INOLA, Okla. — September 5 marks a special day in Inola's history.
Not only is it the first game of the '25-26 football season, but the school is unveiling their long-awaited, million-dollar renovations from the T-Mobile Friday Night Lights competition.
2 News showed you the moment the district won the funds for their school.
Local News
Inola wins TMobile competition, secures $2M athletic upgrade package
Inola Public Schools beat out nearly 1,700 other schools nationwide in December, but construction is just getting underway in mid-July.
Superintendent Jeff Unrau said rain has been to blame for the holdup.
“People are starting to get a little antsy, including myself," said Unrau. "School starts in literally less than a month, football starts in a month from now.”
WATCH: 'It's a game changer': Inola T-Mobile renovations faced delays, but underway:
There are signs of progress.
Inola's weight room is decked out top to bottom in Gronk Fitness. From new weight racks to kettle bells to free weights, Athletic Director Brett Thomas said his kids are showing a lot of excitement about this major investment.
“Sometimes, new things make kids go a little harder," said Thomas.
Thomas is also the head football coach. He said they're already seeing about double the turnout they had last year at weight sessions this summer.
Coach is hopeful that eagerness will translate onto the field in the coming weeks, “I think people will come to see the new complex, everything, the upgrade, and probably a little more pressure on the head football coach - you’ve got nicer things, you better win.”
The turf in one end zone is peeled back to make room for a fresh replacement.
Unrau said he hopes seeing some of the momentum eases some minds across the community.
“Starting with what was kind of a pipe dream that we didn’t really think much about that has turned into reality... It started gaining traction and gaining and gaining and the ground swell just became amazing," said Unrau.
With the turnaround for game time getting close, 2 News Oklahoma's Stef Manchen asked if there is a backup plan.
“Backup plan is to get it done, we don’t even talk about that," said the superintendent. “That date is not moving back, so we're gonna meet it.”
Even with the delays, Unrau said he believes they are still on track to get the new field, scoreboard, lights, and everything else by their first game on September 5.
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