Restore Coach Vern Friedli's name on Friedli Field scoreboard

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The Issue

For over three decades, Coach Vern Friedli was not just a coach but a mentor, a leader, and an inspiration to countless students at Amphitheater High School in Tucson, Arizona. His dedication and passion for education extended far beyond the football field, molding young minds and touching countless lives. Coach Friedli was more than his titles and accolades; he was the soul of Friedli Field.

A crucial part of our school's legacy and identity is etched in remembering those who dedicated their lives to its community. Unfortunately, in recent times, Coach Friedli's name was removed from the scoreboard of Friedli Field to accommodate a sponsor's title. While sponsorship is a valuable contribution to our school's resources, it should not come at the expense of erasing the history and contributions of an educator who dedicated his life to this school.

In a world where education is becoming increasingly impersonal, it's essential to preserve the memory and legacy of educators like Coach Vern Friedli, who stand out not only for their professional achievements but also for their human touch and personal impact on students' lives. His presence on the scoreboard serves as a constant reminder to students, athletes, and the community of what it means to strive for excellence and exhibit integrity.

We urge the school administration and the sponsors to strike a balance that would not undermine Coach Friedli's legacy. Whether this involves redesigning the scoreboard or finding alternative means to honour the sponsor, we believe a solution can be found that respects both the new sponsors and the timeless contributions of Coach Friedli.

By reinstating Coach Vern Friedli's name, we keep alive the values he championed and ensure that his name continues to motivate future generations to uphold these values. Let us honour this remarkable man, who has been such an integral part of our community.

Please join us in asking Amphitheater High School to reinstate Coach Vern Friedli's name on the scoreboard. Sign this petition to ensure his legacy remains a guiding light for all those who walk through Friedli Field.

The Decision Makers

Todd A. Jaeger, J.D.
Todd A. Jaeger, J.D.
Superintendent
Responded
Greetings to our Panther Fans and friends of Coach Friedli. You all might have preceded your petition by simply asking whether our Friedli Field name sign was going to be reinstalled. Of course it is! The original sign is being moved to a new location at the entrance to the field to welcome people to the facility the minute they walk in. The relocation is necessary because vertical supports to the new scoreboard are too far apart to attach the sign to the scoreboard. In addition, the size of the Friedli sign was going to be dwarfed by the size of the new scoreboard, and we did not want the sign to appear to be a footnote. The new sign location will be illuminated for added emphasis. In addition, the scoreboard's live video screen will also be prominently displaying messages to welcome visitors, including one very large message that says, "Welcome to Friedli Field". We hope this resolves your worries. We too want to ensure the legacy continues. Todd A. Jaeger, J.D. Superintendent Amphitheater Public Schools [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]
Amphitheater USD 10 School Board
5 Members
Vicki Cox Golder
Amphitheater USD 10 School Board
Susan Zibrat
Amphitheater USD 10 School Board
Deanna Day
Amphitheater USD 10 School Board
Albert Malis
Albert Malis
Principal, Amphitheater High School
Michael Gemma
Michael Gemma
Governing Board Member

Supporter Voices

Petition Updates