Jesuit College Prep’s football program is no stranger to playing road games. In 2010, amidst construction of the Jesuit Stadium, the varsity team played 10 of 11 games on the road, earning the “Road Warriors” moniker.
A highlight of the season was the Week 1 game against Strake Jesuit, a renewed rivalry between the only two Catholic high schools in 5A football. For that game, the Rangers and their rowdy fans traveled to Houston, where Strake is located. But next fall, the Jesuit team will travel a bit farther for their first road game of the season. 4,400 miles farther to be exact.
On August 31, 2012, the Jesuit football team will take on Loyola High School (Chicago) in an exhibition game in Dublin, Ireland. The match is one of four high school games leading up to the Notre Dame-Navy football game on September 1. The Rangers, along with six other United States high school teams, will travel to the Emerald Isle next August for a week of football.
“Last spring, [Jesuit athletic director] Steve Koch was approached by the Global Ireland Football Tournament with a unique opportunity,” says booster club member Suzanne Durham. “They were helping plan an American football exposition weekend in Dublin, Ireland, and discussed with Coach Koch the possibility of Jesuit playing another high school as part of the Dublin Friday Night Lights exposition.”
By early summer, Jesuit had signed off on the program, and the Rangers were set to play a football game four thousand miles from home. Since then, Coach Koch’s office, the Jesuit booster club, and our football program have been working tirelessly to make the travel arrangements and set the itinerary for the trip.
Unlike last year’s trek to Houston, the trip to Ireland will require more than bus travel; suffice it to say that transporting hundreds of players, coaches, parents, and community members is a tall order. Jesuit’s travel plans are being handled by Anthony Travel, a well regarded travel agency that specializes in athletic event travel. “Interestingly enough, Anthony Travel is a Texas-based company owned by the relatives of the Stoutenburgh family, members of the Jesuit community [including Dennis Stoutenburgh, ’14],” says Durham. “They are also handling all of Notre Dame’s and Navy’s travel plans.”
Jesuit players and fans will arrive in Dublin on August 28, three days before the August 31 game. The football team, while adjusting to the time difference, will practice on the two days leading up to the game at Dublin-area football stadiums.
Aside from the Jesuit-Loyola game, travelers will take place in one of two tours of Dublin and the surrounding area. Members of the Jesuit community will be able to take in the foreign scenery and sample Dublin’s culinary offerings, with Irish pub visits expected.
Fans can also watch the three other high school games on Friday, and tickets to the sold-out Notre Dame-Navy game are included in the travel package. “The days leading up to the game will be busy and fun, letting Dallasites taste Ireland before the games,” said Durham. “There are going to be a whole bunch of educational opportunities on the trip.
“It lets players and fans check the ‘visit Ireland’ box off of their bucket list,” added Durham with a smile.
Players are already abuzz with excitement over the opportunity to demonstrate the school’s football prowess overseas. “I love that we have the chance to represent Jesuit on an international stage,” says WR Justin Montgomery ’14. “We’ll get to show the rest of the world what Jesuit football is made of.”
Students express equal excitement about seeing the Notre Dame-Navy game the next day. “I’ll definitely be cheering for my Navy team in that game,” adds Montgomery.
Most of all, players are excited for the unique opportunity of visiting Ireland to kick off the football season. “It’s always been my dream to play a football game in Ireland,” Montgomery declares. “It looks like the dream is coming true.”
Contact athletic director Steve Koch if interested in taking part in the trip.
