They thought they were just taking a team photo. Instead, the Englewood High School football team were surprised when they walked into their locker room. What they saw was a newly renovated locker room from the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation and other community partners.
Players knew something was up when they huddled outside the locker room doors only to be greeted by former Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback and Englewood High alum Rashean Mathis.
As the doors opened, the players were completely shocked. Sounds of "Oohs", "Ahhs", "Oh my god", and "Wow!" vibrated across the walls of the team's newly renovated locker room.
“It shows how much the Jaguars are part of this community,” says Mathis of his former high school team.
One player, Brian Hernandez, described the old locker rooms as, "all chipped up." Now he says, “This is like twenty times better than anyone thought it could have been.”
All of this was to celebrate the Jaguars 25th Season and to give back to the Jacksonville community.
The renovations include new gear, lockers, practice jerseys, air conditioning, flooring and plumbing. It took two weeks to put it all together after planning and cost nearly $100,000.
Former Jacksonville Jaguar Rashean Mathis unveils new football locker room at high school alma mater
When asked what this new locker room means to his team, Coach Stalvey said, "I think they’re just going to take more pride. And this is a facility now you can take a lot of pride in and be proud of and be excited to come into every day before you get to work so I’m just really excited about that for them.”
Only he and the school principal knew of the efforts before the surprise unveiling.
Stalvey added he hopes to see the excitement of the new facilities translate into his team working harder on and off the field.
Speaking to the entire team, Mathis reminded them, “We’re a family, this is our home, and we’re going to show how much we appreciate it by taking good care of it right?” The team replied heartily with, "Yes sir!"