Friday night football has been a tradition across the First Coast and the country for years, and every week games are played and fans take part.
However, there is much more than meets the eye to making sure these Friday nights in the fall are the spectacle we all love and enjoy as fans.
There are several volunteers that help, each with certain roles on the night.
According to PVHS football booster club president Todd Hickey, the football Friday night behind the scenes is a production of sorts.
“There are a lot of moving pieces to this,” volunteer coordinator Rachel Clarke said. “Each week we probably need about 40 volunteers to get everything done.”
The majority of volunteers are parents of players either on the junior varsity or varsity squads, such as Clarke, who has had that role for the past four years and her son Ty is now a senior.
“The kids are putting in the effort, so why shouldn’t we as parents put in the effort to support them as well,” Clarke said.
Volunteer duties range from painting the field, operating concessions and the merchandise booth, parking cars, taking tickets, running the press box and working the on the “chain gang” and marking the down and distance to go on the sidelines during a game.
“The painting of the field is one of the ones that people really don’t know about, but it is really amazing to me,” Clarke said. “It’s a real community and everyone has to commit and buy in to make it happen.”
However, not all volunteers are parents of active players, such as Hickey, who stayed around to help even after his sons graduated, and a couple of press box guys, such as Jim Moyes, who is on the school’s broadcast of the home games.
Moyes has been doing it for more than a decade and the 81-year-old has continued to assist even after his grandchildren graduated.
The concession stand is arguably the busiest station on the night, especially at halftime, when fans and cheerleaders from both sides converge to get something to eat or drink before the second half begins.
Although it can get hectic and hot with food cooking in tight quarters at times, it is something that goes smoothly with the proper order and help on hand.
“If you’re a parent who’s new to town and you’re looking to find friends, come work at a concession stand, and you’re sure to find some,” concessions director Annelee Chetty chuckled. “Yes, you’re tired at the end of the day, but you’re also excited.”
While 40 volunteers are ideal to coordinator home games, volunteers play a vital part on road game nights as well, even though fewer numbers are needed.
Road game duties involve organizing a pregame meal and having snacks and drinks available for the players after the contest.
Jim Pennella is a first year volunteer whose son Charlie is a freshman and plays on the junior varsity team.
“There’s such a commitment and the program is so successful, and I just knew that it wouldn’t be possible without the parents doing their part to volunteer,” Pennella said. “It’s exceeded my expectations.”
However, there are many things that he has learned in his first couple of games helping, and he continues to be surprised at the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes.
“I didn’t realize how much energy is involved to make this work,” Pennella said.
According to Chetty, she feels volunteering her time is one way she can set a great example for her son Pacey.
“You have to be that role model, because our kids look to us for that,” Chetty said.
