The Wareham Tigers were sent off like the champions they are, with proud parents filming every minute up until the bus left the fire station with its state police and fire engines escort.

"I'm proud to be part of this community as fire chief. This is a sports community, and I can't say enough about this event," said Robert McDuffy, Wareham Fire Department Chief. "Whatever we could do to send them off with pride, the fire department was in."

"I'm very proud to be from this town, and the support we've seen for these kids," coach Chris Perry said.

It's been a whirlwind season, ending with the team proving to be one of the top eight in the nation after defeating a R.I. team on Nov. 30. Now, the boys are now on the road to Florida where they'll represent all of New England.

"I'm pumped up, like amped... I can't wait," Tiger James Tobey said. "Playing in the games and having fun at Dinsey World... I can't wait."

The Tigers' families couldn't be prouder.

"I can't even sleep at night," parent Jason Roballo said. "I'm going to be lost. I get excited for these New England games, let alone Florida. I can't believe these kids really did this."

Roballo is from Falmouth, which does not have a Pop Warner football team, so he brought his son, Terrell, to the Tigers.

On Halloween, the family purchased a Tiger costume for their other son, Jacoby, and the team then had a new mascot.

"Our baby is the mascot," Roballo said. "The team just started pulling him into everything, and he became the unofficial official mascot."

Roballo will be making the trip, though not every parent will be doing so.

"I'm going to be crying as soon as they pull out of here," parent Ashley Longo said. "But it's great opportunity, it's a once in a lifetime shot."

"Every game, I don't miss a game," said Joseph Silvia Sr., whose grandson Cameron Bariteau is heading to Florida with the Tigers.

Cameron said he's confident the Tigers can beat the teams they'll face in Florida, and he's looking forward  to "playing teams from other states."

"They're a good team, I hope they make it all the way," Silvia said. "Good team, good coaches, good fans."

"My son's family was on the '90s team that didn't have enough money to go, so it's exciting," parent Tina Risio said. "The town has been great."

She was referring to an earlier Tigers team that won the New England championship but failed to find the funds to go to nationals. This year, an all-out fund-raising push after the Nov. 30 championship game had the Tigers topping their $50,000 goal in about four days.

"He's living his dream," parent Chad Bariteau said of Cameron, his son.

The Tigers' first game will be Saturday Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. against Gilroy, Calif.

Wareham Community Television is taking the trip to Florida, and will be doing broadcasts concerning the team's performance.

On game-day, WCTV will do live Facebook and Twitter updates of the game. At 9 p.m., there will be a live recap of  the send-off celebration, the Tiger's arrival at Disney World and game highlights from ESPN.

On Sunday at 8 p.m., WCTV will do a live recap of game one with players' and coaches' reactions.

On Monday, WCTV will provide a live update on Good Morning Wareham at 8 a.m. These schedules are subject to change.

With a trip to Disney World and coverage by ESPN and WCTV, the Tigers may have some butterflies. Yet, Perry hopes to push these feelings aside soon after the team's arrival.

"They'll probably be a caught up in the joy, but then we'll settle in to the business aspect of it," Perry said.

"We got film for about $280 which has video of all the teams, so we'll be breaking that down," Perry added. "We'll be game planning and enjoying ourselves along the way."

"We have wrinkles in the play book, but we're going to do what got us here," Perry said. "We'll stuff it down your throat, control the clock and go and play defense. That's what we do. If they don't have the ball, they can't beat you."