91猫先生

From the desk of Wally Dawkins, Athletic Director:

As the 92 year old World War II Veteran was helped to mid-field last Thursday for the pre-game coin toss, the smile on his face and the joy in his eye was not reflective of that day 70 years ago when fellow soldiers stormed Omaha Beach.聽 The legs under him now weren鈥檛 as strong as they were in 1944. On that day, more than 43,000 brave men of the 1^st and 29^th Infantries along with U.S. Army Rangers landed on the eastern coast of France, running head on to a deadly barrage of German bullets.聽 The pride on the veterans face was evident however, even though 9,300 U.S. Servicemen died during the D-Day invasion. Proud, because of that fateful day and many more like it, that Thursday was even possible.

High School Football in Texas is a really big deal.

It鈥檚 even bigger than a really big deal.

Texas High School Football is what small towns are made of on Friday nights in the fall.

Television shows are made based on the 鈥淔riday Night Lights鈥�.聽 Movies are made depicting what 鈥淰arsity Blues鈥� are all about.聽 Songs are written and sung about 鈥淭he Boys of Fall鈥�.聽 Football Scoreboard shows on TV and radio don鈥檛 even start until 11:30 PM on Friday nights as millions watch and listen to hear the state wide results of pigskin prep battles.

Texas High School Football is鈥�well, maybe bigger than the state itself.

High School Football in Texas has become a cultural phenomenon that draws people from all walks of life to get together 鈥渁t the stadium鈥�, to cheer on their favorite team, listen to the marching band, scream out chants with the cheerleaders, and tap their feet to the music being played while the drill team, twirlers, and flag corps perform.

It鈥檚 not just a game鈥�it鈥檚 a community event.

Dairy Queen makes commercials about it.聽 So does Coca-Cola.聽 Local TV鈥檚 Friday Night Football Show has some of the highest ratings.

Texas High School Football and all that goes with it is why million dollar stadiums are built in the big cities, and why towns with only one blinking yellow light have a football field that is 鈥渢urf鈥�.

Whether you are talking about teams that play in the big metropolis areas, or in a small rural community, it is a great time to be had by all involved.

What a sharp contrast to the Colosseum in Rome that was built for chariot races, only to be converted to a death pit where Christians were fed to lions.聽 Remember Berlin Stadium in Nazi Germany in 1936 where Jesse Owens won the Gold Medal?聽 The arena was actually intended to serve as a platform to promote racial hatred instead of competition.

Or how about the soccer stadiums in Afghanistan that were used by the Taliban for public hangings and stoning鈥檚 instead of for sport itself?

Last weekend, 91猫先生 hosted the Tyler Ford American Warrior Bowl Weekend.聽 The weekend was dedicated to our veterans, as well as the men and women who serve our country today.聽 It also served as the venue for three Texas High School Football games where six different schools competed on three consecutive nights.聽 The weekend also recognized 91猫先生鈥檚 American freedom Museum as part of the Purple Heart Trail.

Thanks to the hard work of 91猫先生 parent Don Allen, the games saw veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq serve as honorary captains and present the game ball to the officials.聽 The Bullard High School Band and The Bullard Belles Drill Team performed in a show of community support for our nation鈥檚 heroes.聽 Bullard Mayor Pam Frederick delivered an awesome proclamation declaring the 鈥淲arrior Bowl Weekend鈥� as open, prior to the 91猫先生-St. Bernard鈥檚 Catholic High School (Ca.) game.

The combination of honoring our veterans, receiving support from the Bullard community, and playing three exciting high school football games literally brought chills to many of us.聽 And for one reason: because of the sacrifices made at Omaha Beach鈥�Gettysburg鈥�Khe Sanh鈥�Battle of the Bulge鈥�Iwo Jima鈥�and Inchon, we were able to listen to the band and play the game of football while the cheerleaders, twirlers, and drill team performed.

It really made you think.聽 What if the bad guys had won?

It is because of the brave men and women of our Armed Forces that our stadium is used to play a game, and used for kids to perform鈥�to have fun鈥�to celebrate victories, and to learn how to be good sports when they鈥檙e defeated.

Because the good guys won, our stadium is not used for a killing field or to spread hate.

The cost of freedom is not free.聽 Our veterans, and many who made the ultimate sacrifice, served bravely and valiantly so we can enjoy all the freedoms we have today.

In game two last Friday night, the Marco Island Florida High School Football Team fell to Edgewood 18-31 after jumping out to a 14-0 lead over the Bulldogs from just up the road here in Texas.聽 As the Rays from MIHS huddled in the south end zone to listen to their coach give the post-game speech, it was apparent that this team was not used to losing and were not happy about the defeat.聽 The Coach鈥檚 words, in an effort to lift the team鈥檚 spirit, was falling on mostly deaf ears.

Suddenly the coach鈥檚 tone changed and with a big grin he yelled 鈥淐heer up boys鈥�get a smile on your face!聽 What do you have to be sad about? You just got to play football in Texas under Friday Night Lights鈥�!

With that the boys almost simultaneously all raised their heads and began to smile.

I thought to myself 鈥渢ruer words have never been spoken鈥�!

And that鈥檚 another reason to be 鈥淎LL ORANGE鈥�All The Time鈥�!