I Went to a High School Football Game Tonight

[bitflipper]

First time at a HS football game since I was in high school, a long, long time ago. Surprisingly, not all that much has changed. The girls still parade in front of the boys, while the boys play it cool and pretend they don't notice them.

My own perspective has changed, though. I kept thinking: those cheerleaders shouldn't be out in this cold with no pants on. 

But the reason I went was to see my great-granddaughter play trumpet in the marching band. She did me proud. My last hope for a musician in the family. I left after the half-time show. The score was 27-3 in favor of the home team, so I don't think I missed much.

[craigb]

Our house is close enough to the local highschool's stadium that we hear the band playing most Fridays when there's a game.  Brings back memories!

[DeeringAmps]

I "returned" to HS Football way back when my daughter was on the Flag Team.
What I enjoyed most was the family dynamic of the crowd, each player seemed to have his own cheer section.

Later a good friend's (brother by another mother) sons played and again I was back, and again the "family dynamic" thing.
This team went on to be runner up at the State Championship one year and won it all the next.
It was fun! Way funner than being harassed by the jocks for the long hair back in the day...

t

 

[Notes_Norton]

I have fond memories of being in the marching band. It was fun

[henkejs]

1 hour ago, Notes_Norton said:

I have fond memories of being in the marching band. It was fun

Mostly I remember tucking the mouthpiece of my trombone in my pocket to keep it warm when we weren't playing. That's fall weather in Minnesota, or at least it was 50 years ago.

[Triangleman]

Being in HS band was the best.  We'd sing Frank Zappa songs on the bus going to games to annoy the adults.  Most of them were greatly offended but the young cool asst band director would say "OK who can count that out and tell me what the time signature is".

[user 905133]

23 minutes ago, Triangleman said:

Being in HS band was the best.  We'd sing Frank Zappa songs on the bus . . . .

Various syllables [Doo Doots] . . . . Coach's whistle. . . . 

"I'm losing status at the HIGH SCHOOL.  I used to think that it was MY SCHOOL."

(From Status Back Baby)

 

[57Gregy]

Rah rah ree, kick 'em in the knee!
Rah rah rass, kick 'em in the other knee!

[Notes_Norton]

23 hours ago, henkejs said:

Mostly I remember tucking the mouthpiece of my trombone in my pocket to keep it warm when we weren't playing. That's fall weather in Minnesota, or at least it was 50 years ago.

I marched in Florida, but it does have cold snaps. Nothing like that though.

[bjornpdx]

Not only did my HS marching band (Wilson HS, Long Beach,CA) play at all the HS football games but we also got to march down Main street in Disneyland and also at a USC game at the LA Coliseum. I wasn't a great clarinet player but I looked good in the band uniform.

[Notes_Norton]

20 hours ago, bjornpdx said:

Not only did my HS marching band (Wilson HS, Long Beach,CA) play at all the HS football games but we also got to march down Main street in Disneyland and also at a USC game at the LA Coliseum. I wasn't a great clarinet player but I looked good in the band uniform.

Our biggest march was in the Orange Bowl parade, 3 years in a row.

I only did it once, though. I had potential gigs for the last two, I asked the band director what should I do and he said take the gigs. He said one less player in the band won't make much of a difference, and the gig experience would teach me a lot.

He was a very good teacher, I had him for both middle and high school, and thanks to his teaching I sat first saxophone in the all-state band every year that I was eligible to compete. I also took the section leader away from the first alto sax. So it was a coup for all the tenor sax players.

We also marched in all the football games, and when that season was over, we were a concert band and played symphonies, and other pieces from the great historic classical composers.

It was a good time, and without it, I wouldn't have become a career musician.

[Jimbo 88]

SO COOL Bit!

My daughter was involved in Marching Band.  What was even more fun is the basketball games,  they might have a Pep Band. The band is less supervised by teachers and "jams" can break out at anytime.  SO COOL!

I was kinda grateful that they would have a football game at the MARCHING BAND EVENT!

 

[kitekrazy1]

On 10/4/2024 at 9:15 PM, bitflipper said:

First time at a HS football game since I was in high school, a long, long time ago. Surprisingly, not all that much has changed. The girls still parade in front of the boys, while the boys play it cool and pretend they don't notice them.

My own perspective has changed, though. I kept thinking: those cheerleaders shouldn't be out in this cold with no pants on. 

But the reason I went was to see my great-granddaughter play trumpet in the marching band. She did me proud. My last hope for a musician in the family. I left after the half-time show. The score was 27-3 in favor of the home team, so I don't think I missed much.

 I still remember playing football back in the Midwest. 

I now live in the desert and these games are played in over 100 degree weather.  Schools start in early August.  I don't know how they do it.  You have to make it to the NFL to play indoors. This month the temps do drop enough after sundown.   

There is also the Cactus League where future MLB players have evening games starting in July and you can see those games for free but who wants to go see a game when it can still be at least 108 at night.

[bitflipper]

I played in Nebraska. I can still smell that sweat-soaked uniform. 

One night after a game, I had an epiphany. By the time we got out of the showers and up to the gymnasium for the dance, all the girls were gathered around the stage chatting up the band. I decided then and there that trying to be a jock was waaay too much work to impress the ladies. Not when playing in a rock 'n roll band existed as an alternative.

[kitekrazy1]

The small town I lived they got rid of the high school.  That kills a community.  Football games were a high school reunion for many and it wasn't about the quality of the team. 

I hated marching band. That's why I never wanted to teach high school.  

[Notes_Norton]

On 10/8/2024 at 12:02 PM, Jimbo 88 said:

<...snip...>

My daughter was involved in Marching Band.  What was even more fun is the basketball game<...>

 

What did she play?

In Middle School, I was on the basketball team and in the band. The band was going to play at a basketball game, and I had to make the choice. I chose the band. It was the right choice for me.

[Jimbo 88]

21 hours ago, Notes_Norton said:

What did she play?

In Middle School, I was on the basketball team and in the band. The band was going to play at a basketball game, and I had to make the choice. I chose the band. It was the right choice for me.

My daughter plays flute and did so in high school. Not to brag, but I'm bragging...she is a world class flute player and song writer in LA.

In Marching band and Pep band she was the Drum Major, which was funny because she knows absolutely nothing about sports and always needed someone to translate what was happening ...something good or something bad.