Glitz and Glamor of HS Sports

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I remember on Syracuse.com an out out state poster bluntly noted that Webster wouldn't last a quarter against the Pennsylvania school or Ohio schools. I agree they're a whole different animal to NY state ball which isn't as intense.
The schools on ESPN have kids being recruited by top 10 division 1 school. Even the Webster schools don't get that kind of attention.

man, one thing i really wished for when i was still playing was that one of the webster's go out of state and play someone big.

[Kristian Calhoun]

At NBTHS, nothing goes to an extent as far as the example you mention. We usually have a pep rally at the start of each sports season – the entire student body is crammed into the gym, the band plays, the teams are introduced, the cheerleaders perfrom a routine, etc. However, the games are not shown on T.V, or anything really “over the top” happens. But there is a spirit amongst the students who participate in the sports. Members of the football team, for example, wear dress shirts and ties the day before the game, and their jerseys the day of the game, while the cheerleaders wear their uniforms in school the day of the game. There are rivalries amongst the local teams, North vs. South, and such, but nothing really gets too far out of hand.

This past year, my computers teacher was from Texas, and the day after our first pep rally, she was really shocked at how “lame” it was compared to the ones that she was used to attending at her old high school in Texas where the team would run through the banner, etc. [Like your description.]

I guess it all depends on how the sport is looked upon in the area, how important the school views it as and how successful the team is. But then again, our football team isn't too good, and the Robotics team is the most successful team to grace our school. Go figure.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by calhounian

At NBTHS, nothing goes to an extent as far as the example you mention. We usually have a pep rally at the start of each sports season – the entire student body is crammed into the gym, the band plays, the teams are introduced, the cheerleaders perfrom a routine, etc. However, the games are not shown on T.V, or anything really “over the top” happens. But there is a spirit amongst the students who participate in the sports. Members of the football team, for example, wear dress shirts and ties the day before the game, and their jerseys the day of the game, while the cheerleaders wear their uniforms in school the day of the game. There are rivalries amongst the local teams, North vs. South, and such, but nothing really gets too far out of hand.

This past year, my computers teacher was from Texas, and the day after our first pep rally, she was really shocked at how “lame” it was compared to the ones that she was used to attending at her old high school in Texas where the team would run through the banner, etc. [Like your description.]

I guess it all depends on how the sport is looked upon in the area, how important the school views it as and how successful the team is. But then again, our football team isn't too good, and the Robotics team is the most successful team to grace our school. Go figure.

Football is religion in Texas the way basketball is religion in Indiana.
New Jersy has some powerhouse teams in it. I seen them on MSG (like Don Boscoe Prep)

[Cynette]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I remember an incident with the Penfield football team where many of the players were at a party drinking and about half the team was suspended, thus destroying their season. A move by the coach and the school that I applauded. If the kids do wrong they should be punished. Trophys be damned!
I just wonder if any of the coaches atthese big time programs would be just a brave to do such a thing.

This might be a whole new topic, but what do other HS's have for no drinking / no drug policies?

From the incident mentioned above...While it didn't actually destroy their season, and the suspensions were from the sports activity only, the suspensions were severe enough to set a precedent. It also impacted almost all the sports teams throughout the rest of the year. If you were a baseball player and you attended that party, your sports suspension was for several of the baseball games the following spring.

And this summer the Board of Education approved a new policy that includes all extracurricular activities, not just sports teams. So if a member of the robotics team gets caught drinking at a party, or voluntarily attends a party where alcohol is served, they receive a suspension from the team's activities.

[Andrew Blair]

High school sports have, in some cases, become bloated and unfocused on players, simply on seasons.


But I think we're kinda the pot calling the kettle black here- FIRST is a huge expenditure of money,(actually, our costs are about the same as our football team a year, all inclusive. We worked it out). We ultimately want what the football teams have- Television coverage, school support, money and kids pouring in.

The only thing we have going differently is that team and community are more or less always tied into the program, so it doesn't have the same propensities so as to end up the same as sports- kids sitting out etc.

I say let them have their tunnel. It was free. I wouldn't want to run through a giant blow up tunnel...but others do, so let them enjoy it.

[Beth Sweet]

I think that it is fabulous that your sports teams have this sort of support from your school, booster club and community. We have to remember, there is life outside of FIRST. These kids are good at football, you are good at robot-building (and subsequent subgroups). Is it fair to hate them, to dislike when good things happen to them just because they have the support that we desire? Of course not! Be happy for them, befriend them even!

[Al Skierkiewicz]

This is quoted (in part) from the District 214 Co-Curricular Code. It is in force for all students at all times anywhere on the planet including events that take place when school is not in session. Robot team members, football, basketball, cheerleaders, even debate teams are subject to these rules.

