Friday, Aug. 29 will be Elverado Falcons Night at VanMetre Field

The Du Quoin High School football Indians will open their 2014 season at home Aug. 29 against Highland with "Elverado Falcons Night" at the stadium.

The newly created co-op program provides for one Elverado fundraiser at the stadium during the season and this is it.

Robert Cavitt of the Elverado Booster Club explains.

"The Elverado Booster Club is a non-profit organization that provides funds for kids to participate in sports. Sports can give them discipline, teamwork skills, setting goals, and sometimes a extra role model in life. We also cover costs for low income families for equipment, insurance, doctors physicals, start up costs, etc..., for our entire school district. Our big purchase this coming school year is new uniforms for the varsity boys and girls basketball teams at a cost of over $4000. We also award sports scholarships, if we have the funds available, at graduation," Cavitt said.

"The more we raise, the more kids we can help."

"Our club will have one night for our annual fundraiser since we have no home games at our field in Elkville this year," he said.

"On Aug. 29, 2014, on "Elverado Falcons Night" at VanMetre Field, we are having our annual Booster Club BBQ and "Made in America" raffle and silent auction. Our organization will be needed more than ever this year because of the many budget cuts coming in the 2014-2015 school year," he said.

"Individuals and companies can help us by providing funds or by donating goods and services. All donations can be mailed to the high school or to the address below (Attention: Elverado Booster Club) or we would be happy to pick up your contribution. Please feel free to contact me at (618)521-6528 if you have any questions."

"Thank you to all the generous people who have helped before and our future contributors. It's all for the kids!"

Between 20 and 25 Elverado football players will be on the Du Quoin roster this year.

Here are the guidelines for the co-op program.

1. The name of the team will be Du Quoin Indians with designation as Du Quoin-Elverado Cooperative for IHSA purposes.

2. All home games will be played at Du Quoin High School.

3. All equipment, aside from shoes, socks, and personally purchased helmets will be provided by Du Quoin High School.

4. Transportation of Elverado athletes to practices and home games will be provided by Elverado High School. For away games all athletes will be bussed by Du Quoin High School from Du Quoin High School other than when Du Quoin transportation will be traveling through Elverado and Elverado athletes would be picked up at Elverado High School.

5. Coaching staff will be composed of current Du Quoin High School staff with Elverado High School providing one coaching staff member. Compensation will be the responsibility of the school employing their respective coaches.

6. Liability insurance for Du Quoin High School and Elverado High School football athletes will be provided by Du Quoin CUSD #300. Personal health insurance coverage for football purposes will be the responsibility of each athlete. Elverado High School will provide a certificate of liability to Du Quoin CUSD #300

7. Each school will set its own academic standards and conduct their own eligibility checks with ineligible athletes being identified by each school's administration.

8. Each school's football athletes will follow the code of conduct/athletic policy of their schools with Elverado High School football athletes also participating in the Du Quoin High School extra-curricular drug testing program.

9. Gate receipts will be designated for Du Quoin CUSD #300 with 50 season tickets being provided to Elverado High School with the intent of sale of season tickets to offset the cost of the cooperative.

10. Concession stands will be operated by Du Quoin High School clubs/organizations.

11. One home game each year will be designated as "Elverado Night" with game and fundraising activities determined by mutual agreement of each school's administration.

12. Elverado High School will provide administrative representation for each varsity home football game.