Brandon Players, Supporters Talk Football at 'Fighting Eagles Car Wash'

After an outstanding 9-1 season, Brandon High School’s football team is looking forward to an even better season this year.

But as any football coach will tell you, games are often won before they are played and preparation is one of the keys to victory.

The Brandon Eagles took a small step in that direction July 30, at Advance Discount Auto Parts, with a car wash fundraiser they held to help with salaries for assistant coaches and a new weight room.

They will need it.

The Eagles “reward” for a , where they fell short in the first round of the playoffs, is arguably one of the hardest schedules in the state, with games against powerhouse teams like Armwood, Plant and Jefferson.

The Eagles first home game is Aug. 26 against Blake. Armwood comes to Brandon Sept. 2.

“There’s very little money for assistant coaches and we have five assistant coaches between the varsity and junior varsity teams,” said Norman Jones, the coach of the school’s junior varsity football team. “The head coach (John Lima) is hoping to raise some funds today to help pay for those.”

The team’s supporters also hope to fund new equipment for the school’s weight room.

“For a school that is approaching its 100-year anniversary (the school will celebrate the landmark in 2014) the equipment in the weight room is old and antiquated," Jones said. "We’d like to get the students more modern equipment."

Added Lori Jones, president of the Eagles Football Club: “The new equipment would be something all the athletic teams at the school could use."

Garrett Stanbro, an Eagles quarterback, knows the upcoming season will be no cakewalk.

“I think we have the hardest schedule in the state but I want us to go undefeated,” Stanbro said. “It all depends on the team. I think we have the team to do it and we have the best coach in the state so I think we can.”