Gator football parents win concession control
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 9, 2003
[9/9/03]Hamburgers, hot dogs and all the other concessions at Vicksburg High School football games will now be sold by parents of those playing the game.
Previously, parents of band students had manned the concession stands at varsity games. But after football parents met with the Vicksburg Warren School District board of trustees seeking approval to operate another stand, band parents gave control of all the stands to the VHS Football Gators Booster Club and Parents Support Group.
Football parents were already in charge of concessions at eighth- and ninth-grade football games.
Some members of the football booster club said the situation still is not fair.
“We want this to be equal,” said Sammie Rainey, who has a set of twins his daughter is in the band, and his son plays football at VHS. “We weren’t trying to take anything away from the band.”
Proceeds from concessions operated by band parents at varsity football games have been used to support the band while proceeds from concessions manned by football parents at eighth- and ninth-grade games go to football players with proceeds benefiting all teams.
“We’re happy, but we’re not happy,” Rainey said. He said he wanted to help both band members and football players.
Milton Heard, president of the booster club, said he was writing a letter to band parents to ensure there were no hard feelings.
Most parents in the football booster club maintain they were willing to help with concessions and receive a percentage of proceeds from varsity concessions.
The varsity Gators’ first home game at Memorial Stadium is Sept. 19, and parents hope to have reached a solution to benefit band and football participants.
“I want things to be fair,” Heard said. “I still would like to talk to (band parents) and talk about how things came about.”
Regardless of how things turn out, football parents will be manning the concessions at tonight’s eighth- and ninth-grade games that begin at 5 p.m.
Parents will be icing down drinks, cooking hot dogs and hamburgers, heating chili and cheese for nachos and posting prices.
“It takes a lot to get ready for when the gates open,” said Karen Gray, a member of the football booster club whose son, Patrick, plays football.