A love of high school football

Two-a-days have arrived for the 2017 high school football season, so the question at the forefront is this: What comes to mind when thinking about SE Ohio high school football?

Some might think about the sounds of the marching band. Others might think of the aroma of hamburgers and hot dogs rising from the concession stands. Is it the fact high school football is the best community gathering of the week that draws many to the sport, or could it be the sight of 22 players battling at the same time in unison, in pursuit of victory, with community pride and bragging rights on the line?

Rivalries, traditions, homecomings, victory bells and the lights of Friday night are just some reasons why all of us love high school football. With a new season almost here, all the numerous reasons to love football jump to the forefront of our thinking.

For 10 weeks in the regular season and five weeks in the playoffs, schools and communities from all around the state surround themselves with the greatest high school sport of them all. Some communities shut down on Friday nights and paint the town red and white in Hillsboro, purple and gold in Greenfield, black-and-gold in Bainbridge or whatever the school colors are in a particular town. Plus, the music of the marching bands throughout stadiums playing fight songs each week can bring goosebumps and varying feelings of excitement and pride, making the game day event that extra special.

The many aspects of community togetherness and high school football intertwining during the fall can’t be captured by any other sport.

No time of the year is better than when high school football takes place. The seasons change from summer to fall, and an unexplainable feeling in the air takes place. Some enjoy apple cider or pumpkin-flavored drinks during high school football season, but for many, just the word “football” can bring pure joy with another season arriving very soon. There are many reasons to enjoy and love all high school sports, but here are five reasons why we love high school football and why it is important to so many.

• Community Pride: There is nothing like Friday night football in a small community, especially watching a game at Paint Valley High School. There is just something about the background of the mountains, and depending on the time of the year, the cornstalks that surround the area. Though the surroundings are different, each community has their own unique way of showing their school and community pride. There are the Tigerettes at McClain, and for Hillsboro, no game is complete without the sounds of the Tomahawk Chop before kickoff. Pep rallies, marching bands and painted storefront windows mean that it’s not just a game – each week, high school football is an event to be a part of.

• Passion: Though other sports are unique in their own way, high school football brings out a different passion for all involved. Whether it be the players on the field or those in the stands who want their school and town to have the bragging rights over a rival or top team, there is just something a little different when it comes to football. Passion for the game can be seen through the eyes of those who played once upon a time, and that is what makes football so great … the passion for high school football truly never goes away.

• Rivalries and Friendships: No matter where you go in life, high school football brings friendships that last a lifetime. The feeling of playing football with friends never completely disappears, even years down the road. Try it. If you played high school football in the past, try to think back for a few minutes to days of yesteryear.

That said, the rivalries between schools from surrounding communities never go away, either. Gaining bragging rights over the school from the next community over is always a way to be motivated. If you don’t believe that statement, go to a Frontier Athletic Conference game in Week 10 when “Rivalry Week” takes place and then you will understand.

• A Lifetime of Memories: Not many players will ever be fortunate enough to win a state championship, but even for those who aren’t at the top, once the final game has been played, many memories will leave a lasting mark.

As tough as it is to be a part of high school football with all the conditioning, physicality and attention to detail that takes place when nobody is watching on the practice field, the memories made from the passion, pride and love of that game are what stick around once the games are over and time passes.

Those reasons are why many love the sport and continue to look forward to the fall season returning each year. Best of luck to all the teams in the surrounding area as two-a-days begin and the season inches ever so close.