So my little friend Tomtom decided to get me to the address perfectly fine, only for me to be in downtown Canton as oppossed to North Canton. Downtown Canton is very run down and I was driving around looking for a stadium, especially as everyone at the Hall of Fame had told me what a lovely stadium the school has and that it is a really big game tonight.
It was nearing 7pm and I was about to miss the start and I could not see a high school or a stadium any where. so I stopped off at a small chicken place and as yummy as the food looked I was more driven to find where the school was.The lady behind the counter and the lady in front of the counter kept asking me what high school I was going to, and rather stupidly I said; "I don't not know". All I was told was the address.
American cities love to have street names that are numbers, I was on 525 7th street, but the wrong city! I knew the high school could not be far. All I could tell the women that were helping me was that one team plays in green and the other orange. They spent the next 15 minutes looking through the yellow pages and phoning their friends to find out about any big high school games being played tonight.
Finally I got through to the principle after I got the 7 and the 2 mixed up on the card that was given to me with his number on it. He told me I was to see Hoover school and that I need to punch North Canton into TomTom, bloody hell!
I drove to North Canton and I could see the "Friday Night Lights" up ahead, but finding parking was going to be very tricky indeed. In the end I simply followed someone else who I assumed was going to the game and he suddenly moved left and parked on the grass verge behind the pavement.
"Can we park here?" I asked
"Yeah, I have been coming to games here for 20 years, never got a ticket"
"oh ok, what about the ditch?" I asked as I pulled up onto the grass. Just beyond the nose of my car was a sheer drop verge
"Oh it will be fine!" I left my rented Chevy car precariously teetering on the edge on a massive ditch before racing to the Stadium. I got my media pass and as I met Anthony the Principle. Fox T.V were landing just behind me on a helicopter! That's right this high school has a landing spot for when the helicopters from T.V stations arive! How mad is that? Shame they don't have a parking space for wacky English blokes ona football trip! I hope the the chopper hasn't parked mear me and blow my car into the ditch!
The stadium was already packed with people. The sadium only has bleacher/stands on the left and right of the field, none behind either endzone. It was freezing cold but that did not stop around 12,000 people turning up tonight! I could not beleive so many people were here. To my right the stand is the stand just for home fans and the whole section to the left of the field is for the away fans. The away team also brought their cheerleaders and band as well!
I was introduced to two students at the school; Lauren and Brooke, both of whom are on the Yearbook club and will be taking pictures tonight. I noticed both had huge lenses for their cameras, and they told me they just sign them out, like a library book! I wish I could sign out a $3000 lens! I noticved there was about 10 other people on the sidelines from an array of media. Both Lauren and Brooke were very hospitable and showed me around the stadium and introduced me to their friends including some rather nutty supporters, who happened to be shirtless in the freezing cold. Anthony the principle threw some of my t-shirts to the crowd, oh how the Americans rumble for a free T-Shirt! Now that's a sport!
The crowd were getting into the game and the foam mascot was jumping around at each play. The poor cheerleaders must have been frozen but they did a great job in keeping people's spirits up.It was great being on the sidelines as I was able to get close to the action and get some great shots. Anthony also introduced me to nearly every member of staff at the game. It was really great to see how much the whole school come together on football nights.
Not only are the players involved but there are cheerleaders and the marching band, and student photographers, reporters, everyone! The crowd were really loud, and very supportive. At my high school we would be lucky if all the players' fathers would show up for a game, let alone 12,000 people.
The quarters are shorter in High School football but the tackles are by no mean less hard hitting, they were some crunching tackles and both teams were moving the ball well. It was hard at times to concentrate on the game because everyone wanted to talk to me, and chat about the trip which was great. Though I do remember seeing a Hoover Viking touchdown and the cheerleaders did their routine and the crowd behind me went crazy.
Half time was quickly upon us and the Hoover Vikings were losing 10-7. I met alot of people in the faculty and other media and everyone was really friendly. It was senior night, which means that this was the last home game for the seniors as were ending the regular season. This maybe why it is a sell out crowd. For many of these teenagers this is the last time they play, sing, cheer on home soil.
