Peoples' spirit lives on

BAKER — As warm spring breezes drift across the practice field at Baker School, the sound of big hits hangs in the heavy air.

Spring football was one of Travis Peoples’ favorite times of the year. It’s not hard to imagine his No. 53 charging to a ball carrier from his linebacker spot to deliver a powerful lick on an unsuspecting underclassman.

Peoples, who would have been a rising senior, died in a motorcycle accident last July. Yet his former coaches and teammates still carry on his spirit as they go about their practice routine.

The Gator football team wants to assure the memory of Peoples lives on at Baker for years after his teammates graduate. That’s why the Gators have established the Travis Peoples Spirit of the Game Scholarship.

“When we lost Travis last year he was probably one of the kids that just had a passion for the game of football,” Baker coach Bob Kellogg said. “We just felt like we wanted something that would be long-term and a continuous thing so his memory would be carried on.

“We named it the Spirit of the Game because that’s how we felt about Travis. He was type of individual that football was all about with hard work, enthusiasm and excitement and just all the intangible things.”

All gate receipts from Baker’s Maroon and White game this coming Friday will go to fund the scholarship.

The winner will be announced at Baker’s Senior Awards Day on May 30.

Tickets for the game are $3. In addition to gate receipts, Kellogg also brought in some private donations.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the Travis Peoples Spirit of the Game football scholarship can make their check payable to Baker School and note it’s for the Travis Peoples football scholarship.

Read more about the scholarship effort in the Saturday edition of the Crestview News Bulletin.