Percy Julian, Sidney Lanier faced scheduling woes ahead of first football game of the year

The first football game of the season for Percy Julian and Sidney Lanier high schools was wrought with chaos before the first whistle blew.

For a period of time, students, parents and coaches alike did not even know if the game would happen this weekend because the schools had not found a location to play it.

Initially, Cramton Bowl agreed to host the Phoenixes and the Poets for their season kickoff on Friday, Aug. 25, but as finalized schedules came out, officials realized they had made a scheduling error.

Beauregard and Selma were set to play on Thursday, Thompson and Opelika on Friday, and Mercer University and the University of North Alabama on Saturday. Cramton Bowl had a full weekend of football games, but Julian-Lanier was not one of them.

The next location MPS looked to was the stadium where Wetumpka High School’s team plays. That’s where Julian and Lanier parents and students thought the game would be held until word began to spread that no location had been solidified.

Officials from the Wetumpka Sports Complex did not respond to the Advertiser’s request for comment, and the online schedule showed no events scheduled for Aug. 25 and 26.

On the Tuesday before the game, dozens of parents and community members began circulating a message on social media addressed to “the Montgomery Public School system and to whom else it may concern.” It was also posted to a number of community message boards.

“We understand the circumstances that surrounds Lee/Percy Julian High School; however, our kids deserves the same respect and opportunities as the other schools in this city and school system. Unforeseen situations happens everywhere in this country, and as leaders, you all should be seeking solutions instead of allowing the kids to suffer due to those unforeseen situations,” the message read, in part.

MPS renamed Robert E. Lee High School to Percy Julian High School in November 2022, but the community is still transitioning to using the new name.

Shortly after people began voicing their concerns on social media, the schools announced that the game was on, set for 8 p.m. on Saturday at Booker T. Washington High School in Tuskegee. The school is at 3803 W. Martin Luther King Highway.

Montgomery Public Schools spokesperson Jade Jones said the coaches at Julian and Lanier used their own personal connections to nail down the location.

BTW Tuskegee’s head football coach Lawrence O’Neal took to social media to thank Macon County Schools officials for joining with him to help out Julian and Lanier.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy,” he said. “Big shoutout to our Superintendent Melissa Williams, AD Mr. Nelson, Principal Brelinda Copeland Sullen for stepping in & being a great neighbor.”

Hadley Hitson covers children's health, education and welfare for the Montgomery Advertiser. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to the Advertiser.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Julian, Lanier announce last-minute changes to first football game