At half time the home band did a great act, with every student being in time. The young lady at front had a batton that she threw into the air and caught...oh did I mention the batton was on fire? Can you imagine school children in London throwing battons on fire into the night sky? The whole school would burn down in minutes! Then one by one each member of the band came forward to have their name called out, where they took a bow with their parents/guardians. You could tell this meant a lot to them and this event was by no means just about the players, it is about everyone getting involved doing their bit. It really was a magical experience and I have never seen so many teenagers so proud of their high school. At home, students are embarrassed to be in school or a school band, but here it is totally embraced.
Glen Oak had brought around 6,000 of their own fans from just 3 miles away and they were consistently in good spirits. They too marched their band and cheerleaders out and they did a small show which was just as good and the Hoover home fans applauded. I did not hear one "boo" the whole night!
In the second half I went o the visitor's side and made my way up to the press box, where the media were covering the game. It was interesting to sit with the away fans, as they did not bad mouth the home fans despite the fact that like soccer at home, the sets of fans are split up. The principle told me there has never been fights and people are very respectful. I have not noticed any police here and if you had two rival schools at home and one team brought 6000 people you better bring police as well. 12,000 people is the size of crowd you get at a semi professional soccer, damn, my local team Leyton Orient would love 12,000 at each game!
I bought myself a hot dog, which was quite tasty. The crowd were cold on the metal bleachers and many younger fans had brought cushions and blankets to watch the game, but nowhere sold hot drinks. It was also alcohol free which may have something to do with the good behaviour?
The Vikings scored another touchdown to take the game to14-10 and that became the final score. Someone explained to me just how the point system in this league work, which is very interesting. If you beat a team who then goes on to beat other teams your team get extra points. Isn't that interesting? So Glen Oak are a good team and are tying the division with Hoover. Hoover want to beat Glen Oak...naturally, but then they want Glen Oak to win the rest of their games, as Hoover gets points for every time Glen Oak win. If you beat a team who then lose games you don't gain ay extra points. Also if you beat a team late in the season and they have won a bunch of games already you get extra points.
So If Manchester Utd beat Chelsea they would then want Chelsea to win every game after that. I think it is quite a fascinating way to collate the points at the end of the season. Of course it is not perfect, but what system is? I really think it makes it interesting because you might want your arch rivals to actually win games, assuming you beat them in the first place.
I saw Lauren and Brooke towards the end of the game and they were really insightful articulate students who really helped me understand the culture of high School football. It is a shame I lost alot of the pictures from the start of the game as I had more pictures of the fans, but hopefully someone might have some pictures they could send me.
At the end of the game Anthony walked me into the locker room, where I met the head coach and his father and some more teachers. The smell of sweat and mud took me back instantly to my football playing days, when I played DB. We then went back outside for the finale, which was the "glow show".
Now this was spectacular! The band came back out, the lights went out and the band performed again this time with glow sticks: a Glow Show. The fact that it looked amazing was nearly topped by the fact it sounded amazing. The away players and band stayed to watch and show their support. This show really took me by surprise. Then as we left the band continued into the streets playing their songs and cheering. Their glow sticks were still bright and the crowd follwed them around several blocks. It was a carnival like atmosphere. The principle let me have a look around his fine school, giving me some free Hoover Viking merchandise and talking to me about "spirit week" at the school.
It was really good to meet so many students. I work with teenagers at home trying to get them involved with the arts or sports, and here it students are really involved and engaging with their school. As we awalked into the school there was a snazzy mountain bike parked out front not locked to anything, and the anthony told me it had been there since the morning, no one had stolen it! Quite the diferent world to London! The students I spoke to were first amazed that I was simpaly from London, watching a high school football game in North Canton, Ohio, but I tell you what this was an amazing place to watch football. Brooke had told me previously she much prefers high school football to college and the professional game, and I can see why. It is all about community, everyone gets involved and it is great fun.
Many of the students, especially Lauren though what I was doing on this trip was a great idea as many of them have not even left Ohio. I would like to think that my trip will inspire them to go out and find what makes them happy, before they get bogged down with structure and responsibilities. Too many people in my opinion have school, college, work, kids and never get a chance to do the mad things that they could possibly do.
I am blessed that I have chosen this trip and that I have had so much support. If I manage to come back via Ohio I would like to see this football team play again and I wish them all the best this season. Anthone dropped me back to my car which was all on it's own, gingerly parked. Still at least it did not fall down the ditch. I then made my way towards Cleveland to have a party on the Dawg bus!
Go Hoover Vikings!
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