Vaught's Views: Boyle County football holding Steak or Bean dinner

Fundraising can be challenging for any high school sports team. In a difficult economy where teams are having to raise more and more money, the task has become even more difficult.
Boyle County’s Class AAAA state championship team is trying to raise significant funds now to pay for state championship rings.
That’s why coach Larry French hopes his team has found a unique fundraiser with his first “Steak and Beans Dinner” scheduled Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Boyle High School gymnasium.
“Our Quarterback Club does a great job raising funds and wants to do all it can to help us purchase rings to commemorate the school’s seventh state championship and reward the players for the great season they had,” said French. “We have several fundraisers planned, but we hope this one will be a major fundraiser and make a significant impact on our ring fund.”
Here’s how it will work. Each football player will have seven tickets to sell for $30 each. That player will be in his jersey Feb. 26 and will serve those seated at his table and will give each person who buys a ticket a spirit shirt that night. However, for those at the table to eat steak, the player must sell all seven tickets. If six or fewer are sold, those seated at that player’s table will eat beans and cornbread, not steak.
“We hope that provides plenty of incentive for every player to get his seven tickets sold,” French said. “But I am sure we will have some people eating cornbread and beans and getting to watch others eat steak. It should be fun.”
However, regardless of what you get to eat if you attend, there is one guarantee — you will get to hear former Boyle star and current Indianapolis Colts tight end Jacob Tamme speak.
“We thought having Jacob would make the night special for everyone,” French said. “He was gracious enough to agree to come back and speak, and that means a lot because I know how busy he is even during the offseason. But I think everyone will enjoy getting to hear him talk.”
They should. Tamme has become a significant NFL player — and he remembers his roots well.
French said all tickets will be sold in advance with none available on Feb. 26. Tickets can be purchased from any Boyle player or by calling French at 859-236-5047 at the high school.
“Hopefully our fans, our parents and our players will all have some fun with this and it will be a good night for everyone,” French said. “I know our players are looking forward to hearing Jacob, and so am I.”
And so will those who get to eat steak and not beans.