Published: October 30, 2009 10:30 am      

Minutemen make a noise at Concord

DUNLAP — If you follow Concord High School sports, more than likely you’ve seen these guys.

After all, there are very few sporting events they miss.

Ten senior members of Concord’s student cheer block affectionately refer to themselves as “Vaughn’s Platoon.” The group is named after one of the group’s favorite teachers and assistant football coach, Sam Vaughn.

“We started as a group of people that just got together to watch the games. But we have grown,” said “Platoon” member Stefan Donat.

Vaughn has been an integral part of the group’s growth and has contributed ideas. Platoon members said they also discuss possible themes with Athletic Director Dave Preheim. When administrator Larry Jackowiak passed away in September, the group made ribbons to wear in his memory.

“The school doesn’t seem to mind. We approve everything through them beforehand and clean up after every game,” fellow platooner Matt Schoeffler said.

Immediately following classes on the Fridays of home football games, the group sets up tents and portable grills in the student parking lot, with food and activities available for anyone who wants to support the green and white. At each tailgate, a different platooner provides the food, usually courtesy of a run to Martin’s Supermarket.

“School gets out at 2:55. We start setting up at 3,” Donat said. Since students are currently on fall break, however, they plan to devote a lot more time to their pregame routine prior to tonight’s game. The guys said the first tailgate they held was a rousing success, with between 50 to 80 people attending by their count. However, as the temperature has dropped, the parties have been relegated primarily to the diehards. They are planning on going all-out for sectionals, with food provided by locally award-winning “First Down Barbecue.”

The students do not limit their support to just the football team however. They have traveled at least once to follow every team during the fall season, including recently going to Indianapolis to support the tennis team — of which Schoeffler is a member of — during the state finals. They plan on providing the same support to the winter and spring sports teams once those seasons get under way.

Though the group is still in its infancy, the guys said they hope the tradition continues beyond this school year.

“It just started this year, but we really hope it keeps going,” Schoeffler said.