Learning to appreciate Friday Night Lights

Thursday, September 11, 2008

When I was in high school, I could care less who won the football game. I never went to the games. I thought pep rallies were dumb. I wasn't in awe of the football players. In fact, I could take high school football or leave it. Sure, people went to the games. The Hoosac Valley Hurricanes had a tradition of winning. Our rivalry with the Drury Blue Devils in North Adams was pretty intense. But I just didn't care. Maybe it's just a North versus South thing. In the North, football is something we play. In the South, life -- especially in small towns -- revolves around high school football. That's not a knock. I'm just saying that the level of interest in high school football isn't as intense in the northern states. I am though, a fan of the game. I taught myself about football by watching the New York Jets play. One day, I don't recall what grade I was in, I just turned on a game and watched it. It just happened to be the Jets. We used to get the Jets, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and the New York Giants on TV. I don't really root for any one team. It's nice to see that the New England Patriots have turned in to a league powerhouse. When I was in college, the Pats were so bad you couldn't give away tickets. Then along came a quarterback by the name of Drew Bledsoe and the Pats suddenly weren't doormats anymore. But back to my story about high school football. Ever since graduating I never had a reason to care about high school football. I've been a hard news journalist most of my career so you would be more likely to find me at some city council meeting than you would at a high school football game. All that changed though when I moved to Trumann. My first job at The Sun was in sports. I didn't get to go to the games but I was usually the one in the office who took the call-ins from area coaches where we didn't have a reporter at the game. They would give me the stats -- who ran for how many yards and who scored -- and I would write a couple of paragraphs. I always had to ask the regulars what the team names were. Now, Trumann are the what, again? The Wildcats. Oh, okay. Thanks. I couldn't tell a Wildcat from a Hurricane to save my life. But here I am now working for your community newspaper. At a weekly newspaper, reporters have to do it al -- news, sports, schools, city council, Lions Club, Rotary, Miss Mallard -- you name it. If it is going on in Trumann, somebody at the paper will be there. So here we are at the start of the high school football season. I've had to brush up on my football and take a crash course on who is who because whether I like it or, I'll be at the games every Thursday and Friday night. Honestly though, so far it has been a lot of fun. I've enjoyed taking to the coaches and getting to know the players. I can't say enough about Greg White and Nick Richardson. They have been nothing but gracious and accommodating toward me. The players have been nice to me as well. Whenever I ask a question they always answer with sir. I went to my first Wildkittens game on Thursday and my first Wildcats game on Friday. Since I have to take pictures anyway, I like to stay on the sidelines and follow the action throughout the game. I could just easily sit in the press box, but I find that I learn more on the sidelines. I hear what the coaches are saying. I also have someone I can turn to to help me follow the action. No. 3 Setra Buchanan has been a big help. I ask him all the time, 'okay, which side are they running to?' or 'how many yards was that last reception?' My point in all of this is that I have found a new appreciation for high school football. Having watched these guys practice, I find that I like them. I constantly hear the coaches telling them to make sure they come to school - even if they are tired. I'm not sure I could do what they do. They are at school early practicing, then have to go to class and do it all over again at the end of the day. They are a good bunch of young men and are going to make this community proud of them this season. I want them to do well, and I can see now why the games matter to this community. The only thing missing now is my Wildcats t-shirt and hat, Coach White.

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