The former high school of Nebraska football star quarterback Dylan Raiola and the current home of future Husker QB Dayton Raiola is getting quite the facelift.
Buford High School unveiled a new $62 million football stadium earlier this year, which resembles an NFL stadium more than a high school one. It is, in fact, better looking and more modern than quite a few college stadiums. It also shows the kind of powerhouse program that Buford High is. And it demonstrates how things have changed in the high school football world.
Buford’s winning pedigree and Raiola pipeline strengthen Nebraska’s future at quarterback
Buford, located in Georgia, has produced some of the nation's best football players, which now includes two guys who will go through the Nebraska football program. The Phillip Beard Stadium itself features 10,000 seats, a 3,500-square-foot video board, 15 luxury suites, and a two-story field house. The facility cost $62 million, according to multiple media reports.
These kinds of investments are rewarded at Buford by being a high-quality high school that consistently produces talented individuals. They went 12-2 last season (led by Dayton) and 6-0 in their region. Historically, they have been highly successful, winning 14 state football championships, 27 region titles, and 22 consecutive playoff appearances.
"I can’t say enough about the support that we receive from our school board and city. Having a chance to play all of our home games in a venue like this is unprecedented in the state of Georgia and most of the nation. We can’t thank them enough for the opportunity to have a home game experience like this," Buford head coach Bryant Appling said.
The team will open against Milton on Aug. 14 for the first official game at the new stadium. That game will of course, feature Dayton Raiola as the starting quarterback before he officially joins the Nebraska football program.