Pump up the volume
Taking Names and Keeping Score Charlie Anderson
Iam not certain just how many of you, who read this column, are able to attend football games on a consistent basis. But, I would speculate that there are a good many of you who do. I would also guess that most of you, whether you attend games regularly or not, have a favorite team.

For some of you not only do you have one favorite but you have a favorite at every level including high school, college and professional ball. There may even be some of you, because of children or grandchildren, who have a team you root for that is below the level of high school ball. To all of you who have favorite teams and show your support for them by your attendance at games whenever possible, let me extend a hearty thank you on behalf of all of those who play on those teams.

Unless you have played football and been on the battlefield we call a gridiron, you can't fully understand the importance of having fans giving their visible and audible support. I have been there, first as a manager for some of my father's teams whose job it was to keep the players supplied with water and other essential items, then as a player when it was my turn to don a uniform and after that as an extension of my sons who played the game. In every situation, seeing fans fill the stadium and then hearing them give their support through thunderous applause and cheering always inspired me.

As a player in particular, I can remember crucial moments in a game when our fans rising to their feet and cheering at the top of their lungs made me forget the nagging injuries, my tired body and the odds that might have been against me and my teammates at that moment. Instead of dwelling on those negative things, because I knew people were counting on me, I was somehow able to reach deep within myself and summon up the extra adrenaline, strength and courage to give my best.

My father, who literally coached hundreds of young men during his tenure as a coach at Thomasville High School would often categorize his best players as being someone you could count on "when the chips were down". Of course in using that familiar old expression he was specifically talking about the response of players to crucial moments in a game, when the outcome of a particular play might well determine the ultimate outcome of the game itself. It was never intended to imply that such players were always going to be successful in those situations but that they would certainly make their presence known and do their best to perform their specific task, whatever that may be.

In the same vein, I am convinced that the best fans are those whom you can count on "when the chips are down" and even later when the chips have been divided up. By that I mean genuine fans are the ones who show their appreciation and support for their team not only when the game is on the line but later after it has been decided as well. It is usually pretty easy to offer support for a team in the heat of the battle and even when it is over and your team has been successful. The true test of loyalty for a fan comes when the outcome of a crucial play doesn't go your way. Will you, as a fan, rise to the occasion again and again, just as you expect the players to, if the flow of the game dictates a need to? Or will you sit back and through your silence send a message to your team that you've given up on them or don't really care anymore. Likewise when the game is over and things haven't gone your way will you still show your support for them or will you become their harshest critic leaving them to wonder if all their hard work in the off season, at practice and in the game was worth it?

Well, if you find yourself among those who would be classified as the best of fans, congratulations and keep up the good work. On the other hand if after a little self examination you would have to say you don't quite measure up, I want you to know there is forgiveness for those who have seen the error of their ways and are willing to change. All you need to understand is that the welcome mat is out and it is time to come join in.

You know, football isn't like a polo match which is really nothing more than a social event where coming to be seen is more important than what is happening on the field of play. Neither is it like a golf match where quiet and cheering among the gallery of fans is directed. In contrast, by the sheer nature of the game it is as sport that welcomes good positive noise, whether orchestrated or spontaneous. and a lot of it.

With some AISA teams in our area already in their respective playoffs and the likes of the A. L. Johnson Eagles, Clarke County Bulldogs, Demopolis Tigers, Leroy Bears, Linden Patriots, McIntosh Demons, Millry Wildcats, Sweet Water Bulldogs, Thomasville Tigers, and Washington County Bulldogs getting started in the AHSAA playoffs this week, its time for all the true football fans in this area to show your support. To do that, you need to show up, stand up and pump up the volume with a lot of positive noise.

Until next time……be safe!

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