Between Grinnell and Newton, there had been 35 meetings between the two schools in high school football between 1950 and 1985. The two towns, which to this day are very stereotypical high school athletics town, formed one of the fiercest rivalry in Iowa sports. This matchup was talked about for months in advance, stores would close, the visiting town would vacate to occupy the hosting one, and even those with no affiliation to either town would show up for the game. If you ask any of the Grinnell players from that era, the greatest part of their career, was playing under the lights for record crowds every time the Newton game came around. After 1985, a redistricting occurred, after which Grinnell and Newton were no longer on each others …show more content…
The two teams continued to grow over the next 28 years, and in the spring of 2013, another redistricting was announced, and for the first time in almost three decades, the Grinnell-Newton rivalry was to be rekindled. The buzz surrounding the game started almost immediately. Former players called each other to share the news, old coaches called the current staff to share words of encouragement, and you can be sure that the date of the Grinnell-Newton game was circled on everybody’s calendar. A long standing tradition within the Grinnell football team, is that every Thursday before a Friday night game, a former player is invited back to speak to the team. The player invited back was a town favorite, Jeff Emerson, a Grinnell athletics fanatic, and high school janitor. Practiced finished up that Thursday, and as was customary, the team gathered around in a circle, and sat down to here Jeff speak. He looked nervous and apprehensive, nothing like his normal demeanor around …show more content…
He softy asked how the boys were, and if they were ready for Friday night. Then, all at once, Jeff suddenly burst into tears. The tough ex-linebacker with a handlebar biker mustache stood in front of the team crying. After a short bit, Jeff started to speak about how much Grinnell Tiger football meant to him. He spoke about how every Friday night he has to listen to the games on the radio, even the home games, because his doctor said the games raise his blood pressure too much. Jeff then told the team that he was a part of the 1985 team, the last squad to play the Newton Cardinals. What brought him to tears is that he played Newton for four years, and he was never able to secure a victory. So his message was that the next night, the team had the opportunity to do something that he was never able to do. Win against a bitter, longtime rival on their home field. Jeff left the field that night surrounded by war cries, and with a promise that he would attend his first game in person in over ten years. Friday night was as picturesque of the old rivalry as possible. Both towns shut down and converged onto Newton High School, and news crews from KCCI came to cover the game
Even though the Permian Panthers had won a state championship the community wasn’t fond of black people. They wanted a state title but not all the recognition to go to Boobie Miles because he was a black running back. “He responded without the slightest hesitation. ‘ A big ol’ dumb nigger.” (Bissinger, 49) There are multiple accounts of harsh and unneeded racism thought the book. “ They started chanting something. Some said it was ‘Oreo Oreo!” The expectations of how the season will go is a huge conflict in Friday Night Lights. Two weeks before the season starts there is a watermelon feed for the players and families to come support. People would come to the Watermelon Feed with their children as if they feel it’s important for the little ones to see this spectacle at a young age and be awed by it. Even though people struggled financial and economic hardships, the lights of a Friday night game ignite their hopes and dreams of a better
In the following years, football had been a big part in John’s life. One part of his football career often overlooked is his high school career. At Oak Creek high school, John won the all-state defensive end award for his senior year. High school was not all fun and games though as John had
The football players in Odessa were generally a wild party crowd. It was typical that late in the fourth quarter, when the game was in the bag, the players would begin talking on the sidelines about what parties they were going to after the game, what girls they were going to try to pick up, and laughing about how drunk they were going to get. They cared nothing for academics. The senior star running back, Boobie Miles, was taking a math course that most students took as freshmen. Many of the senior players' schedules consisted of nothing but electives. For the Oddesa footbal players, school was nothing more than a social get-to-gether, served up to them as a chance to flirt with girls and hand out with their friends. They knew that their performance in class didn't matter; the teacher would provide the needed grade to stay on the team. It wasn't uncommon for players to receive answer keys for a test or simply to be exempt from taking the test at all. Some didn't know how they would cope without football after the season was over. They ate, drank, and slept it. On the whole, these 16 and 17-year-old boys' identity was wrapped up in a pigskin.
There have been many historical moments with the University of Dayton Flyers Men’s Basketball team, but Mark Weaver recalls of the one that meant most to him. It took place on March 24, 1967, in Louisville’s Freedom Hall for the Final Four of the NCAA (National College Athletic Association) tournament against the highly favored North Carolina Tar Heels (Collett 228). This was the third straight NCAA tournament appearance for the Flyers, but their first ever Final Four (Collett 228). It turned out that the Flyers smashed North Carolina, seventy-six to sixty-two. Don May hit a record thirteen straight field goals and scored thirty-four points (Collett 228). Mark Weaver, a lifetime fan said, “I remember that game like it was yesterday, it almost brings tears to my eyes. I have never seen UD party like we did the night of that game. I have been following Dayton basketball since the mid-1960s and I have yet to witness the team getting a greater win than the one over the Tar Heels.”
