Slideshow: Impressive inflatable tunnels in high school football

Simply running onto the field may soon be a thing of the past. We display 16 inflatable tunnels our pro photographers found.

Back in 1996 a Texas high school placed an order for an "inflatable player introduction." Nobody can quite recall which school it was, but its impact on high school football is undeniable.

The use of these inflatable tunnels has spread considerably, particularly in Texas, to the point that some schools spend upwards of $9,000 on the extravagant props. They are used for player introductions, sometimes coupled with a smoke machine or a banner, and some of them have become a source of pride for the schools they represent.

You can read much more about the history of the inflatable tunnels from the Dallas Morning News, but first take a look at some of the tunnels that caught our eye here at MaxPreps. All these photos were taken by our network of professional photographers.

Most are from Texas, as you can imagine, but there a few from other states as well. If we missed one of your favorites, be sure to leave a comment.