Football teams should allow more time for travel to faraway schools

Editor:

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I read with great interest Billy Byler's column last Sunday, about him accompanying the Evans football team to Brunswick. I enjoyed the column but it made me think of a couple of things.

The team got down there too late. To basically get off the bus, get dressed and go out and play is too much. I played for Butler in 1981 and we went to Coffee County. We left shortly after 7 a.m. We got to Coffee shortly after 1 p.m. and went to the school, walked around the field then went and ate around 2:30 or so. We got back to the school around 4 p.m. and had a couple of hours to just lay around and relax before getting ready for the game.

Granted, we did not win, but that was due more to overconfidence on our part than anything else. As a matter of fact, our coaches made reference during the week of preparation that after our win we might host Valdosta the following week.

Anyway, it just seems that a team needs a little more time on long trips like that to get ready to play. I attend a lot of high school football games, go to Valdosta, Warner Robins, Lincoln County, and I know that most teams that have to travel that far do get there early. I understand that may result in the football team getting out of class for a day, but I honestly believe to be competitive against some of the south Georgia powers maybe this is something that should be looked at.

I do enjoy reading Byler's columns. Keep up the great work.

Don Perkins

Martinez