Parking is money for Southwest

Fundraising is part of the routine for most high school squads, but the Minneapolis Southwest football team is especially driven to make money for the program. Truthfully, though, driven might not be the right word. That's because the Lakers do a lot more parking than driving.

They have become seasoned pros in the art of systematically directing large numbers of cars to designated spots. This week, for example, the Lakers finished their performance at the State Fair, working every day from 5 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the parking lots that surround the fairgrounds. If you and your car attended the State Fair, the flag-waving folks who guided you to a parking spot might well have been Southwest football players.

They also were employed during the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament in Edina in June, and they have become regulars at the Uptown Art Fair.

"There are so many weird opportunities at the fair to make money," Southwest coach Sean McMenomy said. "We're happy with our parking gig. That's kind of our forte."

This year's parking gig at the fair brought in $13,000 for the Southwest football program. And like most sports programs at public schools in the city, that money is desperately needed.

The Lakers -- who play tonight at Waseca -- also sell coupon books to raise money, and a series of pancake breakfasts is in the works. If things go well, the football team will raise between $40,000 and $50,000 this year.

The activity fee at Minneapolis' seven public high schools is $70, and McMenomy said 20 to 30 percent of the fundraising proceeds go toward paying those fees for students who cannot afford them. The money also is used for equipment, uniforms, practice gear and everything else needed for a football team.

Coaches and parents made sure the players made it to the State Fair every day, picking up kids from home, dropping them off at the fairgrounds and shepherding them home afterward.

"It's long hours, but it gets us some money," senior offensive lineman Tom Silverman said. Asked if there is any excitement in the job, he said, "Absolutely none. You pretty much stand in a parking lot with a flag for like seven hours."

Almost all of the 82 Southwest football players worked at the fair in rotating shifts. This is the second year the Lakers have been employed by the fair.

"They understand its importance to the program," McMenomy said. "For most of the guys it's nothing new. They know they've got these gigs."

McMenomy said he spends much more time dealing with fundraising than coaching, which is, sadly, becoming more and more the case with coaches in lots of sports all over the state.

"It's ridiculous how much time [we spend]," he said. "I'm out at meetings or setting things up. But our parents have really stepped up and taken a lot of things off my shoulders. Our core group of parents has been amazing."

Working in the parking lots wasn't the only job performed by Southwest athletes at the fair this year. The cross-country teams had their own special task: They cleaned stables.