YSE Photo
Friday night the battles will begin on football fields throughout the state. After a long winter in the weight room and weeks of practice in the heat, high school teams will begin their journey for the ultimate goal of a state championship.
It’s been 20 years since my journey ended with high school football. Yet, when I drive by the field and see those lights it always takes me back. There is just something special about those Friday Night Lights.
The smell of burnt popcorn and fireworks. Images of moms sitting in the bleachers wearing photo buttons with worried looks on their faces and pom poms in their hands. Young boys pass playing flag football behind the bleachers as they yearn for their time to be on the field. Memories etched in my mind and heart forever.
Gone are the days of teams being a “band of brothers” whose friendships were formed on the dirt fields of rec league football. Juggernauts are no longer developed through years of hard work but pieced together as an area all-star team of surrounding counties or perhaps states. It is just different. Maybe not bad, just different.
However when the band starts playing the fight song as the cheerleaders hold the banner under the goal post before the teams take the field it is all the same. There is just something about those lights.
The biggest game of the year used to be a crosstown rivalry game. Throughout the state playing the team three or four miles down the road just doesn’t have the same meaning. So often the desire to win outweighs loyalty and one team ends up with all the talent. Its a new era but yet when those colors collide on the field statistics and rankings should be thrown out the door. The underdog will sometimes “shock the world.” When you turn those lights on anything can happen.
Nothing can stay the same forever. Times have changed. Rules have changed. However, the games will still be played and the lights will still be turned on and above all memories for life will be made.
Take time to enjoy those Friday Night Lights.
