Blog..high school football = last bastion of true America

[Rglodich]

 

https://www.ronglodich.com/author-blog/maybe-the-last-bastion-of-true-america

[Ray Icaza]

2 hours ago, Rglodich said:

 

https://www.ronglodich.com/author-blog/maybe-the-last-bastion-of-true-america

So true.  I have been taking my son to games since he could barely walk and now at 76 years of age we still try to attend/support our alma mater every Friday night during football season.  No better way to spend an evening and with great company.  

[Jullian]

I guess that “experience” the author talks about still exists in areas of our country, but is long gone in So Flo. There’s little loyalty & camaraderie in the stands behind a team because a percentage of the players have arrived from other teams, many times in their senior year. They bring their family in the stands all wearing T-shirts with the players picture & number, rooting for him over and above the team. Many members on this site love the super teams this brings about, but the casualty lies in the stands……..just my opinion based on 46 years of being in the bleachers(& on the sideline)……

[Ray Icaza]

6 hours ago, Jullian said:

I guess that “experience” the author talks about still exists in areas of our country, but is long gone in So Flo. There’s little loyalty & camaraderie in the stands behind a team because a percentage of the players have arrived from other teams, many times in their senior year. They bring their family in the stands all wearing T-shirts with the players picture & number, rooting for him over and above the team. Many members on this site love the super teams this brings about, but the casualty lies in the stands……..just my opinion based on 46 years of being in the bleachers(& on the sideline)……

That is a good point Julian, we are slowly losing "The Last Bastion of America" and that is sad to see.  This country I love so much is changing and not for the better. 

[Mike E]

I started taking my son when he was still 1. Turned 2 at the end of the football season. It worked with one son and not the other. As we moved we always rooted for the team where we lived in the school boundaries. The one exception was when we lived close enough to my Alma Mater to follow them around. By sheer luck, all 4 teams we have followed were in multiple championships and won as much as they haven't. He is married and in the Navy now. The hope is, one day Friday nights will be ours again.  I have friends and neighbors that I have made into my football buddies over the last few years. At least now I don't have to pay the entire night's cost

[Ray Icaza]

1 hour ago, Mike E said:

I started taking my son when he was still 1. Turned 2 at the end of the football season. It worked with one son and not the other. As we moved we always rooted for the team where we lived in the school boundaries. The one exception was when we lived close enough to my Alma Mater to follow them around. By sheer luck, all 4 teams we have followed were in multiple championships and won as much as they haven't. He is married and in the Navy now. The hope is, one day Friday nights will be ours again.  I have friends and neighbors that I have made into my football buddies over the last few years. At least now I don't have to pay the entire night's cost

Unfortunately, due to my age group several of my old classmates that would attend games with us have passed recently so fortunate to have my son transport me to both home and away games.  He is also a booster since we both attended OHS as have my 3 grandsons that joined the military after graduation.  It is a nice plus having a winning tradition where week in and week out we feel we can compete with most anyone.  Booster pass is a plus if you enjoy other sports which we certainly do as we have an excellent basketball, baseball and wrestling program for boys.  Last couple of years we have also fielded a top tier girls volleyball team that has been in the mix at the state level.  This years team is currently ranked 11th overall despite defeating Deland a couple of days ago pretty handily who somehow managed to stay ahead of us in the MaxPrep poll at 7th.  So for you football fans, MaxPrep is an equal sport screw up when it comes to rankings. 

[Rglodich]

2 hours ago, Mike E said:

I started taking my son when he was still 1. Turned 2 at the end of the football season. It worked with one son and not the other. As we moved we always rooted for the team where we lived in the school boundaries. The one exception was when we lived close enough to my Alma Mater to follow them around. By sheer luck, all 4 teams we have followed were in multiple championships and won as much as they haven't. He is married and in the Navy now. The hope is, one day Friday nights will be ours again.  I have friends and neighbors that I have made into my football buddies over the last few years. At least now I don't have to pay the entire night's cost

Thanks for sharing....as I am a grandpa now I hope to take my grandsons to games soon.

 

[Jullian]

4 hours ago, Ray Icaza said:

Unfortunately, due to my age group several of my old classmates that would attend games with us have passed recently so fortunate to have my son transport me to both home and away games.  He is also a booster since we both attended OHS as have my 3 grandsons that joined the military after graduation.  It is a nice plus having a winning tradition where week in and week out we feel we can compete with most anyone.  Booster pass is a plus if you enjoy other sports which we certainly do as we have an excellent basketball, baseball and wrestling program for boys.  Last couple of years we have also fielded a top tier girls volleyball team that has been in the mix at the state level.  This years team is currently ranked 11th overall despite defeating Deland a couple of days ago pretty handily who somehow managed to stay ahead of us in the MaxPrep poll at 7th.  So for you football fans, MaxPrep is an equal sport screw up when it comes to rankings. 

Thats how I remember it years ago. Back in 91/92 I was strength coach for Dillard. I would bring my son with me to the games, he was about 8. Coach Scott let him run on the field after the kickoff to retrieve the kicking tee. When the Panthers lost he would cry! Dillard kept all their players back then & the stands were full & rabid. Lockhart stadium was the place to be. Plantation, South Plantation, Stranahan, Fort Lauderdale, were schools that had some great years, with their players & their fans. It’ll never be matched again. Great memories. 