This tournament, apart from entertaining students and other fans, highlights what stuff different colleges are made of. This comes at a critical time when high school seniors are considering what colleges to attend once they graduate. Thus, it is not surprising that this package of sporting events brings glad tidings to the people as it helps usher-in the beautiful spring season. However, a critical evaluation of the different teams and schools reveal the series of events -both good and not so good- that occur as they prepare for this all-important tournament.
on day in early june gablin was sitting in the dugout of the san jose sunbirds stadium remembering last season. It was the eighteenth inning of the second game of the Western Division play-offs against the Santa Ana Lionettes and Gamblins idol. Carol Spanks was at the plate Spanks lined the ball to the left of third base a shot lit so hard that it pulled the glove off Gamblins hand and rolled onto the artificial turf Gamblin scrambled for the ball spun around and threw her idol out at first base. It was she thought the best play she ever made.
Joe Paterno’s name is synonymous with Penn State football. The program has accomplished a lot since the 1960s. How many football programs have clinched two national championships? In fact, how many coaches can claim the same? Since 1995, no team has been able to win successive national championships. Penn State can’t claim a single title since 1986, and hasn’t been in contention for one since their 1994 season. Now seventy-six years old, “Coach Joe Pa” has long forgotten his way of building a strong football program. His years of...
High school football is very risky! There are so many ups and downs about this sport in particular. Many people would say it is dangerous for these young boys to play football though others will have a different outlook on it. Football is truly not that dangerous and it can be very helpful for some boys in various ways including, scholarships, personality and a learning experience.
High School football games are one of the most exciting events of the year. Games like the homecoming games or rivalry games are always packed. The student section is very lively. The cheerleaders will be chanting louder than ever. When the team scores a touchdown the chants grow louder, players as well as fans screaming in joy. It is such a great atmosphere. There is so much energy at their games. If only this were true for other sports basketball excluded, because this is also seen at basketball games. Other sports like soccer, tennis, baseball, etc don’t get this type of atmosphere at their games. As a two year varsity athlete for both soccer and baseball I have experienced this problem. The atmosphere is very dull and unexciting. The game will start with little to no people in the stands. There are no cheerleaders
On Sundays in the fall people all over the world are watching pro football. But do they know how it came to be or how the rules have gotten to be the way they are today? Most people don’t, so I am going to tell you all about it.
H.G. Bissinger’s Friday Night Lights brings to mind the cold, autumn nights of 1988 where a town, just like any other rural town in America, was brought together in such a raw and emotional way. From the rise and fall of Boobie Miles to the push for the playoffs, it is clear that 1988 Odessa was swept up in the glory of football to replace the grandeur of the 1950s, which seemed to deteriorate throughout that hectic decade. While a modern reader may view Bissinger’s masterpiece as a tale from a dated and faraway place, several factors have kept it in the public’s eye. What is it about Friday Night Lights that still resonates today? The answer can still be found in the same rural towns of America. Though it may seem incredible, Texas is still football crazy, and it may be fairly concluded that emotions have only slightly receded from the obsession they once held towards high school football. People’s inability to analyze themselves, the impact a community can have on younger generations, and the way priorities can easily be warped all struck me as subjects that have stayed true in Texas culture over the past 26 years. I will be discussing these topics throughout this dissection of Friday Night Lights.
In stadiums, parks and fields all across America, many youth participate in a journey through defeat, heartbreak, hard work, and success. Practicing for hours, rain or shine, to be able to snag that game winning touchdown in the back of the endzone. Although football comes with many risks and dangers, I strongly believe that kids and teens should be allowed to play football because it promotes leadership, teamwork, and requires significant amounts of exercise and cardiovascular activity, and other contact sports are just as dangerous.
Some schools force students to participate in organized school sports. However, I believe that schools should not make this a requirement. Some students may have medical conditions, family situations that don't allow them to participate in organized school sports, or they simply may not have the time.
The team was ready, we had been working extremely hard for the past seven months for this. We were all in great shape and very rested. A few of the returning players were meeting me at my house to carpool to the final game of the state championship tournament. Everyone knew that the hard work had paid off when we won the semi-final game the preceding day.
Are high school sports beneficial or not for students? I personally believe if a student is in a high school sport they’re forced to prioritize between school and their sport, and at a young age I believe the student would decide to use his time to improve in his sport instead of school. Which in the long run would affect his academics, unless they decide to stay up late and work on their homework to keep up with both school and their sport. But, even like that in time the lack of sleep would catch up to them, and cause them to do even worse in both academics, and sports. High school sports are like the lotto in my opinion, many play but only a few get rewarded for their work. Therefore, high school sports cause more negativity than positivity.