Strike up the marching band, grease the pigskin and get your tickets now — high school football is in full swing again.

Nothing brings a community together faster than the start of the annual gridiron clashes as witnessed starting last Thursday. Typically a staple of every Friday night, because of the last-hurrah summer vacation and the Labor Day holiday, teams were allowed to play their first games Thursday, Friday or Saturday. The Michigan High School Athletic Association reported that 64 percent of the games took place last Thursday with the remaining handful hitting the gridiron Friday night.

Now it’s interesting to point out, as one parent noted at a practice scrimmage, that a certain percentage of fans are not even interested in the game, but rather in the halftime festivities that center around the marching band, cheerleading and pom pon squads. An equal number of folks will thumb their noses at that notion, but it’s quite true. Some marching bands actually outnumber the football teams and rival many in the state. Most in our coverage areas are not that large, but it is notable that many have made trips to participate in college bowl games and parades, earning high accolades and coveted trophies on the way. Take a bow, musical squads, your hard work definitely does not go unnoticed by your fans.

However, getting back to the main draw that is the game, what better way to spend a Friday night— unless it’s pouring rain— than cheering on your own, or your neighbor’s kids as they get to spend time under the big lights. For many, also as witnessed last Thursday and Friday, this is their first time on the varsity. The stakes are bigger, and the mistakes — and magnificent plays — are enormously bigger than the previous year.

As we all sit here contemplating the opponents for this Friday’s clashes, take it easy on the kids. Some of these games are not going to go their way as they face defending league, district and state champs from last season. It all looks good on paper and as they run through the plays in practice. But, when the lights come on, the fog starts drifting across the field and a drum line beats its steady cadence, ultimately a whole lot rests on some pretty young shoulders and their ability to withstand the pressure.

How is that possible?
A disturbing trend is rearing its ugly head around several school districts — lack of interest. How is it possible that kids don’t want to participate in high school athletics? The Burton Community Schools once again cancelled its cross country and some soccer programs because it couldn’t find enough kids interested to play. And, although it initially had enough girls interested in playing on the new co-ed tennis team, none came back to play. Seriously? Schools that don’t offer football can’t find the minimum number of kids to run cross country or to play soccer and tennis. With volleyball as the only other sport choice, there really is nothing else for boys, especially, to play.

The Lapeer Community Schools is suffering from a similar problem: Lapeer West only has a handful of kids on the boys’ tennis team and has had to forfeit its matches this early in the season. A lack of tennis courts certainly has contributed to the problem. However, across town at Lapeer East, and after losing 12 kids from last year’s team, coach Oscar Rodriguez still has enough kids willing to learn to put up a No. 5 and No. 6 doubles team against some of the bigger schools. So what gives? It just doesn’t make any sense.

This is something that has to change — and quickly before the soccer and cross country programs go by the wayside.

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