Family, Food, Football Thanksgiving has got to be the greatest tradition since the American natives and the Europeans shared their first meal together. My belly is never more full than 1:00pm on Thanksgiving afternoon...well maybe also later that night after 2 or 3 rounds of leftovers. My son was born on Thanksgiving, so its an extra special day for our family. We got him a foosball table this year and he and I assembled it late Wednesday nite. Grandma and Grandpa, aunts and uncles and cousins came to our house this year and a foosball tourney was on the agenda along with "Catch Phrase", watching the I Love Raymond marathon, walking around the block to offset the extra calorie consumption, and my Dad looking through our closets! I have 2 sisters, Sandra and Robin, and I have spent more time with Sandra, 3 years my younger, over the years. She has a beautiful voice and adores her two boys, Jake and Caleb. They really are great. They look up to Stephen when they visit and I enjoy witnessing that. I picked on Sandra growing up and begged her to quit banging on the piano as she practiced. I'm glad she didn't quit. I love it when she plays now. She has a wonderful christian spirit about her, always smiling, always concerned for others. It was a good day.
My son and I are headed for Little Rock today to watch the Hogs take on LSU. Hogs gotta win to go bowling this year. We'll be sitting in Hog Heaven's Skybox, guests of Tom Raney of TJ Raney and Sons Investments, who we co-op with on the investment side in our bank. Its such a treat to be at the game, not to mention being in Hog Heaven on the 50-yard line! We were there 2 years ago, same place, same game when the Miracle on Markham happened...a Matt Jones to Decori Birmingham 34 yard pass on the last play of the game to beat the Tigers...What a game. Then we're on to Jessieville to watch the Wildcats play in the third round of the state high school football playoffs. I love traveling to the games, listening to the buildup on the drive-time sports radio shows, hearing the bands, spending time with Stephen. Can't wait till the kickoffs. Jeb, No Way this is your last regular season game as a Hog! Wow have those 4 years flown by. Well, win today, play your bowl game, and next year I'll watch you play on Sundays!
26 days till Christmas!
Keith
  ¶ 10:00 AM 1 comments

  Friday Nites Texas may have the market cornered on H.S.football when you talk about stadiums, rivalries, big-time athletes, movies-"Friday Nite Lights" but the same anticipation builds in the Hog state, just on a smaller playing field. Texas has its Roman Coliseums for stadiums that will seat 30K-50K which is great, but there's nothing like traveling to Barton High School which is in no specific town, but more referred to as a corner, 20 miles west of Helena, and watching the bleachers fill up and the remaining faithful encircle the bermuda grass sidelines waiting impatiently for the kickoff. (Total capacity with standing room would be about 2,500) The air is chilled near gametime to a crisp 40 degrees and falling but you wouldn't know it by watching Coach McClelland warm up by throwing passes to his recievers in a tight polyester shortsleeve coaching shirt, his breath visible with every pant. The Harding Academy Wildcats, (my team) have traveled 2 hours to tangle with the mighty Barton Bears at a place that could compare to the field in the movie "Field of Dreams." Some 8 or more McClelland-coached teams battled on this field enroute to becoming state champions. Unprecedented. At least ESPN thinks so. You can see their week long filmed documentary of the legendary coach sometime in January on one of their many networks. The stage is not as big and bright as its neighbor to the west, but the excitement reaches the same fever pitch. The athletes are a little smaller, not as quick, facilities are dwarfed, but the execution of both teams is surgery-like. Barton has about 10 running plays and 2 passing plays and H.A. has 100 passing plays and runs the draw to Kreg Kell-youngster who touched the ball 4 times on H.A.'s last drive in the 2002 State Championship game as a sophomore to clinch the title. The date on both teams calendars has been circled since 2 a days in August. Let the game begin.
Why do I travel 1,2,3 hours on friday nites to witness such a contest? Its not really for the love of the game of football as much as it is observing the entire event unfold. Beginning with watching a few practices and talking to collegues, coaches, and players throughout the week about the upcoming opponent, all the way through to the final whistle, it is a rewarding environment to be a part of. Seeing a kid at church on Wednesday nite and wishing him the best this week in the game and watching his face light up when I tell him about his mug shot in the weekly paper. Listening as his mom or dad overhears you and chimes in with about 10 more minutes of additional stats on their son that you really didn't care to hear; but its all good.
Witnessing brothers playing on the same field, at the same time. Wow. A parents dream. An experience that will last a lifetime. Seeing tears after an overtime loss which leads to tight hugs, pats on the back, well wishers, "we'll get em next time." Joint team prayers after the contest...heads bowed...everyone forgetting the score for a moment to honor the Maker.
I can't wait to drive to Dierks, Ark. tonite with my son and a friend to see another game. Would I have had any other reason to drive this far on a cold, rainy nite to this town of 3,000? I look forward to the unfolding. By the way, this was Harding Academy's year. They beat Barton 35-0. I hope Coach McClelland will coach for 10 more years! Mr. Old School will be missed when his time finally comes. But his legend will live on.
  ¶ 11:06 AM 1 comments