Where were the fans?
As I sat across the field in the press box watching Friday's game unfold, I was stunned looking at the home team bleachers, which were less than half full.
Okay, I know it was a little colder out on Friday; Catholic has been dominating Columbia lately and the team, which is much improved over last season, isn't winning, but still I have to wonder how many parents of the players, cheerleaders and band weren't there?
The kids -- team, band and cheerleaders deserve better. Even the student body wasn't there.
I know there were a lot of factors as to why people aren't showing up, but when I was in school, my parents were always active in what I was involved with. I am getting off this soap box for now but I will be watching this Friday night to see how many parents show up for Parent's Night, get introduced and leave.
I know that will happen and that too is sad.
Now for the opposition
Catholic came into the game with some gaudy numbers -- 28 points given up for the season; ranked number one in the state in some polls and the defending state champ. Catholic, who I thought was a better team last year, gave up 20 points (28 if you count the touchdown that was called back and more than 200 yards passing. Columbia moved the ball pretty good on the number one ranked defense in Section 3.
Next topic: the officials
Normally, I know most, if not all of the officials on a particular crew. Sitting down by the field house Friday before the game, I got to see three of the five come into the stadium. I knew two of the three. The third one, I will describe as "God's gift to officiating." I know he's been to Columbia before and knew where to go to change, still he had to make an issue of it. Then I saw the fourth man in the crew and said to myself, its gonna be a long night and I was correct.
First, I want to say as bad as the officiating was, it wasn't a giant factor in the game. But it was a factor.
First, let e talk about the back judge (the official is behind the defense), did you notice he was wearing a boot on his foot? Well, probably would be better off not officiating because of the inability to keep up with the game.
On the first play of the game, a 16-yard run by the Tide was negated by a procedure penalty, which was questionable.
Second play of note, was a Columbia touchdown, late in the first quarter, which was negated by a motion penalty.
So right after that call, Columbia tried a shovel pass, which was incomplete. It took a discussion of all five officials to get that call right. A few plays later, Catholic QB John Roda fell on what appeared to be a broken play at the Tide 23, but for some unknown reason, a Columbia player wanted to make sure Roda was down and got flagged for a 15-yard penalty. It wasn't a vicious hit and didn't require a penalty. Catholic scored as a result of that.
I don't like crying, just stating the facts here. The officials were bad both ways.
The bottom fell out for the officials with just under three minutes left in the half.
On the kickoff following Sean Titus's pick for a score, a Columbia player (Byran Flory) had his helmet ripped off by a Catholic player and his eye scratched. As the play was ending, some pushing and shoving broken out and yes (I admit that) a punch was thrown.
The officials huddled and called off-setting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on both teams, which should have ended it. It didn't. During the delay to discuss the penalties, Catholic coach Bruce Harbach got word a punch was thrown, protested the decision by the officials, resulting in Flory's ejection.
At halftime, the officials in the press box, told Columbia AD Jim Rhoads what happened and after Rhoads left, they continued the discussion, basically admitting they didn't see the punch and among other things admitted the weren't sure if the interception return was a touchdown because they were not in a position to see it and the list went on.
As I said before, the officials were not a factor in the outcome, but certainly knowing the intensity between the two schools, a better crew could have been assigned to the game. The L-L League has some great officials, just not the ones who were there on Friday.
Again, I am not crying here, just stating the facts as they unfolded Friday night.
The numbers...
Tyler Harrison was 20 of 34 passing for 193 yards and two scores. Michael Burke caught 9 passes for 87 yards and two scores and also completed a 42-yard pass to Nick Nobile. Nobile and Seth Lefever each caght five passes.
Catholic still hasn't been scored on in the second half this year and has only given up 48 points, 20 of the coming Friday.
The Tide also had more first downs than Catholic.
Johnny Vazquez had a big night with kickoff returns of 89 yards for a score and 58 yards.
6 comments:
The team doesn't even get support from the school, so what do you expect? No pep rally yet this year! What is wrong with this school? Does the board know how the administration is running things up there? Maybe we need more school board members with kids in school so they will get the reports from their kids, then they would know what the hell is going on up there. I get tired of hearing my kid complain almost daily about different things up there. Just awful...
Where were the fans?! Where are the fans anytime columbia is losing? Columbia fans are the worst. This is not something new this year!
Don’t be too hard on the administration. It is an entirely different culture at the school these days. I believe the teachers and administration are focusing most of their time and effort on those wonderful students who move in and out of the district on a regular basis…..the students whose parent comes to Columbia to take advantage of our great section 8 housing and give nothing back to the community.
You brought up a lot here but I agree with you Barry. People complain about how bad the school is but education starts in the home.
They may be 2-6 but they are really a much better team. It is a shame they aren't getting the support they deserve. I was rooting for Catholic but ZI'm also a Columbia fan and it was great to see them do well Friday night. This seems like a pretty good rivalry and I was surprised to see such a poor showing on Columbia's side. There was a good crowd on Catholic's side though.
As we all know, educating our kids is what is most important but it's sometimes a package deal. If adults/admin would be enthusiastic about what is important to the kids then it may end up a win-win for both sides. We penalize our productive students that also happen to be athletes or members of other extra curricular activities because of the few deadbeats that only want to show up on game day! Most of our athletes are good kids and decent students. What are we telling them if we do not support them by encouraging them by such things as pep rallies, etc, to be the best at EVERYTHING they choose to do? If you look at Football Friday on tv that is broadcast from other schools for instance, the admin is side by side with their band, cheerleaders and athletes. Would ours ever agree to do it? I must admit, I don't think they want to be at schoolat 1130pm on a Friday night! If we aren't going to support these kids beyond worrying whether we make the grades, let's just get rid of the extra programs all together! Make no mistake though, its not the schools job to rear our kids and teach them what they should be learning at home! It certainly must be a thankless job many days and a scary one to think that some of these kids will be our future.......
Catholic had something at Union Station before the game on Friday. Discounts too. It was a shame more Columbia people didn't show up for the game. Good luck Columbia!
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