MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Alabama football coach and West Virginia native Nick Saban is following Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher by reaching out to high schools in Alabama to help West Virginia schools affected by last month’s devastating floods.
Also a West Virginia native, Fisher had asked Florida high schools on Wednesday to donate uniforms to help teams in flood-ravaged areas rebuild their programs.
Saban did the same on Thursday in Alabama.
“Football was such an important part of my childhood in West Virginia, and to see the devastation the flooding has caused, and how it has threatened so many high school football teams, we wanted to find a way to help,” he said in a release. “We are asking each high school from across the state to donate a full uniform to help these schools get their kids back on the football field this season.”
Also from the release:
Many of the West Virginia high schools affected by this flooding are in need of all types of football pads and uniforms. High schools making donations are being asked to provide one uniform, including helmet, a pair of shoulder pads, two knee pads, two thigh pads, a girdle, practice pants, practice jersey and one pair of cleats. Small and medium sizes are in the most need, but large will also be accepted.
The Alabama football program will collect all of these uniforms by July 25 so they can be transported to West Virginia. Those wishing to help can send their donations to: Mal Moore Athletic Complex, Attn: Jeff Springer, 323 Bryant Dr., Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.
MetroNews and the WVSSAC set up a GoFundMe account to raise donations to help purchase uniforms and equipment for teams and bands.
Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/suitemup.