Go Friday Night

Amy
October 8, 2005 3:17 PM

I would like to comment about any "unsportsmanlike" conduct in Friday's game. These are directed to football fans in general, not Lew Patton or any particular Sweetwater or Wylie player, parent or fan.

I wish they would change the name of that penalty to "overzealousness" or "lack of control." I wasn't at the game, listened to the Wylie broadcast on the radio. But in general, much of the unsportsmanlike conduct I see at football games -- I was a sports writer for 10-plus years covering all levels of football from Division I collegiate to six-man high school ball -- is simply an emotional release from a kid who could be anywhere from 15 years old to 18 years old. They are pumped up so much before and during the game that it is inevitable that something is going to have to break loose, especially when it gets to the point in the game where the outcome is pretty much determined, like it was in last night's game. You didn't hear about any unsportsmanlike penalties before it was 26-3 and it was likely that Sweetwater would not be able to catch up. I am 36 years old and I sometimes have trouble controlling myself during a particularly stressful time. It's a good thing there's not a ref standing right there ready to yellow-flag my behavior and mark off a 15-yard penalty. Don't get me wrong, I know there is deliberate poor sportsmanship in games. I'm not blind. And I'm not saying either example of the offense shouldn't be penalized. This is one of the many ways we teach kids that there are real and definite consequences to their actions, as there will be every step of the way after they graduate from high school. But I just wish the simply emotional release part of the penalty wasn't called unsportsmanlike conduct. Some of the "best sports" I know are also some of the most competitive athletes and therefore some of the most likely to blow their top in a pressure cooker. So be easy on those kids in those situations. Coaches are the same way. They've had more practice controlling their emotions, but they're still human beings. A football game is loud, the coach is yelling the whole game, whether or not he's angry, just yelling to be heard and if he has a conversation with an opposing coach or with a referee, it is oftentimes going to sound and look like yelling. It's also perhaps even more stressful and frustrating being the coach because, aside from making decisions, there really is nothing you can do during a game to really make a difference. Most of those coaches are former good athletes and they are used to being able to play a little harder to get the job done. You cannot do that from the sidelines, you can only hope you prepared your team well and that you can inspire them, which is incredibly difficult.
Lew, thanks always for making sure your blog keeps the right perspective on this thing we all love called high school football.

Lew
October 8, 2005 4:09 PM

Amy,
Thanks so much for your welcomed comments. I agree with alot of what you said. I suppose sports is a good way for a young person to learn the "rules" of life through a sport.

I guess I have a difficult time trying to understand people who are supposed to be the responsible ones, the leaders, the folks that are supposed to demonstrate good sportsmanship, the coaches.

Now please don't think I wouldn't do the same thing in the same situation, I have no idea. It just seems to me that you play the game on the field, you play as hard as you can, and you play with sportsmanship and integrity. To me, that's more important than going outside the rules of any game.

Thanks again for your coments. I appreciate them.

Lew

GARY REED
October 8, 2005 4:21 PM

I LISTENED TO THE WYLIE GAME LAST WEEK AGAINST DECATUR ON 102.7. WHEN #54 FROM WYLIE WAS KICKED OUT OF THE GAME, THE WYLIE FANS GAVE HIM A STANDING OVATION. AFTER WATCHING THE GAME LAST NIGHT AT MUSTANG BOWL. I SAW #54 HITTING PLAYERS LATE AND GETTING INTO THE FACE OF MUSTANG PLAYERS. WHEN WYLIE IS IN A CLOSE GAME IN THE POST SEASON, #54 COULD VERY WELL COST HIS TEAM A GAME IF HIS ACTIONS CONTINUE AND THEIR FANS CHEER HIM ON.

clifford
October 8, 2005 4:54 PM

Lew, I was there, could have been some questionable calls. However, I have seen few times if any, arguing with refs change their minds, just pumps up kids. I will probably catch flack for this, but I am not running for office. We will get them next week. Hey, the sun did come out this morning.

Lew
October 8, 2005 5:21 PM

Clifford,
Thanks for the comments.

I tried to warn fans and players to keep a cool head this week, but I guess they don't read this blog..LOLOL.

You are right, the sun did indeed come out this morning.

Lew

clifford
October 8, 2005 7:12 PM

As usual, good job Lew. I appreciate the work you do at this site.

mustang-fan
October 10, 2005 1:27 PM

I was there, too---the referees lost control of that game early on. The coaches weren't yelling at each other. They were both on the field talking to the ref to see what in the heck was going on. I didn't see any yelling. Broadcasters say whatever comes to mind first without assessing the situation.

mustang-fan
October 10, 2005 1:28 PM

And I didn't see a fight break out! Believe me, our eyes never left the field!

clifford
October 10, 2005 4:46 PM

MUSTANG FAN, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU, THE REFS WERE AT ANOTHER GAME IN MORE THAN ONE INSTANCE. THAT IS HARD FOR A LONG TIME REF TO SAY, BUT THEY WERE SUSPECT. THE ANNOUNCERS ON RADIO AND AT THE GAME DID USE SOME JOURNALISTIC LICNESE. BOTH COACHES HAVE MUTUAL RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER AND THEY WILL MEET AGAIN. AND BY THE WAY, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE LARGEST 3-A SCHOOLS I HAVE EVER SEEN. IT WAS CERTAINLY THE LARGEST CROWD OF VISITORS I HAVE EVER SEEN IN THE BOWL. THE MUSTANGS WILL PLAY FRIDAY AND HOPEFULLY PREVAIL AGAINST THE TIGERS. INJURIES HAVE HURT A LOT.

mustang-fan
October 11, 2005 4:13 AM

The question I still have about Friday night's game is #54 (there's that #54 mentioned again) and #59 lining up in the neutral zone. Because of the referees, there WASN'T a neutral zone! And #54 was mean.

Injuries have really hurt us...I venture to say the game would have been entirely different had we had everyone in the game, but you can't dwell on that. The kids that are playing are playing their hearts out and have done a good job at it. I think Coach Jackson is a really good role model for our kids. He really gets excited about the game of football.

Let's just hope we can get our kids up as high for the Snyder game as Snyder will have their kids. Snyder is ALWAYS ready to play Sweetwater, so we'll have to be ready. Sweetwater-Snyder has ALWAYS been a great (and sometimes ugly) rivalry. Remember the band buses getting "rocked" at Snyder? My husband got "escorted" out of town by some Snyder guys a couple of times in the 70's. They didn't want Sweetwater people in their town at all!

FORGET ABOUT WYLIE NOW---THEY'RE IN DIVISION I ANYWAY. WE WON'T SEE THEM AGAIN UNTIL NEXT YEAR (?---realignment comes up February 1st), SO GO GET SNYDER, RED!

clifford
October 11, 2005 8:09 PM

NO QUESTION, COACH IS A "GOOD GUY" WITH OR WITHOUT THE WHITE HAT. THE KIDS PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT FOR SURE, AND IT IS ALL ABOUT THE KIDS. THAT WAS LAST WEEK, LET'S LOOK FORWARD TO THE "GOOD TIMES" IN GOOD OLE TIGERLAND.

J.B. Laughlin
October 12, 2005 3:55 AM

Here is former SHS student who lives far away. I have read all the Blogs. I followed the score up to the end. I am still hurting. Sorry about the unpleasantness. Despite the pain all we can do is move on. Snyder is another game. Go get'um Stangs.