It's just a game
There’s a big game this week and I don’t mean Indiana State at Tennessee.
It’s September. The leaves are starting to change. We’ve even had a couple of brief moments of crispness in the air — and after a long hot summer, it’s refreshing.
This is the week so many people have been waiting for since, well, last year when Clinton played at Anderson County.
In this community there is no bigger rivalry and all of the adages apply: “Throw out the record book;” “This is for bragging rights;” “We’ll get their best effort and they’ll get ours;” and so on.
I understand how much each fan base wants to win and how much bragging rights mean. I’ve played in rivalry games. I’ve won some and lost some.
Rivalry games can be fun but they can also be ugly.
And that’s why I’m writing this column.
In the weeks leading up to this game I’ve heard a great deal of chatter in the community.
It’s not been the normal chatter. It’s been of the ugly variety and it worries me because I’ve seen it before.
I’ve watched as people who knew better, behaved like stark raving lunatics —foaming at the mouth while using language that would make the most foul-mouthed drunk in the world blush in shame.
And those were the women.
Laugh if you want but I’m serious.
I’ve seen the threats of violence and actual violence. Twice I’ve seen brawls break out as bleachers emptied into a fight on the gym floor with grown men attacking high school players.
I’ve written this before but when I was eight or nine years old, I watched two women take off their high heels and literally chase an official out of a gym at a rival school. Some people thought it was funny, especially since the official happened to be the mayor of the local town.
Yeah, that actually happened.
These were two women who had children in school with me — ladies I had known all of my life through their volunteer work at school and yes, church.
Why did otherwise sane and decent people act in such a manner?
Rivalry game.
It meant something to them — probably more than it should have.
And as much as a game and rivalry means to the players, fans, and coaches, there is another adage that everyone needs to remember: “It’s just a game.”
Really.
No more, no less — it’s a high school football game and Anderson County vs. Clinton not even a region game anymore.
Regardless of who wins and who loses, odds are your life will not be impacted greatly outside of the two hours or so during and immediately following the game.
I’m not from here and contrary to what you might or might not believe, I am the true neutral observer. I root for the kids on both teams. I want both teams to do well because it’s more fun to cover a team that wins — and lot easier than trying to make a 30-point loss sound like a win.
More than that though, I want the kids to do well because they have worked hard and deserve to have a shot at success.
Winning is fun and all kids need to experience what it feels like to earn a win, to achieve success.
Many of the young men who will face each on Friday night have grown up together. Some still play on travel basketball or baseball teams together. Some go to the same church and are part of the same youth group.
And they will still do so after Friday night.
And let’s face it: There are some fine young men on each team. I have no sons but if I did, I would be proud if they grew up to be like so many of the young men on each team.
They are more than just athletes.
They have character and that will carry them much farther than anything they will ever do on a football field at any level.
For four quarters, they can beat the snot out of each other but when it’s over, it’s over.
Will tempers flare?
Unless they’re not human, they will. It’s part of the game. At some point in every game I ever played I got mad.
On the field, let the boys be boys but at the same time in the bleachers, let the adults be adults.
I know quite a few people at each school — coaches, teachers, students, and players. These are two quality schools filled with good people in a wonderful community.
I know the level of respect and maturity they are capable of displaying.
I’ve witnessed it firsthand.
I’ve seen it in navy blue and gray and I’ve seen it in orange and black.
I hope we see it Friday night from everyone.