A. General Rules
Students may be suspended from participation in cocurricular activities for misconduct including but not limited to the following:

1. Inflicting or attempting to inflict harm upon any person or property;

4. *Possession, sale, delivery, use or being under the influence of any controlled substance or the possession, sale, or delivery of “look alikes”;

5. Being present where others are, in violation of this code, in possession, selling, delivering, using, or under the influence of any controlled substance;


C. Cumulative Violations
Violations of the Cocurricular Code accumulate throughout a student's high school career beginning with his/her first participation in cocurricular activities and ending with graduation.

D. Consequences
From first violation to third violation, the intention of the consequences for violating the Cocurricular Code shifts from problem awareness (1st violation), to an emphasis on rehabilitation (2nd violation), to significant punishment (3rd violation). While the consequences for code violations are described below, the administration may, in its discretion, impose additional or more severe consequences for serious code violations.

1. First Violation
A student may be suspended from all participation in each of the cocurricular activities in which he/she is involved at the time of the violation.
The Assistant Principal for Student Activities shall have discretion to determine the date(s), duration, and nature of all suspensions.

Absent circumstances justifying more severe consequences, the suspension will last no longer than for 25% of the total number of contests/performances involved in each of the cocurricular activities in which the student is participating.

A student involved in an activity with no contests/performances or less than four contests/performances shall be assigned an appropriate consequence by the Assistant Principals for Student Activities.

If the violation is related to the possession, sale, or use of a controlled substance, the student will be referred to student services.

A student not involved in cocurricular activities at the time of violation will normally be assigned a consequence beginning upon his/her next involvement in a cocurricular activity. A student may not become involved in a new cocurricular activity solely to serve the assigned consequence. The Assistant Principal for Student Activities may prevent a student from doing so by assigning a consequence to be served during the student’s next involvement in his/her regular activity or activities.

2. Second Violation
Students will be suspended from all participation in cocurricular activities for one calendar year. After a full season suspension from all participation in cocurricular activities, the student may petition the school administration for reinstatement in the cocurricular program.

3. Third Violation
Students will be suspended from any further participation in cocurricular activities for the remainder of the student's high school career. After one calendar year of suspension, a student may petition the school administration for reinstatement in the cocurricular program.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Originally Posted by Jane

I'm getting everything but this. Can you explain this part and why it threw you into a spin?

From reading it, I'm seeing it as clever marketing and a fundraiser, selling posters of the team to the students, parents, businesses in support of the team.
Jane

This was the most disturbing thing I saw that was added. It outlined the better players standing on the rocks. They were the outstanding stars from last year's season that returned for their senior season. I thought it was overglorifying those players.

The tunnel was good, and I didn't have a direct problem with it. It was the smoke and potential fireworks that I had a problem with. The football equiptment they have is in utter dismay. The uniforms are brand new, usually each year but if you saw the bad underneath, you might have the same feeling as I do. Football is undoubtedly the biggest income for SHS but don't you think that money should go toward the safety equiptment before the fireworks, posters, and, I don't know if I mentioned this, but the endzones being painted?

Sherrard already has, probably, the most school spirit of any Quad City Area school but those things just took it a little too far. It could have something to do with the new coach because the old one was "old school" and against all of this stuff. He didn't even let the players wear numbers 1-9 because it made them stand out. He was a successful coach because he made the players into good people. People I would be proud to work alongside. I know this because he coached me for three years.

I'm proud of the way this discussion has turned out. I thought it might take a more hostile turn than what it has. I wanted to point out the "problems" that I saw at this school. Tradition is tradition, let it remain tradition. Thanks a lot for responding and keep it coming.

[Donut]

Wow, I think Arizona must actually have some kind of football following after hearing the responses in this thread.

There is typically a 30 minute show (Friday Night Fever) every Friday during football season here in Arizona from 11:30 to midnight. It shows highlights from many of the games, scores from everything they get scores for, and they invite a football team+cheerleaders+band to their studio every week. COX Cable (a local cable provider) airs one game every week on their local station. A radio station does highlights, and I found out that starting this year one of the stations will be covering a complete game every week.

Personally I think high school sports can be a great thing. I don't really see a problem with building a new stadium for example. Our stadium has been used by the football team, marching band, drum corps visiting the state, soccer team, track team, our graduation ceremonies, and YMCA football and soccer leagues, so it's by no means a wasted expenditure for an over-hyped sports program.

If we don't believe that high school football teams should be allowed on National TV or have tons of money spent on them, why on earth should a bunch of FIRST teams get the same thing?

In case you're wondering, football is huge at my school. Our football team has only missed the playoffs once in the past 25 years, and our team has made the State Championship 3 times in a row (finally winning last year).

