Warrior fans follow team across the state
Pep bus makes it easy
for fans to attend games
Looking at this year's Marion High School football schedule may have caused some fans to roll their eyes.
Not because the strength of the opponents, but because of the long travel to play those opponents.
Sixty-six miles to Lyons. 71 miles to Nickerson. 108 miles to Hoisington. With the dramatic increase in gas prices it looked pretty expensive to travel and show support for the Warriors.
Along came the Marion-Florence USD 408 and the new and improved "pep bus."
The bus is designed to take fans to away games so they don't have to drive. It allows fans to travel together, creating an exciting atmosphere before the game. On top of that, the district foots the entire bill of the trip.
MHS principal Ken Arnhold said the system had been used in the past, but was never open to the public like it is now. Still, students make up a big part of the riders.
"In the old league distances just weren't that far," Arnhold said. "Now more kids are starting to ride the bus and they've made them more fun."
Every Monday before a road football game a list is posted in the high school office and anyone can sign up. Non-high school students who are interested in riding can call the central office to sign up.
If the bus is half-full the trip is on. After the first road game it was obvious that wasn't going to be a problem.
"We were almost too full," Arnhold said.
That first trip to Nickerson looked as if Marion had more fans than the Panthers.
Now that the football season has ended Arnhold said the bus will be good to go once the basketball season arrives in December.
Road trips such as Smoky Valley, Hoisington, and Ellinwood should make the bus a sought after commodity.
Anyone interested in signing up can call 382-2117 before each road game.