[Ray Icaza]

3 minutes ago, Jullian said:

Thats how I remember it years ago. Back in 91/92 I was strength coach for Dillard. I would bring my son with me to the games, he was about 8. Coach Scott let him run on the field after the kickoff to retrieve the kicking tee. When the Panthers lost he would cry! Dillard kept all their players back then & the stands were full & rabid. Lockhart stadium was the place to be. Plantation, South Plantation, Stranahan, Fort Lauderdale, were schools that had some great years, with their players & their fans. It’ll never be matched again. Great memories. 

Back then Dillard was dominant as it seemed that area had so many great players representing it.  I actually made light in a different thread that we traveled to Fort Lauderdale in 1990 and played Dillard in the state semi-final in a competitive game losing by the score of 12-0.  I remember as my only daughter was a Kowboy cheerleader then and cried after the game.  Dillard went on to lose the following week in the final I think against a Gainesville or Ocala school.  We suffer from community support as well as we would have several thousand routinely come to Kowboy games and now the numbers are in the hundreds.   Great memories indeed!

[muckboy561]

I remember Glades Central games was lit during 1990s-2000s seasons. Muck Bowl was the Super Bowl during those times. We used to load up our cars and head to state championship games. Great times Remember @A-Town 561???lol

[MarkECannon]

I travel to multiple games at various towns in Florida.  For instance, this year I have been to Bishop Verot, Tampa Bay Tech, Camping World (Jones vs Sanford Seminole), CCC, Mount Dora Christian and Lake Mary.  As a lifelong football fan who likes pro, college and high school the latter has become my favorite.  I like seeing the different towns, areas, stadiums, cultures, teams and even the bands.  I even like checking out the concession stands and now food trucks.  You see the families of the players, coaches and fans.  You might strike up conversations with locals that can tell you about the team and get a flavor for the area.  You get to watch the future college and pro players when they are developing into stars.  When watching a college or pro game on TV my wife gets a kick out of me saying I saw a player in high school.

Call me crazy but I love going to high school games.  I guess I could be doing something worse or even more expensive but I love this time of year.

[Jullian]

5 hours ago, muckboy561 said:

I remember Glades Central games was lit during 1990s-2000s seasons. Muck Bowl was the Super Bowl during those times. We used to load up our cars and head to state championship games. Great times Remember @A-Town 561???lol

They were great teams! Teams hated to play Glades Central! 

[Jullian]

4 hours ago, MarkECannon said:

I travel to multiple games at various towns in Florida.  For instance, this year I have been to Bishop Verot, Tampa Bay Tech, Camping World (Jones vs Sanford Seminole), CCC, Mount Dora Christian and Lake Mary.  As a lifelong football fan who likes pro, college and high school the latter has become my favorite.  I like seeing the different towns, areas, stadiums, cultures, teams and even the bands.  I even like checking out the concession stands and now food trucks.  You see the families of the players, coaches and fans.  You might strike up conversations with locals that can tell you about the team and get a flavor for the area.  You get to watch the future college and pro players when they are developing into stars.  When watching a college or pro game on TV my wife gets a kick out of me saying I saw a player in high school.

Call me crazy but I love going to high school games.  I guess I could be doing something worse or even more expensive but I love this time of year.

Agree! 

[Ray Icaza]

5 hours ago, muckboy561 said:

I remember Glades Central games was lit during 1990s-2000s seasons. Muck Bowl was the Super Bowl during those times. We used to load up our cars and head to state championship games. Great times Remember @A-Town 561???lol

On Saturday mornings during that era I remember watching a HS football highlight show always featuring those schools in the Muck.   The broadcaster would start the highlights by saying "And on the 7th Day God created Anquan Boldin"!!!!  We had a great RB during that period of the late 90's named Willie Green that may have won the "Florida Mr. Football" award if not for Anquan Boldin.  Unbelievable talents.  

[muckboy561]

9 hours ago, Jullian said:

They were great teams! Teams hated to play Glades Central! 

Yes sir 

[Cocoafanone]

15 hours ago, Ray Icaza said:

On Saturday mornings during that era I remember watching a HS football highlight show always featuring those schools in the Muck.   The broadcaster would start the highlights by saying "And on the 7th Day God created Anquan Boldin"!!!!  We had a great RB during that period of the late 90's named Willie Green that may have won the "Florida Mr. Football" award if not for Anquan Boldin.  Unbelievable talents.  

I might be wrong, but I think our current head coach, Ryan Schneider at Cocoa finished second to Anquan Boldin in 1998 Florida Mr. Football. 

[Ray Icaza]

4 hours ago, Cocoafanone said:

I might be wrong, but I think our current head coach, Ryan Schneider at Cocoa finished second to Anquan Boldin in 1998 Florida Mr. Football. 

Also not sure of that, but no doubt Willie won it all in 1999!    PS.... also no doubt Willie was the 5A Class Player of the Year in 1998.

[Jullian]

4 hours ago, Cocoafanone said:

I might be wrong, but I think our current head coach, Ryan Schneider at Cocoa finished second to Anquan Boldin in 1998 Florida Mr. Football. 

Watched Schneider QB a solid Plantation team. He was 0-2 vs the Bulls to end their playoff runs. The 1 loss was at a packed house in Lockhart. The difference: a kickoff returned for a score!