How many people does it take to put on a home football game?
Fall Fridays are sacred to Wildcat Nation, and to make the experience the best it can be, many volunteers and school staff work year-round.
Lance Parnell, Cassville athletic director, said there’s a lot that goes into the four or five Fridays the Wildcats get to play at home each year, not counting any postseason contests.
“There have been so many special Friday nights (or Saturday afternoons) over the years, and there will be many more to come in the future,” Parnell said. “Friday nights in Cassville are special and take so many different people doing a number of things to be successful.”
The year-round aspect comes in field maintenance, as each month, Parnell said a crew of six school staff spray for crabgrass control and sand and fertilize. Proper irrigation and mowing is completed two to three times per week over the summer, and the field gets gameweek cuts on Sundays and Wednesdays before Friday home games.
“We do proper irrigation for optimal turf growth and ground conditions,” Parnell said. “And, the field is painted on Thursday prior to home games, and the sideline tarp is put down on Friday.”
When game day arrives, volunteers and staff begin prepping at Wildcat Stadium as early as 4 p.m., including in the press box, in the stadium, in the concession stand and at the gate.
The press box alone requires six positions — announcer, spotter, clock operator, play clock operator, video board operator, and music and sound operator — which are handled by a team of five: Stan Kelley, Kelly Mills, Mark Kelley, Laith Hayward and Levi Hayward.
“There is a lot of prep that goes into the press box,” Parnell said. “Janelle Kelly does a great job putting together the press box folder that includes all game announcements, rosters, official signal chart, band half time show information and any special recognition night information. All equipment is tested the day of a game to ensure it is working properly. Video ads are prepped in the summer leading up to the season for local sponsors. We also test all IT stuff during the day prior to the game and work out any issues.”
Additionally, the press box also includes Radio Talon staff Sammy Clapper, Jeremy Marple and Todd Speakman “We have the best radio/online crew in the area,” Parnell said.
Stadium prep work begins in the summer before a season begins, and home game-specific preparations begin on Thursdays.
“Maintenance and custodial staff, the athletic director, the head football coach and the director of concessions all take part,” Parnell said. “We check the scoreboard, play clocks, lights and the sound system. The field is also painted, concession stand set up, flags put out, track mats put down and sideline tarps put up.”
At the concession stand, 10-15 high school students in the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Club work alongside 4-6 adults.
“Rob Bredeson is the director of all concession stands, and he works very hard and begins to prepare for a Friday night game day in advance — about 6-8 hours of prep,” Parnell said.
On average, the stand delivers 200 hamburgers 180 hot dogs per game, which also takes a few extra hands, volunteers Mike Hagins and Levi Hayward on the grill.
“[The concessions budget] changes year to year depending on the number of home games we have throughout the season,” Parnell said. “And all fall activities are included into the concessions account. [Concession earnings] go back into the concessions account to pay expenses. The revenue is then used for additional needs for all athletic programs.”
With prep work handled, the next facet is maybe the most overlooked. Four individuals work the gates, admitting 1,750 attendees on average in the 2024 season.
“[Five home varsity games netted] $22,275,” Parnell said. “That money goes into the athletic budget to help offset athletic costs.”
In the stadium and with concessions fare in hand, spectators ready for some football are first treated to the Wildcat Pride Marching Band’s performance of the National Anthem, alma Mater and Fight Song, and the cheer squad pumps up fans for the Wildcats’ run-out, also holding the banner for the tradition.
When both teams are ready to play, there’s a key cog in the wheel that is handled months prior — officials.
“Officials are scheduled in the spring prior to the beginning of the next football season,” Parnell said. “Communication takes place days prior to the game. If there is going to be a conflict, a backup official is in place so that the game will have a full crew.”
Both sidelines also have game crews, the chain gang on the visitor sideline and stat keepers on the home sideline who all arrive at 6:15 p.m. The five-man chain crew included David Craig, Bub Craig, Mike Hagins, Rick Cooper and Merle Rogers, and stat keepers are Ken Latcher, Drew Henbest and Steven Henbest.
“These are all community members that have volunteered their time for years,” Parnell said.
Finally, in case of incident or injury, Friday nights require a helping hand with safety.
“ Communication to the Cassville Police Department, Barry County Sheriff’s Office, South Barry County Ambulance District and Cassville Volunteer Fire Protection District all occurs in the summer prior to the season beginning to coordinate home dates and ensure Friday night coverage,” Parnell said. “All Cassville administration are also at each home game for added security.”
Also volunteering their time are numerous band parents who help set up and take down for the halftime show and a student who reads a public service announcement regarding sportsmanship. Maintenance staff also clean the stands after each contest.
“I am sure there are many things that are being left out that happen so that Friday night football is a great experience for our community,” Parnell said.
