This football season, Florida High finds itself with an unusual schedule: only three home games instead of the usual five. The change stems from a mix of factors, including district reclassification and shifts in opponents, leaving the Seminoles with more road trips than normal.
Some coaches and staff expressed mixed feelings about the shift. Athletic Director Anthony Robinson said the physical challenges athletes face are a big concern with away games. “That’s a good and bad thing. The good is we currently have a respectable program, and the bad is it makes it difficult to find home games,” Robinson said.
Head varsity football coach Jarrod Hickman explained that several issues contributed to the unusual schedule. The stadium was renovated last year, which pushed home games back until the middle of the season. Florida High Athletics also had a contract from Miami that could not be filled. On top of that, Taylor County left the district, taking away a planned home game. This left Florida High with three home games.
Photo courtesy of The Renegade.
Hickman said the constant travel is demanding. “Parents and fans might not understand the dynamic of trying to get home games and filling out a schedule year to year,” Hickman said.
For players, the lack of home games brings both challenges and opportunities.
Senior defensive tackle Jermaine Aliche said the focus is on long road trips and staying mentally sharp. “I think there’s an opportunity to prove ourselves,” Aliche said.
Fellow senior Jacob Payne shared a similar outlook, calling it a “big mix-up with everything moving around.” Payne acknowledged it was a challenge but emphasized that the schedule could also work in the team’s favor. He described it as “a challenge with a lot of opportunities,” since they would be “potentially seeing these opponents again in the future.”
