The fall 2014 season has been kind to the Butler County School System, as Georgiana, Greenville and McKenzie have each advanced to see postseason play.

But the success on the field could have positive ramifications off the field, according to one of Butler County’s athletic directors.

The McKenzie Tigers prepare for their second consecutive year serving as hosts for the first round of the playoffs, and McKenzie athletic director and assistant principal Miles Brown said that it’s a plus for the school in more ways than one.

“Last year, we had a great turnout for the first round of the playoffs being hosted here in McKenzie, and we expect the same this year,” Brown said.

“We have such a great fan base and such a great following.  It’s just one of those things where this community and this school really get behind their football team.”

For playoff games, profits are divvied evenly among the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) and both opposing teams, and then each will receive a percentage of the gate sales after expenditures are accounted for.

The financial benefits of making the postseason extend well beyond the front gate.

Concession stands, manned by McKenzie’s parent-teacher association as well as its quarterback club, have proved instrumental in accommodating visitors and, in turn, providing a source income for the school.

“But when it comes down to such a great booth, our PTA does our concession stand, and it is key for them because they are such a great part for backing our athletes and also backing the academic progress of our students here on campus,” Brown said.

“The quarterback club sells the drinks here on campus, and the same goes for them.  It’s great when you have two organizations like the PTA and the quarterback club that just do so much good down here for the school and the students of this school.”

It’s easy to get behind a successful team, but it’s a bit more difficult to find success on a consistent, year-to-year basis.

To Brown, hosting consecutive first rounds is a good sign.

“I think that any time you have one of your athletic programs winning and being successful, such as our football team, it trickles over into the building and the academic side,” Brown said.

“At the end of the day, athletically, we want to be known here for our will to compete at a high, successful level.  The same is true in turn for academics.  We want to be known as a sound academic school here.  It shows that we have two things that we offer our students here—athletic and academic success.”