A Friday Night Football Tradition

No one can ever claim that Huntington High School football players don’t like to eat. The Blue Devils had an array of food choices last Friday night in the school cafeteria for a huge Homecoming feast.

Huntington football parents put out a delectable spread for players and coaches at last week’s team dinner. About 90 varsity and junior varsity players came hungry and devoured almost everything in near-record time. Several dozen parents also participated in the meal, which was served by the many of the player’s mothers.

“The varsity parents host a dinner every Friday night in the high school cafeteria after the varsity practice,” said parent Christina Plant, who coordinates the evening along with Nancy Kocis and the help of many other parents. “We make homemade food and the moms serve it to the boys. Each player truly loves having the moms and dads and families there to wish them well before the games on Saturday. Each boy is guaranteed to have a hot, filing meal the night before a big game.”  

Players often request various specialties and look forward to it each week. “For Homecoming each year, we invite the JV team and families to join us,” Mrs. Plant said. “Homecoming was really special since I e-mailed some of last years’ parents and was very excited when they showed up and brought their special dish. They even said how much they miss this tradition every Friday night!”

Last week’s affair drew a crowd of about 125. Huntington School Board member Bari Fehrs even stopped in while making the rounds on Float Night. Mrs. Plant said players especially love “homemade specialties” and many parents are happy to oblige.

The menu typically includes chicken parmigiana, London broil, chicken cutlets, honey baked ham, Sloppy Joe’s, chicken wings, sausage and peppers, veal parmigiana, empanadas, turkey, tacos, pulled pork, hamburger sliders, macaroni and cheese, pasta with tomato sauce, pasta with butter, ravioli, pasta salad, rice and beans, baked ziti, Greek salad, Caesar salad, Italian bread and rolls, cakes, fruit pies, brownies, cookies and other assorted desserts.

“The Friday night dinners have a small hometown feel and it is a nice little community of football parents, players and coaches,” Mrs. Plant said. “I cannot believe that after six years of helping out every fall Friday night, my son, Tommy is graduating in June. Our group of seniors has been playing together since third grade with Huntington village league at Mill Dam. It is amazing they are still together after all these years! It has been a lot of fun planning these dinners and seeing how much the boys appreciate them.”  

 “The parents go out of their way to provide an extravagant spread and the players and coaches really love and appreciate it,” assistant coach Ron Wilson said.