If FIRST teams really want to receive all the school support they want, maybe some of the people on these teams need to start supporting the sports at their school in return. The most memorable comment I've ever recieved about our team was not a business owner telling us what a good community thing our team is, or a school administrator saying how wonderful a teaching program we are, but a varsity football player telling me how amazing he thought our robot was at a pep rally.

[Cory]

Everything you've mentioned about high school football that you dislike is par for the course here in California, as well as Texas and Florida.

I don't really see a problem with it. Then again, I'm a football fan.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

I guess I'm a little old school but I'm a huge football fan, too. I haven't missed a game in a long time. All of the local stations here have segments for high school football. No big deal. It's news and channel 6, NBC affiliate, has a really great segment that I enjoy watching called "The Highlight Zone," but it's more about the fans than the football and that's probably why I like it the most.

I talked to my girlfriend lastnight about this and she is the manager for the football team. She told me before about the coach winning the tunnel and I thought, "Awesome," then she told me how they were trying to get fireworks and the smoke and I got really annoyed because the money should be put in better places. Then I saw the endzone painted Friday night and thought the money was being wasted. And THEN, they are going to paint more than just the endzones for the homecoming game. I hope this attracts more people but I highly doubt it will. The best way to get people to attend your games is to perform well.

Maybe I've thought about this all the wrong way but I compared this situation to the other schools in their conference and the schools that had to drop away from the conference because of lowering student populations, and the other schools' fields are in utter dismay while Sherrard has a brand new (I can't remember the $$) sports complex.

[skimoose]

Originally Posted by Budda648

This was the most disturbing thing I saw that was added. It outlined the better players standing on the rocks. They were the outstanding stars from last year's season that returned for their senior season. I thought it was overglorifying those players.

That's the problem with the entire American sports scene, at a much too early age athletes with drive and talent are deified. Society too readily treats these athletes as if they are special, and above the status of mere mortals. They are given preferential treatment, and all too often their indiscretions are overlooked or covered up because it "would ruin a promising career". That's why these same athletes become self-absorbed, irresponsible, egomaniacs as professionals. Athletes who refuse to sign an autograph for a child unless they get paid for it, weren't always that way, they were made that way by the way society treats them.

It's also the reason why Dean started FIRST. America needs to put as least as much effort and enthusiasm into science and technology as it does sports, because in the end, its science and technology that made this country great and will keep it a world leader in the future, not sports.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not against sports, and I'm not some geek whose jealous of athletes. I ran competitive cross country and track in high school and played on a couple of adult softball leagues, but my true love is snowboarding. Back in prehistory (1984 & 85) I had the opportunity to race downhill and slalom in the US Open of Snowboarding, and I still recreational race snowboards to this day. I love competition, that's why I joined FIRST!

The point in this thread isn't whether sports are good or bad, but rather hasn't society taken support of sports to a ridiculous level? How many FIRST teams can claim they receive the same level of booster support as their local high school football programs?

I love football, too. Go Vikes!

[Donut]

Originally Posted by skimoose

The point in this thread isn't whether sports are good or bad, but rather hasn't society taken support of sports to a ridiculous level? How many FIRST teams can claim they receive the same level of booster support as their local high school football programs?

One thing we may need to think about in considering this point, is time. Most football programs have been around since their school's inception, and I'm guessing there are some football teams out there that can date back more than 70 years. The oldest FIRST teams still top out at only 16 years, and unlike football teams the majority go to a single competition for 3 days that most of the school is not going to want to drive down to. To see the football team in action, you need but come to the same place you're going every day for school (or to drop your son/daughter off at).

Once (and if) FIRST gets to the level of teams that high school football has, and they can have many local competitions (local as in less than 30 minutes from most teams), it wouldn't surprise me if FIRST teams do start to get that kind of backing.

Of course we'll see how right that statement is in about 35 years, won't we?

[Andrew Blair]

Originally Posted by Donut

One thing we may need to think about in considering this point, is time. Most football programs have been around since their school's inception, and I'm guessing there are some football teams out there that can date back more than 70 years.

Good point. We started in 1921, so ours is 85 years running. Before the 1920's schools were all about baseball. I bet football felt the same way.

[JaneYoung]

In the AISD district in Austin we don't have individual football stadiums with each school. We have centralized stadiums north, south, and central that the AISD schools play in. We have practice/play fields (keyword - fields) at our school for the football, lacrosse, soccer teams.

I think there is always that 'elite' aspect of competition that teams deal with and how each team handles it no matter the competition or level of competition, defines that team. There is an 'i' in elite, there is not an 'i' in team. Keeping things in perspective and balance is something districts have to contend with as well as the schools and the team. We have incredible marching bands in the Austin area that participate in the football half times and they also have competitions they participate in. People go to the games to see the bands as much as they do the game.