High school football: If I could only go back
I can feel it. There is excitement in the air as opening night of high school football is once again upon us.
Friday night lights are finally here. Although I haven’t played high school football since 1980, I still remember what it felt like, especially on opening night. I’m getting chills just thinking about it.
Whenever I talk about my high school days, my wife gets on me and says: “Stop reliving your glory days. They are long over.” She is right, but if you have ever played high school football, that feeling of putting on the uniform and helmet, especially on opening night, never goes away.
Not everyone will know what I’m talking about, but the ones who have had the privilege of experiencing it know exactly what I’m talking about. That feeling is something that sticks with you forever.
The notoriety you receive in the local paper, the excitement of the community, the pride your parents feel, wearing your game jerseys to school or your girlfriend wearing your jersey; all of it is what sets high school football apart from any other sport.
You have prepared all winter, lifting weights, and then gone through summer workouts, which were followed by grueling, hot, two-a-day practices. Finally, its opening night, and all the hard work and sacrifices you, your teammates and coaches made are worth it.
This time of year always takes me back. I remember being in the locker room before the first game my senior year. The coaches turned off all the lights — it was so dark, I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face — and they told us to visualize the perfect hit, the perfect run, the perfect pass and so on.
Once the lights came back on, each coach stood up and gave a passionate speech. By the time the head coach spoke, he didn’t even get to finish his speech because we were so jacked up, we basically busted through the door. We were ready run through a wall.
Running onto the field under the lights and hearing the people in the stands cheering for me and my teammates was a great feeling. It’s emotional and always makes me want to go back in time. Each year on opening night, I can’t believe how many years it has been since I was able to have that feeling.
The buildup and excitement is second to none on opening night. You finally get to put on your game uniform and have it mean something. It’s special. The grass — or field turf — seems a little greener, helmets shine a little brighter and everything just seems crisper.
Every team has high expectations — some more than others — but on opening night, every team is 0-0. The anticipation and all the hard work coaches and players put into it to get to this point are what make it special.
Coaches get to see how their players will perform under pressure and under the lights for the first time because they really don’t know until it’s for real. The coaches have the same anxiety as the players. Opening night is special to them, as well.
“There is nothing like the start of the season,” Lancaster coach Rob Carpenter said. “Guys have been working for so long, they think about it all the time. Expectations are always high, and everyone is undefeated. On opening night, everyone is going to be pumped. I don’t care if you play at home or on the road, raining, it doesn’t matter.
“It’s the first of only 10 opportunities you get to prove yourself so you have to make the most of it.”
I would give anything to be able to go back and put my uniform on one more time and experience that feeling of playing on opening night under the lights.
The only thing I can say to the current players is to not take it for granted because, believe me, the feeling you experience won’t happen too many more times. The togetherness you feel for your teammates and coaches will stay with you.
Enjoy these times, soak it all in, because before you know it, the season will be over and all you will have are memories. Make them special.
twilson@lancastereaglegazette.com
740-681-4358
Twitter: @twil2323