Finding the money for high school sports is difficult

Ok here it is. Pueblo is known for their love of football. Now at least in the last five years the Pueblo sports teams have shown that they can compete again and beat the Colorado Springs preps whom for many years have dominated the playoffs and crowns. Finally the city has pulled together a CSU Pueblo college football team. I do not know bout you but I would like to see our prep footballers have the ability to continue to compete at a high level. Everyone should understand in order to compete and stay healthy, the player will need the top of the line equipment. Now! would it be great to have more of our home home bred football heroes playing for our own Colorado University Pueblo 's Thunder wolves while grabbing those scholarships? Well yeah ! The sure way to open that door even wider is to help fund the Pueblo school's sport programs. Hey " Build it and they will come" by James Mata

''The bitterness of poor quality remains long after low pricing is forgotten!'' - Leon M. Cautillo

By JOE E. CERVI

THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Central High School head football coach Dave Craddock looks as comfortable on a golf course as Tiger Woods looks in shoulder pads.

But like Woods, Craddock's time on the links is spent trying to make money. Not through winning tournaments or betting buddies $5 a hole, but by hosting a tournament each year to raise money for his football program.

All high school coaches, and coaches at the middle school and club levels, too, spend as much time fundraising as they do coaching. And all agree there is no “fun” in fundraising.

"No coach just coaches anymore," Craddock said. "You have to raise money just to get your teams on the field. If you don't, your programs would fold."

Craddock, the elder statesman of the four Pueblo City Schools football coaches, just completed his 13th year with the whistle. His annual budget 13 years ago was $7,000. His projected budget next season is the same $7,000. MORE ON THIS STORY > Pueblo Chieftian Sports

PUEBLO CITY SCHOOLS 2007-08

Total budget: $196 million A

mount allocated to athletics: $1.59 million

ATHLETIC BUDGET PER HIGH SCHOOL:

Centennial: $40,000 (plus $1,951)

Central: $40,000 (plus $5,530)

East: $40,000 (plus $2,277)

South: $40,000 (plus $7,156)

(Additional money comes from $17,000 in concession profits that is divided by the number of events worked).

DISTRICT 70

2007-08 Total budget: $84.8 million

Amount allocated to athletics: $972,776

ATHLETIC BUDGET PER HIGH SCHOOL

Pueblo County: $118,419 (including $15,000 for hockey not funded by district).

Pueblo West: $125,198 (including $30,000 for lacrosse not funded by district).

Rye: $42,600