Hurricane Irma has come and gone but the damage has been done, and for one high school being stranded was the big problem.
Miami Dolphin players heard the news about Central High School being stranded in Las Vegas, and the players gave aid for the local high school team.
Dolphins players are paying for transportation costs for the 69 players, coaches and staff members of the team and lodging.
The Central coach Roland Smith was also drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1991, he said,
“I’m ecstatic because anytime you see an organization like the Dolphins think about and take care of a high school team like ourselves, that’s amazing.”
Recently Central upset three-time national champion Bishop Gorman, a team that’s nationally ranked number 16 by USA Today.
Unfortunately Central realizes that being ranked doesn’t mean funds come in like a national program.
“We don’t have a budget like the Dolphins,” Smith said. “We don’t have a budget like a college. We don’t have a national budget to stay extra days after a game and stuff like that.”
Due to the Hurricane canceling flights the team was unable to get a flight with 69 available seats at once. SpringHill suites was were they laid their heads, while the staff tried to come up with ways to get everyone home.
Thanks to people like Tray Dayton and the Miami Herald getting the news out, because that’s how players like, receiver Kenny Stills, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, safety Reshad Jones, and receiver Jarvis Landry were able to pitch in and help.
The Dolphins also managed to swing a deal with Dignitary Transportation and that service would pick up Central players and take them to the school.
Coach Smith added,
“We don’t have big booster clubs like other schools have that can take care of things like this,” Smith said. “But when you have an organization the kids look up to and they step forward, it’s an awesome thing.”