The high school football season is over, but that doesn't mean football still isn't on the minds of several local high school officials.

Those individuals - which include activities directors from Park, Case and Horlick high schools - have been diligently working on a proposal to install synthetic turf at Hammes Field.

The idea was hatched a few months ago when Jim Kerkvliet, Park's activities director, received a letter from the Green Bay Packers about a potential grant from the NFL and its "Grass Roots" program.

Kerkvliet forwarded the letter to Mike Rupnow, the activities director at Case, where Hammes Field is located. Since then Horlick activities director Jay Hammes, along with several other community figures, including David Hazen, the chief financial officer for the Racine Unified School District, have joined in the venture.

The NFL grant would go a long way toward funding the project, which would cost an estimated $800,000. The NFL grant could be up to $200,000 with Racine Unified having agreed to match the NFL's contribution. The remaining money would be raised through fund-raising endeavors.

One of the stipulations of the NFL grant is that the money would also benefit other prep sports and community activities. There is a possibility the proposed synthetic turf would be used for soccer games as well, but that would likely entail tearing up the running track surrounding the football field. A new track - which would again be used by Horlick and Park as well - would then be constructed, probably south of Hammes Field.

While the installation of artificial turf surface would be something new for Racine County athletics, it is already in place at Ameche Field and Indian Trail Academy in Kenosha.

"I think this could open up a lot of options for the community," Rupnow said. "We wouldn't have to worry about a field being overused.

"This fall we had four football games where it rained during the entire game. The field really took a beating."

Rupnow said the NFL will announce its finalists for the grant in mid-January and then make a funding decision in late February.

"It's kind of exciting," Rupnow said. "We'll see what happens."

Some quick hits:

- Did you know notice the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association chose Racine Lutheran High School running back Eric Oertel as its co-offensive player of the year (Edgar quarterback Justin Sinz share the honor) and that one of the WFCA's co-defensive players of the year was safety Michael Trotter of Marquette, who is from Racine? Mike Hardy of Kimberly was also chosen for defensive player of the year honors.

Union Grove senior running back Dan Vyvyan and Waterford lineman Zach Tamblyn received honorable-mention recognition.

- There has been considerable chatter about how the Milwaukee Brewers should pursue former Los Angeles Angels ace John Lackey in free agency. That would be a total waste of time. Lackey will want an exorbitant contract and the odds of him coming to a small market like Milwaukee are slim to none.

Instead, if I'm Brewers GM Doug Melvin, I'd pursue Rich Harden, who pitched for the Cubs. Yes, it's a roll of the dice. Harden has had shoulder problems.

But Harden is also extremely talented - as former major league manager Mike Hargrove will attest. Hargrove, interviewed by Sporting News magazine, said, "His (Harden) stuff is as good as anybody's in baseball. He's a hard-nosed guy, and he's fought back from so many injuries. I like his attitude. I like the way he carries himself."

- Former St. Catherine's standout Jake Thomas is off to terrific start at the University of South Dakota.

Thomas had 20 points for the Coyotes in their 76-73 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the recent Duel in the Desert Classic at Lubbock, Texas. Thomas, a freshman guard, was chosen to the all-tournament team.

Thomas and the Coyotes will play Marquette University tonight at the Bradley Center, starting at 7.

- Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown and I are on the same page when it comes to Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut. Said Brown, the Charlotte Bobcats head coach: "Andrew Bogut is probably the most underrated big guy in our league. He doesn't put up big numbers in terms of scoring, but he rebounds, he defends, he shares the ball.

"He's probably as good a passing big man as we have in the league."

- Chris Hicks has certainly made the most of his opportunity as a wide receiver at Rochester Community and Technical College in Rochester, Minn.

The 6-foot-3 Hicks caught 37 passes for 802 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. NCAA Division I recruiters took notice.

RCTC coach Brad LaPlante said a flock of schools have shown more than a passing interest in Hicks, including Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

"He's very good," LaPlante said of Hicks, who has another year at RCTC. "He's got unbelievable ball skills."

- Bucks guard Brandon Jennings has nothing over Brewers general manager Doug Melvin. Jennings recently scored a franchise rookie record 55 points  - or the same total Melvin scored in 1972 for Chatham Kent Secondary School in Chatham, Ontario. Melvin was definitely in the zone that night, connecting on 25 of 32 shots from the field.

Gery Woelfel is a sports reporter for The Journal Times. He can be reached at (262) 634-3322, extension 322, or by email at gery.woelfel@lee.net