Start of a Legacy: Task Turns into Tradition at Burnett Junior High

Turning a tedious task into a new tradition, football families were invited to “Decals with Dads” at Burnett Junior High.

Every year, football coaches and players undertake the important task of thoroughly cleaning all the football helmets and replacing the stickers.

With 112 eighth graders and 94 seventh graders, this annual duty came to be quite overwhelming.

“It was taking a lot of time to get this done during practice,” BJHS football coach Curtis Holtz said. “We had a new coach come in who brought this idea to us.”

Thanks to Coach Sean Garrett, for the first time, BJHS athletes’ families were invited to help with helmet maintenance—turning the task into a celebration.

Though dubbed “Decals with Dads,” all family members were welcome to attend to help their football player kick off the season.

Cruz Padron is a receiver on the eighth-grade team.

 
“Every year, we put new stickers on to help create a new identity on the field,” Padron said.

He brought along a seasoned assistant—his older brother, Luke. Having played varsity football at Wylie East, Luke is no stranger to the task and has applied countless stickers to helmets throughout his football career.

“I really miss playing football,” Luke said. “It’s great to return and contribute, allowing me to stay connected with the sport I love.”

Tad Goeger has a seventh grader, Eli, and an eighth grader, Zakary, playing football at Burnett this year.

“I think this is a cool idea,” Goeger said. “It’s great to see everyone here. It’s fun for the kids to get their numbers and it gives us parents a chance to see their lockers and the locker room without being rushed.”

By involving families in the team's preparations, “Decals with Dads” strengthens the bond between home and school, fostering a strong sense of community. This new tradition not only supports the players but also builds a lasting legacy of family involvement and teamwork, setting the tone for the season ahead.