...is a fallen hero" is how a particular negative line often goes, and yeah, we seem to like pointing out when some individual or team proves to be more human-slash-fallible than we had believed. Right now a lot of people are looking at the Dallas Cowboys, they of the $1.2 billion stadium with its mega-huge-even-by-Texas-standards TV screen and will-Bum's-kid-get-the-boot? type record after barely finishing off pitiful Kansas City in overtime on Sunday. You can read the controversy about Tony Romo's foibles as a QB or the fact they haven't won a playoff game since 1996 and get the gist of how human they have become.
Me, I'm committed to going to the Independence HS game on Friday, and yes, its because they are looking less like human steamrollers and more like high school kids than most people in the Charlotte area can recall.
In 2007 Independence lost to Cincinatti's Elder HS, ending a 109-game winning streak, then lost a second time to Butler. In 2008 their seven year run as State 4-AA champions ended, and while they are undefeated (8-0) this year, it took an interception late in the game to barely pull out a win over Providence HS 31-27 their last time out. Heck, Butler is ranked ahead of them both in the local Sweet 16 and at the State and national levels, but thats going to get sorted out in the most definitive way on November 6th when the two programs collide at Butler. It seems legit to see how Big I responds after a nail-biter against "ordinary" opposition before watching a REALLY big game, and I'm actually excited about attending my first high school game since, well, maybe the early 80s.
Football, in case you didn't actually know this, is a VERY big deal in the South, and it's impressive that teams like Independence actually travel to someplace like Cincinatti, or that Charlotte Catholic traveled to play-beat a Florida team, Jupiter Christian, that owned the states longest win streak (32 games) 37-25 last week. As much as I appreciate the rifle-armed QBs the college game currently showcases (and Colt McCoy is my pick for the best), I'm looking forward to seeing what a well-regarded recruit like Anthony Carrothers or Butler's Christian LeMay can do. LeMay went 11-14 for 182 yards and three TDs against East Meck last week, but I went to an East Meck (now 3-4) practice and wasn't impressed with their sluggishness. It's been suggested that Butler-Independence play at Providence HS in order to utilize the biggest on-campus stadium in the area and its not Texas-sized but still terrific video scoreboard screen. Games of this caliber have usually been held at Memorial Stadium on the CPCC campus, but its under construction now.
Just an extra note about another local football game: wasn't that just the most unexpectedly good comeback victory you'd want to see, having the Panthers, now 1-3, come back from down 17-2 to win against the Redskins? And speaking of fallen heroes, how about the idea of linebacker Jon Beason semi-calling out Julius Peppers on a radio show last Thursday about his lack of production? I'm glad they gave Thomas Davis the safety vs. Peppers, but at least the big man's name was uttered on several occasions. Beason spoke true, and if it rattled some people, so be it. Americans also like to see 'heroes' kick some tail instead of perform under the radar. Even if he's more of an anti-hero, you can put a check mark next to 'responded in clutch' for Rickie Williams of the Dolphins in that respect. Their win over the Jets was another gut-check win. Even if I still can't believe the 'Fins didn't pick the franchise QB that Matt Ryan is proving to be in Atlanta, congrats to Williams and Chad Henne for doing the deed when given their chances.
Glenn S.
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