Friday Nights Are Back

  Lions, Tigers, Bears.... No it's not the Wizard of Oz; It's football time in Texas again. Bright lights, bands playing, cheerleaders and flag teams rousing the fans and exhorting the team on to victory. Not since the days of Rome and the Colesseium has such a spectacle been seen!
 For the unfortunate many who have never experienced Texas football, I feel for you. Around mid August the fever begins to build across the state with the opening practices under the Texas sun which can reach temps of over 100F by 10am. This rite of passage into the high school warrior class is known as " Two-a-Days".  This is a winnowing process, for the weak and unwilling must be purged and this time honored practice is guaranteed to accomplish it. Only the most willing and the most able will be allowed to set foot on that hallowed ground known as the "Field".
 Practices are run like boot camp. Strict discipline and conditioning are the norm. Conditioning, both physical and mental  are needed to play football in September when temps are still on the 90's.
 As the practices continue, folks come from all around to watch them. Some come to see how the team is progressing, some come to relive their past glories. Whole towns get into the spirit of it. Team colors are worn, schedules are posted in in every business. All talk is about the team and the coach.  There is but one subject in all this, can he take the team to the very end and if not, who can they hire to replace him? All eyes are on the prize; the State Championship, or as we say in Texas,"Winnin' State".
   As you may or may not know,Texas is a mixture of both urban and rural.  For the small towns, football is about all they have since the "oil bidness" petered out and farming has gone into the tank. I have seen whole towns load up to go watch their team in the playoffs, with police volunteering from neighboring towns to watch the town while its deserted. It's a good thing and yet sad in a way. You see  for some boys, this will be the high point of their lives. They will peak at eighteen and this will be all they have. Not much to look forward to 'ceptin a job and a family.
  But, for a magical few months, Texas, on Friday night is lit up with lights in stadiums from Beaumont to El Paso, from Dalhart, to Brownsville. With team names like Eagles, Tigers, Cougars, Longhorns and yes even Kangaroos and Jackrabbits, towns all over Texas are in the spirit and it will build to  fever pitch culminating in that quest for that first rung on the ladder: District Champs... Stadiums will be overflowing with family and fans cheering the home team on with no quater asked or none given. Age old rivalries will be fought on that 120 yard battlefield... memories will be made and dreams shattered. It is an  unforgettable experience. It truly can't be described... But one thing is common to every team in Texas... Each September is the start of a new season and new dreams.