Last Sunday, Long County High School sent 85 students to Atlanta to watch the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13-10 at the Georgia Dome. Those who made the trip included football players, cheerleaders and team managers.

The Falcons gave LCHS the tickets after Blue Tide donated a football helmet to the Falcons for their 2008 Salute to Georgia High School Football display.

According to LCHS Assistant Principal Scotty Hattaway, the Falcons wanted to get a helmet from every Georgia high school football team, then place the helmets in the Georgia High School Association display at the Georgia Dome.

The Blue Tide’s helmet was displayed in the Lower Gate C area of the Georgia Dome.

Along with tickets to a game, LCHS also received a plaque from the Falcons, which thanked the school for being a participant in the program.

"The students had a great time. They enjoyed the game but they really liked seeing our helmet on display at the Georgia Dome," said Blue Tide coach Kyle Wilson.

Wilson said last Sunday’s traveling party left LCHS at around 7 a.m. After the game, the group had lunch at The Varsity near Georgia Tech, the largest drive-in restaurant in the world.

"Some of these kids have never been further than 100 miles from Long County," Wilson said. "Them getting to go to Atlanta and see the city a little - and just having this experience - is something that they will never forget."

Wilson added: "I think this was a great gesture by the Atlanta Falcon organization, and I really want to thank them for it. I also appreciate our booster club for chaperoning."