As the summer blends into fall and the days get shorter and cooler, this is my favorite time of year. Over the past three years, I have become a fixture at my son’s football games at Southeast High School on Friday nights. The excitement builds every week. The atmosphere at a high school football game is unlike anything else I have experienced in recent years.
The stands begin to fill well before kickoff. I can smell the concession stand preparing the evening’s hot dogs and hamburgers and of course popcorn. The marching bands are assembled and doing their pre-game warm ups. Brings back great memories of my years in the marching band at Streetsboro High school. The announcer comes on the air to welcome everyone and to remind us all that this is a game and good sportsmanship is always the most important thing.
At a recent game, a collection was being taken for a youth football coach involved in a accident earlier. There is such a feeling of family and community spirit filling the air. The game begins and I can see the camaraderie and pride beaming all over the players’ faces.
These are the times these kids will remember for the rest of their lives. Someday they will be in the stands watching their children and feeling just as excited as I do.
*written by Lisa Huntley, resident of Portage County who will be sharing more football stories with us. Thank you, Lisa!