G-town alumna, football player reports from the big game

As a Germantown High School alum and a former Gtown Football player, I have to say Turkey Bowl 2010 was honestly a shocking event.

 

In my entire high school career I had never seen the Bears fall to the Cougars. And it was a tragic season for us too.

 

In the stands alumni classes stood together and cheered for the 2011 Bears, frozen and united. I stood with my fellow division champions from the Class of 2010 freezing, screaming and reminiscing.

 

Being there in the stands as someone coming home from college is an entirely different atmosphere. You can hear “the 70’s crew,” as we call them, shouting their cheers, that no one else knows. You hear the moms screaming about their babies, and the only thing left to do is sigh in contentment that this is your history, and pray you left your mark on your time.

 

Every three or four years there comes along a “rebuilding” year. But despite this year’s season (3-8) the Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl is a must win game. And the expectation of that victory is always there, no matter what.

 

However, this rebuilding year, the Bears fell in double over time, ended by a completely unpredictable kick from King.

 

Once that kick was in the air and clearly good, the purple and gold bled all over our green turf. They went crazy. Cougars everywhere – on the ground, in the air, on the benches, on other Cougars. And then the annual game turned for the worst.

 

It takes a lot to be a good loser, but even more to be a good winner, and the Cougars may not have had the chance to learn that lesson yet. The Cougars began their taunting of the crowd, of the coaches and even worse the disappointed Bears. I know in my head that the Bears reaction to the taunting was wrong, but in my heart I have never been so proud of my little brothers.

 

During the post game handshake I honestly have no idea what happen or what words were said, but I do know that I was watching the biggest “free for all” I had ever seen. Punches were thrown, helmets were thrown, even players were thrown.

 

The police rushed on to the field within 30 seconds of the start of the fight and broke it up.

 

The boys disappointed the older alumni. “Just take the loss like a man. Hold your head high and go home,” one ranted.

 

But being from today’s Germantown and understanding the culture and the level of high priority that loyalty has here, I stood behind the boys as they fought for their team, their name and, they would probably say, their honor.

 

I do not agree with them choosing to fight, but what’s done is done, and I understand why it was done.

 

Boys, your loyalty to Coach Hawkins was clear, although I do not know how he felt about the situation. You can know that I am proud of you.

 

The Turkey Bowl 2010 will definitely be one to remember.  However I am going to need you to stay out of trouble now.

 

Michelle Grace played defensive end and running back for the Bears last year. She is now a freshman at West Chester University.