My theme is Musical Memories: The Memories that music brings rushing back.
So, I'll be the first to admit I was never really a big "Queen" fan. I don't even have a song of theirs on any of my playlists. But I did grow up and go to high school in Texas. And here, high school football is king. And "We Will Rock You" made an awesome anthem at games...especially if you were seated in aluminum bleachers. Hundreds of feet stomping on the metal in time with the music made for a sound that would rout any army!
As a six year old, I watched football with my daddy on TV. I saw Johnny Unitas play. I witnessed O.J. when he killed them, instead of being a killer. I saw Roger Staubach execute the shotgun on many occasions. You get the picture. I was raised to be a staunch football fan.
So, when Jr. High came and we had a school team, I was there every game, A and B strings. I met friends there. Sat with "boyfriends" there. I cheered. And a part of me wished I could be out on the field with them.
High school rolled round. By now, Mama was buying season tickets every year. Many games, me or me and a friend would sit with her. Her seats were very close to the student section in the Old Kirby Memorial Stadium. But more and more often the older I got, I sat in the student section with my buddies. My "besties" were in the band...so we never could be together. But there were always plenty of other girlfriends to hang out with. And always and often there was Randy A. popping up. To aggravate, tease, and share a snip from the Crown Royal bottle he always had tucked in his FFA jacket.
We went to state while I was in High School! Playoff was in the Astrodome, and I was there. We didn't win, but that doesn't mean there weren't some very talented guys among the ranks.
Some of my fondest memories of French class was Derrick Shelton, Artie Shankle, William Graham and others staring a rhythm and singing. I kept a scrap book of the year we went to state that had every newspaper clipping. It was beautifully done, all old school. On the black paper. Comments made in white liquid embroidery.
My senior year, Mary Lou had graduated and married and we made all the out of town games. We were there no matter how cold or no matter how much rain fell. I screamed and cheered until my voice was hoarse on many a Friday night.
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Then college came and I just didn't find the game as exciting there as I did in high school. The Lumberjacks never excited me the way the Tigers did. Though I did clean up the stadium after home football games one year with my sorority, Gamma Sigma Sigma.
Back in high school, I'd miss dances and evenings out with my friends to stay at home and watch football games. Mama would let me have the living room, and I'd talk out loud and comment on the games like Daddy was still right there. It made me feel closer to him.
Then at college, I'd watch games as well. But they started messing with the rules and changing them. It frustrated me and made me mad. The last player I followed closely was Willie "White Shoes" Johnson. At first I adored him. Then I came to despise him for grandstanding.
When I came home from college in 1981, I stopped watching football. The game had changed. Daddy was gone. And it was time to move on and use all that time for other things.
Were you, or are you, a football fanatic?
What is your favorite level, high school, college or pro?
Do you remember any traditions from you high school football games?
