Two teenage boys plus football season equals no rest for the parents! Please pass the No Doze?

Friday Night by wikimedia.

It's that time of year again.  Football season is in the air.  Although I wish the air would cool a bit.  When you have two teenage boys it means a non-stop life for the next four months.  But really, it started months ago. My younger son is the football player.  He spent everyday of his summer at school with training and conditioning.  My older son is in the marching band.  This year he is band captain so that means his season started the second week of July.  We haven't played a single game yet, but there already has been training camp, band camp, leaders week, picture days, and more practices than I can count.  And don't get me started on the dirty clothes!


I am a huge baseball fan, but I do agree with Howie Long's Hall of Fame speech when he said, "Baseball may be America's past time but Football is its passion".  Nothing else engages the entire American family life like football. Friday night's in America represent a culmination of the entire community and school system. Obviously, the players themselves have worked, practiced and trained for months leading up to the game. The cheerleaders have been to camps, trained newbies and learned to toss little girls high in the air.  Unfortunately, there are no cheerleaders at baseball games.  The marching band has work for months learning their school's fight song, how to march, and a halftime show.  The little kids will play their own football games behind the stands, and the parents will buy raffle tickets and noise makers to support their local high school.  Savvy politicians will attend and shake as many hands as possible, and police officers will gladly sign up for crowd detail just to get a chance to watch some football.  The local newspaper reporter and photographer will surely be there to give their subscribers content that they definitely want.  You can't name any other American event that brings together the entire community.  No political rally, town forum, or fireworks display can bring out as many people at a Friday Night High School football game.


For parent's it a labor of love.  Work all day, then come stand at the gate to sell raffle tickets, then cheer own the team, then go home and wash dirty uniforms.  It's sounds horrible I know, but the total community experience for our kids is an education in itself.  Yes, by mid September I'll be headed to the local pharmacy for some form of No Doze, and start drinking those horrible tasting energy drinks but it's all worth it.  The lessons of competition, the lessons of music, and the lessons of community are all worth the effort.  With all the negatives in our country today, Friday Night Football stands out as one of the best attributes of today's Americana!  So, Geaux Rebels, and I hope you enjoy this wonderful football season!

My Friday Night Boys!