in 2021.
Fans watched over the course of the 2022 football season as the building took shape beyond the west end zone.
The gym bleachers were filled with black and gold, ‘Tiger Boogie’ echoed throughout as the new smell wafted through the air
“I’m excited for the fans, the Conroe alumni,” Conroe football coach and athletic coordinator Cedric Hardeman said prior to the event on Friday. “I’m more excited for our kids. I think they deserve it. One of the things that I always said when they were building was that no matter how state-of-the-art the building is and everything that we have, my job is make sure it would never surpass the quality of people that work inside of it. I think we’ve done a pretty good job of keeping that going.”
Hardeman described it as Phase Two of a project that will feature upgrades throughout campus, including the CTE program and arts.
Hardeman’s new office has a nice view of the home bleachers, the under construction press box and scoreboard of Moorhead Stadium.
“It’s kind of like having a new house,” Hardeman said. “This is kind of our housewarming.”
For the student-athletes, it’s a special feeling to be the first group to use the new weight room, locker rooms and gym.
“I love it,” Conroe senior wide receiver Nigel Leday said. “You’ve got a nice view whenever you work out. I remember the first time we walked through it during SAC camp, they showed us through and we were just excited. We would always see the Twitter posts (of the building coming along). It’s a different feeling when you feel like you earned something and then you got it. But you have to keep working though.”
Mitch Melton, a senior linebacker for the Tigers, moved to Conroe a year ago from Del Rio, which is west of San Antonio.
“It’s insane,” Melton said of the new facilities. “I was joking that some people are going to go to college and downgrade. It’s insane out here. Working out upstairs and you’re looking out at the field. It’s just awesome. It’s just an investment into the whole program and all of athletics. I think last year was one of the best overall athletic years that Conroe has had in a long time. This is a product of that.”
Hardeman, entering his sixth year at Conroe, helped in some of the decisions and designs of the facility.
“This building alone is all athletics,” Hardeman said. “We have three gyms with practice gyms and one competition gym. The weight room which is upstairs and a dance room that probably has one of the best views. A girls athletic wing, a boys athletic wing. I’m happy everybody got a space and I think that nobody was forgotten.”
The gym is set to host its first official regular season volleyball matches on Monday as the Tigers host Montgomery and Lufkin beginning at 4 p.m.
“Like a new house, there’s still some things that aren’t done yet,” Hardeman said. “Hanging some pictures up and painting some things. I felt like considering everything, it was a good opportunity to get everybody in.”
Unlike the ‘The Pit’ of yesteryear, the ‘The Pit 2.0’ has bleachers on both sidelines of the court. But like the old gym, there’s a balcony on one end of the gym that overlooks one of the basketball hoops.
Hardeman hopes the new athletic wing will feel like home and a place the current and future Tigers want to be.
“The fieldhouse was kind of the place we hung out and grew,” Hardeman said. “This is kind of the state-of-the-art version of a fieldhouse.”
Like the typical ‘Meet the Tigers’ event, the Conroe Tiger Band, the Golden Girls, cheerleaders and Junior ROTC all participated and helped hype up the crowd for the upcoming season.
The football players were introduced by grade as they jogged out onto the floor.
“I would always see people go up every single year,” Leday said. “Last year, I kind of soaked it in because this year, it’s going to me up there. The senior wide receivers. Don’t take anything for granted. Time flies even when you’re not paying attention.”
Melton took part in his first ‘Meet the Tigers’ a year ago and instantly could feel how special of a place Conroe is.
“A lot of people had been coming since they were like 10 years old and were super excited about it,” Melton said. “I definitely love it because there’s a lot of schools nearby. But Conroe singularly has one high school, so it’s cool to see everyone together and rooting for the one team. That’s what I like about Conroe.”
Hardeman still gets a touch nervous speaking in front of the big crowd.
“But this community has embraced me and my family and my kids and our coaching staff has done a tremendous job,” he said.
After the event, Conroe was set to practice Friday evening at Moorhead Stadium. The Tigers put the pads on for the first time, but it’s just another phase of camp.
“Business as usual,” Hardeman said.“Just a way to go out and practice in front of their family and friends. Have a fun atmosphere so we can get them home and back up (Saturday morning) to get a scrimmage.”
Conroe began practice on Monday.
“We go in the morning and we wake them up at 6,” Hardeman said of how practice has gone so far during the week. “This year, it has been really beneficial because of the heat and trying to get them acclimated. The kids have shown their dedication and attendance has been great. They’ve put in the work and it’s a good group.”
The regular season opens in three weeks, Friday August 25 against Paetow.
