Personal Narrative: Western Pennsylvania Friday Night Lights

“Football became my ticket to a college scholarship which, in western Pennsylvania during the early ‘sixties, meant a career instead of getting stuck in the steel-mills” (4). Football is the number one

From their swirling tales of the old AAFC rivalries, throughout the 1950s decade in the NFL, my book will bring back those memories with each turn of the following pages; as their accomplishments will remain alive with the deeds and foibles of those who, by their performance, their personality, or both, gave flavor and substance to those times that were as unique in their own right.

With the location set and the money covered, the stadium needed a name. The city wanted to dedicate the stadium in honor of veterans who have defended America’s freedom since its inception in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. One such was War Veterans Stadium, but wasn’t quite right seeing how it was strongly opposed by anti-war activist. So, Veterans Stadium had a better ring to it and was approved in March of 1970. Now, with a name figured out next was to build the beast. In came Hugh Stubbins & Associates to lead the design and construction would conducted by McCloskey & Co. The design feature 62,000 seats within seven different seating levels. The lower stands housed

For many people, football is not just a sport. The book Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger is set in Odessa, Texas where thousands of people would line up to buy tickets for the Permian Panthers’ football games, not because they enjoyed watching football, but because of the hope and inspiration that resonated throughout the field during a game. Even the players were able to recognize this feeling of invincibility because “whatever they fantasized about, it all seemed possible that day” when they were playing football (24). Football becomes an outlet for the fans that draws the attention away from the complexities of their lives and directs it towards a game that promotes innocence and hope for them. Football transforms Odessa from a bleak, hopeless town into a place where anyone’s wildest

In areas where high school football is popular, not only do the high school students, players, and parents join in the hype of Friday nights, but the entire town and community revolves around Friday night. The state of Texas specifically, is known nationally as a very dominant football state. According to an article from Elite Daily, over 165,000 Texan teens, in over 1,000 schools, participated in high school football. With that being said, this research will discuss and touch upon the lessons and ideas one can learn about competition, culture and community from high school football and the areas such as Texas. It will examine the history of Texas football culture and the concept created entitled “Friday Night Lights”. Following that discussion, a cultural comparison will be featured between high school

We reached the baseball diamond and instead of taking our normal seats on the first base side, we turn to the third base side. Every other time we had ventured to Fort Dodge to play St. Edmond’s we were the away team. On this day, we were facing the Clarion-Goldfield Cowboys and they were in the first base dugout. I settled myself next to my parents on the bleachers that sat above the dugout. Once seated, my eye was instantly drawn to the field. The grass was glistening like an emerald in the sun and the infield had been drug to

It has actually earned the title as the oldest NFL stadium and was built using 387 Million of Taxpayers money. It shows how far back this policy dates, all the way back to 1924. Many of the videos and presentations often used into convincing lawmakers do not depict the true image of what their stadium has done for the city but rather what the U.S economy may have done for the city. There is a constant translation that has blinded lawmakers in which they often are much too attracted by the benefits that have occurred that context is often missed about what else is occurring in the United

A new market has developed over the past hundred years into one of the most lucrative businesses in the United States today, the business of sports. Out of all the sports, football in particular is extremely popular and is the most watched game in the country; so much so that the championship game being considered a national holiday. In this particular sport and the business of it, we find a home to militarism, nationalism and patriotism proudly displayed even in the National Football League’s logo. This week’s game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts showcased these three ideologies, though different than how I originally anticipated. Football makes a perfect host to these three ideologies due to the parallels between the values of the military and sports teams as well as the elasticity of sports and their ability to change over time.

I was once a high school student and I visited a large amount of colleges. I went through the tour of the academic buildings and I noticed that the school was beautiful. However, I was an athlete looking for schools with equally as beautiful athletic facilities. Elizabethtown college does not have great athletic facilities at this minute. Furthermore, the sports and wellness center was an immense selling point from the coaches and the school. This Stadium would be the cherry on top of the new and improved athletic facilities. This new stadium will attract more than just potential student-athletes, but regular students will enjoy having the new stadium. They will be able to imagine themselves sitting in the stands and cheering for their classmates. The new stadium will be able to sit large amounts of people for the rivalry

As a theater artist, I’ve never had time for sports. I looked at the world and it’s people through the eyes of a Shakespeare geek, and thought throwing around a ball and cheering for people wearing certain colors was a waste of time. Never in my wildest dreams would I think of giving football the time of day, but that was before I became a mascot. By some kind of luck and desperation for a job I have ended up as the Piper: the red and grey sports mascot of Hamline. Through this job I have come to see how sports can help bring together diverse groups of people, and inspire the spectators to be their best selves.

As I look out across the luscious Bermuda green football field, I see a place that I call my second home. I leave my heart and soul on that field after every Wolves’ football game. I look up and imagine the crowd that will be supporting that sweet lava red and white-smoke T-shirts that will fill the stands with friends and family. On Friday nights, Carl Langley Field in Reeds Spring, Missouri, will be crowded with the hustle and bustle of the community and fans coming to watch their hometown Wolves take down their opponents like a pack of wolves attacking their prey. On the field I cannot hear a sound it’s just my opponent and me. I can’t hear mom shouting for me to make the play, I can’t hear anything but the breathing of the person opposite

Its a Friday night 7:30 PM, I am standing in the tunnel surrounded by my brothers. We anxiously watch as the clock ticks down. As the numbers wind down I close my eyes take a deep breath and run out on to the field. This is what I live for. Football has been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. Football is in my blood; My Grandpa, Dad, and Uncle all had multiple college football scholarships coming out of high school. My Uncle even made it all the way to the NFL. Football, along with my coaches, has shaped my life more than any other thing. Playing football has taught me volumes, but the three things that stand out more than anything else is the importance of hard work, perseverance, and discipline.

Secondly, the La Vergne stadium's atmosphere makes the stadium a remarkable place. Through the eyes of a football player, the atmosphere of the stadium shifts like the weather throughout the week. Starting with a typical Monday after a long day of school, collecting a heavy load of homework, the stadium is partly filled with campus life. Cheerleaders heading down to the track for their weekly run, cross country runners and JROTC Raiders zooming around the track and stadium, while football players working out in the weight lifting room. After an hour or so the stadium atmosphere dies down leaving the just the football players. In addition, not only does the atmosphere of the campus life on Monday changes but the atmosphere of the locker room changes as well. When walking into the locker room players cannot help but think of all that went down game night, and try to improve on it, if necessary. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the atmosphere is filled with anticipation and productivity for Friday night's game. The air thickens from the sweat and dedication of players practicing on the field. Suddenly, it is Thursday; the fastest day of the week. The stadium's atmosphere is loaded with suspense. Since it the last day of practice before game night, the bar

Growing up in a close town, there were three important aspects: community, education, and football. Because we were such a small town, there is always a sense of community and as a UD student, there is no doubt that I will become a part of another close community. My town also has a great reputation for our school system and UD is no different. I am always challenged and expected to rise to the occasion by my teachers which is where I will be kept on my toes. Finally, football is a very important part of my life. Being a cheerleader and spending many of my Fridays under the lights, I have been closely involved with the football community in my town. Being around football is where I am comfortable and I am happy to now change my Friday nights

The paramount of this season is the plethora of activities that go on in a short amount of time. From the end of August to November, you can almost catch every high school kid on a Friday night in a stadium decked out in latest costume related to that game’s student section theme. Whether it’s a tacky tourist uniform or your American patriot, you can always see an eye-catching outfit. After their years of experience of high school football, the real test of dedication comes to the Saturday games. Tailgating before the games is the excitement that brings everyone together. Leading into late