While attending the camp players undergo a varied schedule of activities that help them in order to become a trained, knowledgeable, and fit team. “The camp [also] helps players with any questions they might have and it’s more practice,” said Christianson. The camp and the football program in general doesn’t just teach the players the sport of football, “[I’ve learned] self discipline, how to work as a team, and how to be committed to something more than just school,” Christianson stated. Football doesn’t just affect the players; their families often end up spending a great deal of time helping to make the program possible. With three fundraisers done this year already, parents have put in more time than in past years. And every Thursday night before games, team dinners take place at a player’s house with food that is provided by families. Senior receiver Wes Christianson, and brother of Will Christianson, are confident with the team this year after going to the camp, “I feel we might be a little weak in the position of bench warmers. We have a talented group of kids, making it hard to keep the pine warm.” Christianson says that having returning seniors will help the team tremendously this year. Having players come back who played often as juniors give the team that much more experience and practice in teamwork.

The players do, “45 minutes of weights and agilities, 15 min of classroom board work, [and 1] hour and 45 minutes of practice,” said new head coach Sterling Jackson.

Jackson, husband of athletic director Pam Jackson, expressed interest in being head coach to administration this year. He was then called in for an interview and was selected to be the Viking head coach. Jackson has been working with Viking football for 17 years, since 1992. Jackson discussed teams from past years and said that his favorite Almond Bowl was each one that resulted in a Pleasant Valley victory. “There's been multiple teams that have done well here at PV, but the team that I really admired was the 1999 team that went 1-9, because everyone kept trying hard and never gave up. And we beat Chico for that only victory,” said Jackson. The coach said that this year’s team will have to work most on understanding that the season is long and they must improve every week. Jackson says that there are other things that make the game more challenging than other sports because athletes must deal with multiple variables including physical, mental and scheming abilities while having an understanding for the game as well. He also said that their biggest strengths are the offensive line and their speed in defense. When asked how this team compared to teams from the past Jackson said, “It’s hard to compare teams [because] the components are always so different, [but] this team has a lot of positives.”

Funding also raises a major concern for the future of the football program at Pleasant Valley. It has dealt with this issue in the past, but as the state budget worsens so does the amount of money that schools are receiving for sports. Pleasant Valley football has done various fundraisers already this year such as a lift-a-thon and selling tickets to Outlaws baseball games. Coach Jackson said if funding is cut further it will affect all aspects of the program including equipment, transportation, the weight room on campus, and the coaching staff. This would be extremely devastating for the program that has deep roots in the history of Pleasant Valley High School. In its years at the school football has become the most prevalent sport, and arguably a boost of school spirit. One of the biggest school events each year, the Almond Bowl, surrounds the game of football where Pleasant Valley plays its cross-town rival Chico High. The school unites as one and the city of Chico divides in two. No matter how the game results, Pleasant Valley High School is left with a feeling of unity that can only be brought by the legacy of its football program.