full storyCumberland County's high school football coaches aren't always easy to convince change is a good thing, but most of them are supportive of this year's move to hold the annual football jamboree at Fayetteville State University after previously taking place at Pine Forest High School.
The coaches and other school officials gathered at Fayetteville State's Capel Arena on Monday for the annual press conference to preview this year's jamboree, which is scheduled Thursday at 5 p.m at FSU.
If there's anyone truly glad the jamboree is moving, it's likely Pine Forest's Bill Sochovka. His staff, the Pine Forest administration and the school's boosters shouldered much of the work preparing for the previous jamborees. Now the burden has been lifted and the Trojans will just need to show up and play like everyone else.
"I think it's great for Fayetteville State to get a group of people who might not normally be coming to their place," Sochovka said. "When a kid steps on a college field, it just brings up the excitement to start off the football season."
Sochovka isn't predicting problems with the change, but said anytime you do something different, there could be some. "I think once they get here and see the facility itself, it will give another atmosphere to it," he said.
South View coach Randy Ledford called it a big positive for the players to give them a chance to see all the new facilities at Fayetteville State. "It's a positive thing for the kids, and that's what this is about."
Ledford said he hopes the turnout will stay the same. He attended last year's UNC-Pembroke at Fayetteville State game when Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium was packed. "I hope all the people of Fayetteville will come out Thursday and see these kids," Ledford said.
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