Dec. 29, 2008

PART ONE OF TWO

High school football more than a pastime to many

By Roy Mitchell

Plenty of people in Cherokee County grieve the inevitable seasonal change from fall to the pale shades of winter, but it's not just the weather that saddens the populace.

Thousands of locals mourn the passing of fall because it marks the end of the high school football season. From Centre and Cedar Bluff's lake shores to Gaylesville's mountain base, from Spring Garden's farm-clad plains to Sand Rock's high plateau, local lads with pigskin and pads participate in a fall Friday night ritual whose effect is far more than the sum of its parts.

Few events in our culture evoke such a mass of emotion and memories as high school football. Even if you don't know an end run from an end zone, you may have congregated under the lights of a local high school football field, absorbing the sights and sounds of the competition, the tradition, and the pageantry. The passion of high school football unmistakably covers our communities like melted cheese on concession stand nachos.

Communities with paltry populations like those in Cherokee County may harbor a deeper pigskin passion than larger towns.

“Athletics often takes the place of going out to eat, to the movies, or the mall,” said Spring Garden Principal Mike Welsh. “Even more so for a rural community like ours where those other activities require some amount of driving.”

Paul McWhorter, Gaylesville School principal, seconded the notion.

“High school football is very important from a cultural standpoint,” he said. “This is the weekly entertainment and, other than church activities, the only time people can get together and visit.”

“The school is the hub or center of the community, and every Friday night is the coming together and rallying of the people,” said Cedar Bluff Principal Bobby Mintz. “Football in a small community sometimes can be magic.”

Even football coaches, the most stoic figures on the Friday night field, savor the aura of the game.

“I love game day, period,” said Sand Rock coach Russell Jacoway. “We have great pep rallies, and the games have such an atmosphere that even the officials comment about it.”

Gaylesville head football coach Brian Clowdis said Friday game nights have a special effect on him, too.

“It's the goose bumps you get when you hear the national anthem, watching our kids running through the victory sign, listening to the announcer say, 'first down, Trojans,' and singing the alma mater at midfield after the game.”

Coaches aren't the only ones captivated by a fall Friday's pigskin passion.

“I love game day,” said Austin Lindsey, a 7th grader at Gaylesville. “We all get pumped up.”

Caleb Whorton, a junior center at Cherokee County High School, said, “There's nothing like it.”

“All the yelling and cheering at this year's games just kept our adrenaline climbing higher,” said Justin Godshall of Sand Rock.

The game-day fervor invades Friday's classrooms and school hallways, too.

“There have been occasions when I had to remind our students that the game was scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m., not 7 a.m.,” chuckled Welsh.

The football players seem to appreciate the overflow of school and community support.
“High school football is one of the greatest feelings I've ever experienced,” said Cedar Bluff standout Jim Nelson. “Every Friday night the whole town is out and is watching.”

Ross Van Pelt, a sophomore center for Gaylesville, agreed.

“I love that everyone in the community comes out to watch us. Our school and community may be small, but we definitely have a lot of support,” he said.

Some in the school and community ardently follow the game's every strategic move. Others merely absorb the impassioned pageantry, applauding each obvious team success. A few flock to Friday night's games just to chat and visit.

“I go to some of the games and see my friends,” said Donny Day, at 10th grader at Sand Rock. “My friends watch the game periodically, but they mostly just hang out.”

Centre sophomore Seth Griffin said Friday night is special to him because of the opportunity it affords him to spend extra time with friends.

“It gives us all something to look forward to all week,” he said.

Some student body participants bypass helmets and cleats for a different roles in the Friday festivities. Cherokee County High School, the county's most crowded campus, sports a marching band, to the apparent delight of its musically-inclined students.

“We have a fun during the games,” said trombonist Dylan Matthews. “We usually play something when the team scores. The one we always love to play is the 'Cha-Cha Slide.'”

“In the band you can be yourself, hang out with friends, and support your school's team all at the same time,” said drum major Jillian Early.

Virginia Brandt, another band member, said she loves “to perform the show and watch the opposing team's band perform.”

Cheerleaders, too, can't help being caught up in the school pride and passion.

“As the team breaks through the run-through and the fans roar, you realize that there is no better place to be on a Friday night,” said Spring Garden cheerleader Haley Bates.

Next week: Part II - Everyone gets involved