MOORE — When Chuck Peot took over the football program at Southwest Christian Academy, he knew he had a big job in front of him. Not only did the first-time head coach have the task of turning the Eagles into a competitive team, but he also took on the daunting task of getting the word out about the team.
SCA, located at 1005-A S.W. 4th St., has had a football team since 1997. Since they have not had the same success as the likes of Community Christian School, Bishop McGuinness or Heritage Hall, it has gone unnoticed by the Moore residents and media.
“This is the other side of private schools,” Peot said.
Peot is in his first year as the Eagles head coach. He was an assistant last year on a squad that went 4-6 and were eliminated in the first round of the Christian School Playoffs.
But that is when the real work started for Peot and his four assistant coaches.
“We don’t have the luxuries of the public schools,” Peot said. “We have to raise our funds for everything we want. We are constantly looking into fundraising.”
The Eagles are in the same 8-man football league as Community Christian School, Rejoice, Life Christian, Lawton Christian and Windsor Hill.
“I would guess we are the smallest as far as enrollment,” Peot said. “Even to make up this team, we have homeschooled kids on the team.”
To play varsity football at SCA, students have to pay $100 in athletic fees. Those who are homeschooled pay $150.
SCA raised about $6,000 during the offseason. That afforded them to get new 23 uniforms, which is exactly how many players they have on their roster. If one more person had decided to play, they would not of had enough.
While the uniforms are nice, what Eagles hope to have one day is their own field. Right now, they are forced to practice on a pubic field and hold all of their home games at opposing schools.
“It is a bit of a disadvantage, but it is something we are used to,” Peot said. “If we prepare ourselves correctly and give all of our efforts, we will win no matter where we are playing.”
Even though a field of their own would be at the top of the team’s wish list, Peot knows other priorities have to be taken care of first.
“I think a lot of things will need to align,” Peot said. “Of course, money is always huge. Right now we are just trying to raise enough money to have uniforms that are not 10 years old, bus money to get us to games, medical supplies and equipment. If we can get this program a quarterback club and start raising money on a regular basis, we will start making a dent in some of those bigger goals like our own field. Today we were lucky enough to get water bottles.”
According to Peot, to fully fund a team of the Eagles size for an entire season, they would need close to $10,000. Raising that type of money in a school the size of Southwest Christian has proven to be difficult.
“I’m sure there have been times when they thought about it,” Peot said. “But the school wants to give the students every chance of an outlet that they can. That’s why I started calling and letting people know there is a school out here trying to make the kids better in sports and life.”
