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Kyle Parmley
Hoover Football
Hoover's Will Singleton react upon walking into Allen High School's Eagle Stadium on Thursday, August 25, 2016, in Allen, Texas.
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Kyle Parmley
Hoover Football
Hoover's Greg Russell react to walking into Allen High School's Eagle Stadium on Thursday, August 25, 2016, in Allen, Texas.
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Kyle Parmley
Hoover Football
The press box at Allen High School's Eagle Stadium.
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Kyle Parmley
Hoover Football
Allen High School's Eagle Stadium.
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Kyle Parmley
Hoover Football
Hoover's Randy Jenkins readies to board the team plane to Dallas, Texas, on Thursday, August 25, 2016.
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Kyle Parmley
Hoover Football
Hoover's football team traveled to Dallas, Texas, on Thursday, August 25, 2016.
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Kyle Parmley
Hoover Football
The Hoover football team gathers at midfield at Allen High School's Eagle Stadium on Thursday, August 25, 2016, in Allen, Texas.
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Kyle Parmley
Hoover Football
Hoover's Garrett Farquhar and head coach Josh Niblett ready to board the team plane to Dallas, Texas, on August 25, 2016.
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Kyle Parmley
Hoover Football
Hoover's Garrett Farquhar boards the team plane to Dallas, Texas, on Thursday, August 25, 2016.
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Kyle Parmley
Hoover Football
Hoover players board the plane to Dallas, Texas, on Thursday, August 25, 2016.
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Kyle Parmley
Hoover Football
Hoover players congregate at the team hotel on Thursday night, August 25, 2016, in Dallas, Texas.
Game week for the Hoover High School football team has gone far beyond normal preparation for a Friday night opponent, as the Bucs arrived in Texas on Thursday, ahead of Friday’s contest against Allen High School in the 17th annual Tom Landry Classic, held at Allen High’s Eagle Stadium.
Early Thursday afternoon, the team loaded an airplane en route to Dallas. Flying in and of itself is nothing unusual, but when the elements of high schoolers and football are added, it quickly becomes unique territory.
Senior linebacker KJ Vault estimated half of the roughly 100 players had never flown before, making for some interesting moments surrounding takeoff.
“There were a lot of people walking on the plane looking a little nervous,” he said. “When we were taking off, the eyes got a little big.”
Austin Carter, the team’s starting center, got a kick out of observing his teammates as well. Both he and Vault had flown before, making the experience much more relaxing.
“It was kind of funny to see the guys that were nervous,” Carter said. “I knew everything was going to be alright.”
The Bucs arrived in Dallas shortly after 3 p.m., and went straight to the site of Friday night’s game, set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. Many players had visible reactions upon seeing the stadium that seats approximately 18,000 people and is expected to be near capacity Friday.
Vault was impressed. “I said, ‘This is college.’”
He continued, “It’s such a blessing to be able to be in this situation and to be able to play (Allen). It’s going to be a fun night.”
Carter kept his emotions in check, and doesn’t think the size of the stadium will be a factor.
“The stadium could have been an intimidation factor, but it didn’t seem that way to me,” he said.
Following dinner at Golden Corral, the players returned to the team hotel for a walkthrough and team meeting.
Preparing for a high school game the night before at a location away from home is not common, and that was not lost on Vault. He used a restless Wednesday night to think about the opportunity his team has.
“It’s the coolest thing ever,” he said. “I was thinking I can’t think of any other team that’s flying to play other teams in different states.”
Head coach Josh Niblett emphasized getting “locked in,” and Carter believes the team has taken the message to heart.
“I feel like we’re ready,” he said. “I feel like we’re going to respond very well to the environment.”
