The Carson High School Football team received professional treatment earlier this month while they were in Las Vegas for their game against Basic Academy. The Carson City gridiron athletes not only had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to run drills and a full practice inside the Las Vegas Raiders’ state-of-the-art indoor practice facility, but they were also offered official Raider-branded memorabilia as tokens of their visit including hats and brand-new football cleats for some players whose shoes were torn up and worn-out.
After attempts to get a tour of Allegiant Stadium, which fell through because of a Beyonce performance, the personalized visit and ensuing practice at the Intermountain Health Performance Center, the same field where their NFL heroes hone their skills, was coordinated by the Raiders’ manager of football development. After several phone calls, Carson High Defensive Coordinator Justin Barlow secured the details of the visit including having the experience documented by the Raiders’ professional photographer Tyge O’Donnell.
“The excitement was palpable. The Las Vegas Raiders proved to be gracious hosts, extending a warm welcome to our high school team,” Coach Barlow said. “It was a moment of camaraderie that bridged the gap between aspiring high school athletes and their professional counterparts.”
The chance to practice in such a top-notch environment, under the banners of one of the NFL's most storied franchises is an experience they will remember for the rest of their lives, Barlow continued.
To view all the photos, please visit the Raiders’ website. Photo credit: Tyge O’Donnell.