ICB Construction Provides Panthers with New Home Base
The Perry High School Panthers football team has been rebuilt under the guidance and direction of head football coach and athletic director Kevin Smith since he took over the program in 2017. Now another rebuilding project has benefited the Panthers football program, as ICB Construction Group is putting the finishing touches on a new 8,200-square-foot field house that will serve many needs for Smith’s program, as well as opposing teams visiting the Panther Pit this fall.
“The ICB Construction Group folks really did a great job with this new field house, and we are so proud to have it as our new football home,” Smith said.
According to Smith, the new Perry High field house will include two locker rooms; the home side will be equipped with 95 lockers, while the visitors side will have 50. There also will be a large equipment room and training room, as well as new coaches offices. Smith said some minor final touches remain to be done, and the facility will officially open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 10.
“This place is just amazing, and it was something we desperately needed,” Smith said.
Before, the home and visiting teams had to dress in the old gymnasium, which was actually a canning plant at one point. Smith said it was very cramped and forced both teams to walk through fans to get to the field, as well as after the game.
“Anytime you have fans that close to the players and coaches, things can happen,” Smith acknowledged.
Now, with the field house at one end of the field, Perry players and coaches can have clear access to and from the playing area.
Smith said that throughout the construction project that began in July of 2022, ICB Construction sought input from him about different areas of the field house, always making sure it ultimately would fit the Perry teams’ needs.
“They would bring us down to the site from time to time and give us updates on what they were doing, and would allow us to ask questions and make suggestions,” Smith recalled. “We know they didn’t have to do that – they are the experts – but we appreciated it. They have given us a beautiful new field house.”
The new facility will be a perfect fit for what has been a rebuilding of the Perry football program since Smith became head coach six seasons ago. He has put together quite a run over that time, which includes a 48-24 overall record, three straight region championships, and a 17-1 region record. Smith is confident the 2023 team will keep Perry’s winning ways alive.
“Like everybody, we lose some great players to graduation, but we will have some solid players on both sides returning this season as well,” he said.
One new addition to the team will be former Peach County quarterback Colter Ginn, who has joined the team this offseason and should give the Panthers quite the spark on offense.
Perry will begin spring football practice on April 24. The Panthers’ Spring game is scheduled for May 12 at Thomas County Central.
