Baker’s postseason run would make a great MasterCard commercial.
Three charter bus rides to Graceville, Blountstown and Orlando: $6,000.
Feeding 52 hungry football players: $2,000.
Booking 20 rooms for an overnight stay in Orlando: $2,000.
A chance to play for the 1A state title: Priceless.
The monetary scope of a postseason run can’t be covered within boosters, home-game draws and regular-season fundraisers, so on Monday the 13-0 Gators began an online fundraiser through the Okaloosa County School District website at https://osp.osmsinc.com/Okaloosa/.
“The bottom line is it’s expensive,” Brunson said. “That’s what it’s going to cost, and that might be a little low.”
With the Dec. 8 state title game against 13-0 Pahokee rapidly approaching, the goal is to raise $10,000 by the 5 p.m deadline on Dec. 6. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Gators had already raised $3,600.
“It’s been awesome to see the community support and fans in the area back these kids,” Brunson said. “Our fans are amazing. We think this is a reasonable figure that’ll help offset a lot of the financial challenges we face.”
In the past Baker has helped other area schools in times of need, and Brunson fully expects the communities outside of Baker to support the Gators.
“We expect a lot people outside of our community to band together," he said. "In a lot of ways we’re in this together.”
It’s been 21 years since an area school has won an FHSAA football title, and thus the outlying support for Navarre (playing Lake Gibson in the final four Friday) and Baker on social media and at games has been strong.
“It’s amazing what the area does to support each other,” Brunson said.
Brunson has yet to iron out the full travel details, but he said regardless of the money raised the players will not go without.
“We just want to set them up for success,” Brunson said. “We’ll get creative with the food on the way down there – pasta, good pregame meals, plenty to eat. That and a good night’s rest.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gator football team seeks donations to go to state