buckeyebob
12-22-2010, 07:45 AM
The following is from the 12-21 edition of the Longview News. It is some homer reading but it says a lot as to why we all hang here.
East Texas high school football fans got some wonderful early Christmas gifts during the past couple of weeks: three state championship trophies.
We congratulate the Henderson Lions, Carthage Bulldogs and Daingerfield Tigers on their state championship seasons. And we thank them for the thrills they gave us — not just in the playoffs but each week they played this fall.
Watching these well-coached, well-conditioned and dedicated athletes and their fans rolling up victories to their championships, we felt a little of the giddiness we remember as youngsters ripping into colorfully wrapped presents under the tree on Christmas morning.
Henderson won its first visit to a championship game. Carthage and Daingerfield each won championships for the third-straight season. All are incredible achievements.
While it is sometimes easy to criticize the expense and the importance assigned to high school athletics — sometimes at the expense of academics — it is also important to remember the positive lessons the game and other extracurricular programs can teach.
Being a disciplined member of a team, learning how to listen to and respect coaches and sponsors, and understanding the importance of fighting on in the face of long odds are all lessons that benefit youngsters.
While we believe textbook learning and classroom experiences are most important, we also know activities outside the classroom are key to building a well-rounded individual. And when those lessons add up to such records of success seen in Henderson, Carthage and Daingerfield, they serve as an example to others of what can be accomplished through hard work and dedication.
Again, congratulations to these winning programs. Thank you for taking us along for the ride. We are proud of you
East Texas high school football fans got some wonderful early Christmas gifts during the past couple of weeks: three state championship trophies.
We congratulate the Henderson Lions, Carthage Bulldogs and Daingerfield Tigers on their state championship seasons. And we thank them for the thrills they gave us — not just in the playoffs but each week they played this fall.
Watching these well-coached, well-conditioned and dedicated athletes and their fans rolling up victories to their championships, we felt a little of the giddiness we remember as youngsters ripping into colorfully wrapped presents under the tree on Christmas morning.
Henderson won its first visit to a championship game. Carthage and Daingerfield each won championships for the third-straight season. All are incredible achievements.
While it is sometimes easy to criticize the expense and the importance assigned to high school athletics — sometimes at the expense of academics — it is also important to remember the positive lessons the game and other extracurricular programs can teach.
Being a disciplined member of a team, learning how to listen to and respect coaches and sponsors, and understanding the importance of fighting on in the face of long odds are all lessons that benefit youngsters.
While we believe textbook learning and classroom experiences are most important, we also know activities outside the classroom are key to building a well-rounded individual. And when those lessons add up to such records of success seen in Henderson, Carthage and Daingerfield, they serve as an example to others of what can be accomplished through hard work and dedication.
Again, congratulations to these winning programs. Thank you for taking us along for the ride. We are proud of you