High School Football Coaches Expect an Adventure on Road Trips

With the high school football season just around the corner, coaches know fun times lie ahead when they crank up the bus for road trips.
Said Walker Valley coach Glen Ryan-“It’s an adventure every time you go on the road in high school.”
And the adventure usually involves the team bus.
Said Cleveland’s Scott Cummings-“We lost 7-0 in the state semifinals. On the way back one of our coaches buses completely broke down. It delayed us getting home for about three hours. That would definitely be considered the trip from hell.”
And remember, teams usually don’t ride charter buses.
Said Walker Valley coach Justin Barnes-“We take a school bus everywhere we go. Most of those don’t have air conditioner unless it’s the 280. Roll the windows down and go 80.”
Once you get off the bus, you typically find a cramped or maybe locked visitor’s locker room.
Said Ryan-“There are a few where you are literally in just a small pea locker room. You dress your starters, and then you dress your non-starters.”
Added McMinn Co’s Bo Cagle-“It was either 2008 or 2009, we go to Rhea County. The captains are going out. I look out there, and our quarterback is a captain. I got on the headset and said, where is Sigh at? I don’t know. They started looking around. They said, we can’t find him. Well Rhea County when you play them, after you come out they go lock the locker room behind you. Well, they’ve locked him in the locker room. When we get the ball, we finally saw him coming. They’ve got him locked in the locker room. He finally comes running. We’re on offense. He comes running straight from the end zone onto the field to run the first play on offense.”
Overnight trips can also be an experience.
Said Rhea Co coach Mark Pemberton-“The thing I don’t like is if you have to go and stay overnight. You’re nervous as a cat about the kids at night and stuff. Our coaches are patrolling all night. I don’t like the overnight trips. Let’s say that.”
Said Ryan-“It’s always an experience, but it’s memories these guys will take with them. That’s what they talk about. Hey, you remember when we went on the road here or there.”