About the series
With the Northeastern varsity football program approaching its historic first game later this month, reporter Sean McLernon took an in-depth look at some of the personalities involved with the startup squad in a four-part series.

Part 1
Northeastern junior Justin Michalak has been waiting his whole life to play high school varsity football. In fact, Michalak, a cancer survivor, credits football with helping to save his life. Read More

Coach Brendan Brown didn't view the Northeastern program as a risk. Rather, he saw 'a potential gold mine.' Read More

Part 2
When the Northeastern Football Association needed help raising the $250,000 necessary to launch the program, Joe Griffith was just the guy they were looking for. Read More

Griffith's fundraising efforts have been considerable. But some in the community are still worried by the threat of higher taxes. Read More

Part 3
Rebuffed for the head coaching job, assistant Troy Jensen was reluctant to join Northeastern s staff. Two years later, his impact on the program is undeniable. Read More

Part 4
Tyler Wolgamuth is one of the few seniors on the varsity squad. He spent the past two-plus years working hard so he could have one season one shot at gridiron glory. Read More

Behind the scenes
Sean McLernon blogs the behind-the-scenes story behind the Northeastern series on The Lineup Card, our sports blog. Read More

Photo gallery
See some of the faces behind the Northeastern football program up close. View Gallery

How much have Northeastern High School's surrounding communities embraced the coming of varsity football?

The threat of higher taxes was the driving force that kept the sport from gaining initial approval from the school district.

When an expanding community -- many coming from the greater Baltimore area -- clamored for the sport earlier this decade, the school board required all of the estimated costs, and then some, to be raised by a booster group: the Northeastern Football Association.

Prominent community members and corporations have rallied behind the cause, getting the NFA all the money requested of them to launch the program. The interest has been high enough among the student body to field a full junior varsity team -- which finished above .500 -- last year.

But when those players move up to varsity for the inaugural season at that level this fall, they will be a part of the only Northeastern varsity sports squad not to receive any school funds.

"This is unprecedented," said Northeastern Football Association president Joe Griffith, who is also a school board member. "No other school district in the state has required a sports program to go out and raise all of the funds by themselves."

The NFA does get to keep all of the gate receipts from the five home games this year, but will continue to look for more funds in order to guarantee that the program will stay afloat.

Northeastern athletic director Bryan Stephens said the school district will eventually approve some funds for the football team. The $250,000 that has already been raised is plenty for now, according to Stephens.

"We probably won't put the amount of money aside for football like some schools do," Stephens said. "But, it is an extracurricular activity that we sponsor and they held up their end of the bargain, so we're going to continue to carry it."

When asked why Northeastern likely wouldn't be able to set aside the same amount as other schools, Stephens cited some lingering community resistance to the arrival of the sport.

"The only reason I say that is because if I say we're going to designate $70,000 to football, the community is going to read this article and say 'What is this?'" Stephens said with a laugh. "It's going to have to be a gradual thing. Right now, you have your football player and parents that are all for football. You have your enthusiasts, who are into it.

"But you still have some of those community members that are still nickling and diming and saying 'All right, when does the taxpayers' money kick in?'

"We're going to be smart. We're going to get the team what they need but we're not going to be excessive."

smclernon@ydr.com; 771-2045

FUNDING A HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM

The approximate costs over the past two-plus years for the Northeastern High School football program, according to Northeastern School District business manager Brian Geller:

Year 1: $60,500

· Supplies, player uniforms and field equipment: $44,000

· Event staff, two coaching stipends and groundskeeping labor: $12,500

· Re-seeding fields: $2,200

· Game transportation: $1,800

Year 2: $70,000

· Supplies, player uniforms and field equipment: $42,700

· Event staff, security, three coaching stipends, one athletic trainer and groundskeeping labor: $21,500

· Game transportation: $4,100

· Re-seeding fields: $2,700

Year 3: $14,000 (to date)

· Communication and editing system: $14,000

· Additional costs expected as the season begins