It has been a long time since I rooted for a high school football team.  Instead of cheering for classmates, I’m cheering for my grandson.  He is a junior at Redmond, OR high school, the Panthers.

The weather  on Friday night was perfect for the game, cool and clear.  the stadium filled with parents and friends.  Ome of the students displayed painted numbers on his bare chest. That display was covered quickly as the sun set. The pep band played several selections of pop music so the cheerleaders could shake their pompoms – all 18 of them.  Half time was quite unless standing in line at the concession stand.

I thought back to  high school games in Chillicothe.  Where was the marching band?  Where were the cheers that the whole stadium could shout, such as, first and ten, do it again — kick ‘em back, kick ‘em back, way back?

I was a member of the marching Chillicothe Hornets.  We were directed by Frank Fendorf, who was a really cool teacher.  Everyday, last hour of school we marched in the streets around the school sharpening our march step and turns so our lines were straight.  Mr. Fendorf designed our half time presentations and made sure everyone knew where to go – practice and more practice.

We had majorettes!! remember them?  They twirled and tossed their batons while keeping time with the music. I was proud to be a part of the band.  We even got to do some traveling to near by towns on the band bus.

All in all, I still had a great time watching my grandson and his friends play ball.  We’ll go again next week, but with warm hats and gloves.