Arkansas News Bureau - Friday nights are better with bleacher posse

Friday nights are better with bleacher posse
Saturday, Oct 21, 2006

By Micki Bare

A very good friend saved us seats so it didn't matter that we were in the very back of the ticket line an hour before kickoff, at which time the stands were already packed. Now that my oldest attends high school, I completely understand the magic of Friday night football. And we were not about to miss the biggest game of the season.

During the '80s, I spent many Friday nights hanging out with my friends at high school football games. After the game we crammed into the pizza place that stayed open late for home games. I do not remember the weather ever being too cold or too wet. I just remember cheering for our team and then celebrating, or consoling ourselves, with hot, greasy pizza.

Since then, I've been to college games and even a professional game or two. I attended many recreational football games as my children aged into the city sports programs. All are fun, but none quite capture the magic of high school football.

During the high school games, the middle-schoolers have a chance to hang out with each other and dream about being in high school. And it is perfectly acceptable that their parents are 40 feet away in the stands keeping an eye on them. With so many families around, it is not "uncool" to attend high school football games with your parents.

This is not the case with other events. My children absolutely loathe the fact that I insist on going to the movie theater, too, when they want to see the latest flick with their friends. They barely tolerate my presence when they are hanging out in the backyard, at the bowling alley or at the pizza place. But on Friday morning, the first thing the kids ask is, "Are we going to the game?"

I am not exaggerating - they actually do use the word "we."

Even our youngest has a clique of friends he "hangs" with on Friday nights, albeit in the row in front of or behind Hubby and me. He especially looks forward to moving up toward the front of the stands with his little group of friends during the third quarter in hopes of catching one of the plastic footballs the cheerleaders toss into the crowd.

Hubby and I also sit with our friends at the games. When you make a habit of attending every week, you build up a posse of bleacher pals. Our little group cheers together, we watch out for each other's kids, and we take turns going to the snack bar.

In a group, it is perfectly acceptable for 30-somethings to chant silly, yet supportive catch phrases at the top of their lungs trying to get the ball to fly between the posts during an extra point attempt.

In a group, adults can participate in "the wave," and not feel ridiculous - especially if the kids started it. In a group, we can be ourselves and have fun.

During the high school games, Hubby and I actually look forward to feeding the family at the concession stand. We have children, so the more we can squeeze out of $20, the better. During a high school football game, a $20 bill will feed a family of five.

That same $20 might get a family of five some soft drinks at a pro game, but to fill hungry tummies, a few more bill would have to cross the counter.

Halftime is excellent at high school football games, as well. Maybe I'm somewhat biased, considering my oldest marches with the band. But I really believe that even if my extremely talented musician was not part of the band, I would still greatly look forward to and enjoy the halftime presentations.

When it was time for the big game, the one that would end the winning streak of one of two local teams, the game toward which the entire season had been building, everyone wanted to be a part of the crowd.

But I had to work late. My family had to wait for me to battle traffic, find a place to park two blocks away, and walk to the stadium. When we finally hopped in line for our tickets, the stadium was filled to capacity and then some. That's why we were so thrilled when we discovered that our bleacher pals had saved us seats in the stands.

Despite my work schedule, our little group was still able to sit and cheer together for the big game, just as we have been doing all season. I don't remember the weather being too cold. I only remember cheering for our team and celebrating our team's big win with hot, greasy pizza at a restaurant that stayed open late to accommodate the Friday night football crowd!

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Micki Bare is a columnist for the Arkansas News Bureau and the Courier-Tribune in Asheboro, N.C., and author of the book, "Relative Expressions." She lives in Asheboro with her husband and three children. Her e-mail address is mickibare@earthlink.net.