Tonight, around dusk, time will stop. A quarter will be tossed, shining silver against the darkening sky. Heads. Tails. Game on.
For the heroes of the night, it is the moment for which they’ve spent countless hours in the Mississippi heat, running laps, dodging tackles and taking hits like the men they will soon become.
In recent years, high school football has played to a tough crowd, fighting for dominance over competing interests, but across the Golden Triangle, determined fans and booster clubs are hoping they can bring back the glory — and the crowds — for what once was the only show in town anyone wanted to see.
Michael Jackson, a 2000 graduate of Columbus High School, remembers those days well. Friday nights meant football. Period. End of story. From the pep rallies to the post-game parties, every moment was savored, becoming part of the color and texture of high school life.
The bleachers haven’t been so full over the past few seasons, said Jackson, the Columbus Municipal School District’s special assistant for public relations and parent involvement.
That’s something CMSD Superintendent Dr. Martha Liddell and Lowndes County Schools Superintendent Lynn Wright have noticed as well. The recession has taken a toll on America’s favorite sport, but both hope they’ve hit upon a winning game plan to bolster sluggish ticket sales.
Liddell’s approach capitalizes on school spirit. Tonight, as the CHS Falcons take the field to play Aberdeen, fans are encouraged to “Purple Out” (wear purple) and “Pack the Stadium.”
The newly-minted Columbus Falcons Athletic Club, made up of community leaders, parents and teachers, will have a booth by the gate where people can sign up to win prizes like iPads, iPhones, flat screen televisions and Falcon-themed merchandise to be given away during the fourth quarter of Homecoming and the final home game.
T-shirts, sports bottles and other items will be thrown to fans during every game. A photo booth will be set up for people to get their pictures taken with the Falcon mascot, and the district hopes to host pre- and post-game concerts.
The goal is two-fold — to increase student-parent involvement and raise community spirit.
“Ticket sales are OK, but with us being a 6A (Mississippi High School Activities Association) school, and the number of students in the district and community, we should have more participation,” Jackson said, speaking on behalf of Liddell. “Our stands should be packed. We’re trying to get it back to the point where Friday night football is the thing to do.”
CHS Booster Club President Tammy Nordquist and club member Theda Williams hope the stands are packed as well. Thursday afternoon, as the two women stood outside Falcon Stadium with a table of food for the team, they said the players devote 12-16 hours to practice every week, not including the time they spend lifting weights and training.
“We would love, love, love to see everybody come out and support the boys,” Nordquist said. “They’ve worked hard and put in a lot of time.”
A few fields away, CHS Band Director Charles Cooper led 120 students through their paces as they polished their halftime routine, which will be a musical tribute to the late Whitney Houston.
“Let’s embrace this band and our kids,” Cooper said. “They’re wonderful kids showing tremendous effort. I think they deserve support.”
At the county schools, Wright has devised a plan to make it a little easier for people to do just that.
For the first time, parents and fans will be able to purchase athletics passes for all sports, all year. Individual passes are $100, and family passes are $200. A list of names will be kept at the gate, and pass holders will have to present identification.
For those who attend a lot of events, plunking down $5 a ticket for every football, baseball, basketball or soccer game, it’s a bargain, said New Hope High School Secretary Sonya Williamson.
The passes will be available at the schools and at the district’s central office.
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. for tonight’s games. CHS, New Hope and West Lowndes will play at home, while Caledonia will face Nettleton on the road.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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