All in a Day's Work

What possessed nearly two-dozen students and six parents to give up most of a beautiful Saturday in September?

Why on earth did these folks make their way to the bowels of Sanford Stadium around noon Sept. 10 and congregate at a 12’ x 60’ bunker where they would remain – together, in very close quarters – for the next nine to ten hours, preparing and serving “refreshments” to many of the 92,746 football fans who partook of ?

The scenario plays out at every home game, with the same students and assorted parents working at the mezzanine level concession stand opposite seating section 128, preparing such delights as boiled peanuts, jumbo dogs, nachos, giant pretzels and barbecue sandwiches, and serving up 487 gallons of various Coca-Cola products.

The students are staff members of the CCHS award-winning news magazine Odyssey, a publication that annually amazes readers of all ages with its varied content and skillful writing. Incidentally, Odyssey was recently named a finalist for the National Scholastic Press Association’s Pacemaker award, honoring the nation’s best high school news publications. Odyssey faculty advisor was attending a journalism conference in Asheville yesterday and thus missed the home opener, but he’ll serve as hot dog guru the rest of the season.

Odyssey is one of many nonprofit and school groups that take advantage of the opportunity to run concessions for UGA football games in exchange for a percentage of sales.

Aramark, the University’s contracted vendor, works closely with volunteer groups, offering training and supervision as well as assistance during games. Groups earn ten percent of total sales from their particular concession stand. Odyssey depends on fundraising to produce six or seven news magazines each school year. The students and many of their parents will work all six home games this fall, earning $8,000 to $9,000 during the season for approximately 1,400 hours logged.

The gates at Sanford Stadium opened at 3:00 p.m. Saturday. Within 15 minutes, long lines had formed at the stand. There seemingly was no let-up until midway through the fourth quarter. Workers were aware of when the game’s big plays occurred, thanks to the roaring crowd, but had little idea of the score, let alone what the game clock read.

It would be several hours after the fans departed that the Odyssey entourage finished taking inventory and tabulating sales, cleaning the concession stand and its equipment, and finally heading for home after a long day’s work.

Subscriptions to Odyssey, published throughout the school year, are available to the general public for $30.00. Contact David Ragsdale at for more information.