After a long winter, spring and summer, Lawrence County residents are finally ready for some football.

Friday, August 25, 2000

After a long winter, spring and summer, Lawrence County residents are finally ready for some football. Tonight is the first night of the high school gridiron season.

As usual, there will be rivalries on the field. These warriors are out to win some games. Expect a lot of tough players and hard hitting as the season kicks off this week.

But the excitement won’t just be on the field, either.

A lot of team spirit fills Lawrence County’s football stadiums. Eager fans rush home from work or school every Friday to make sure they are home in time to put on their school colors and head to the stadium.

And those cheers are part of what makes Friday evenings so much fun when autumn rolls around.

But along with all the good-natured ribbing that goes along with the in- and out-of-county rivalries goes some other behavior that is a little less than desirable.

Specifically, unsportsmanlike conduct.

There is nothing about hurling insults or objects at an opposing team, or worse yet, injuring an opponent or a fan, that will make your team the better team when the chips are down on Friday night.

High school football is important in this county – and there is nothing wrong with that. The problem is, it is not important enough not to justify behavior that borders on criminal before, during and after the contests.

Teaching our children to love their schools is fine. But we also have an obligation to teach our teens perspective and sportsmanship. And those lessons should be especially emphasized on the field and in the stands.

Let’s make this season one where Lawrence County teams stand out not just with their playing talents, but also with the way they conduct themselves on and off the field.

Then, they will be champions in every way.