AKRON — The Tippecanoe Valley football field officially has a new name. This evening, Sept. 18, the board of trustees voted unanimously to name the field “Smith-Bibler Memorial Field – Home of Death Valley Football.”

A dedication ceremony will take place this Friday evening, Sept. 22, just before the start of the home football game against Manchester. A sign is expected to be unveiled at this time. Anyone who has ever played football for Tippecanoe Valley is invited to attend and stand on the field with the current team as the sign is unveiled and a brief message about the football program’s history is read aloud. 

The board felt the name honors both the legacy of Charlie Smith and Scott Bibler. The name also honors the Death Valley football program that Smith built in the mid to late 70s. The program earned the nickname because of the team’s unbeatable record at the time. 

Over 180 suggestions were sent in during a public comment period with possible names of the football field. According to school corporation policy on naming facilities, three public meetings must be held as part of the process. Tonight was the last of those three meetings. After a public comment period, the board voted on the new name.