Friday Night!

For the first time since 2000, I am going to walk on to the field for the LC vs. LN football game courtesy of my friend who is a coach. I am pumped to get back to the hysteria that happens when two high school rivals get together on the gridiron. In fact, Friday nights hold some of my greatest high school memories.

I began to reflect about who I was then and who I am now. I recalled an editorial that I wrote for the Cub Reporter. I called for free admission for students to home games. I argued that fan support was important to the teams and that the school would draw just as much revenue, if not more, from concession sales. I also exhorted the students to attend the games. I thought it was reprehensible that a school of 2000 students could not put up more than 800 for a football game or more than 400 for a basketball game. Fan support, however, is not the crux of the argument. High school sports give students the opportunity to unite towards a single goal. So many small communities are drawn together because of high school athletics. It is a time for everyone in the community to put aside their differences and pull for the home team! I felt so strongly about this that I neglected to go to a single LC sporting event for the first seven years after my graduation.

You could judge me for my idealic portrayal of high school sports. You could draw attention to all of the negative things that come from high school sports: bitter rivalries, cheating, special treatment for athletes, or non-inclusive, athletic cliques. You could talk about how people over-emphasize winning. Nevertheless, high school sports have provided structure and support for many athletes who have become solid men and women in our society. Attending high school athletics supports a good cause and creates unity within communities. You could focus on all the things that it doesn't do, or you could get involved, go see a game, and have a lot of fun!