 |
| (photo courtesy of google images) |
There is a buzz of excitement emanating from inside the stadium. Inside the gate, friends are mingling in the paved area in front of the stands awaiting the game. Before the game begins, the massive jumbotron begins blaring “Paradise City” by Guns and Roses as many of the younger fans gather on the field. They stand parted with a pathway going down the middle, cheering along with the cheerleaders. All of a sudden, a football player bursts out of the giant pioneer man stationed at the beginning of the pathway, like a ninja out the front door of a dojo. The crowd roars as he is soon followed by nearly a hundred more of his teamates.
Moments later the action begins. Bone-crushing hits are followed by the ooohs and aaahs of the crowd. A referee’s penalty call against the home team is followed by boos and jeering. Together, the fans cheer the players down the field, just as they had in many years past. Finally, a touchdown. Throngs of stadium goers erupt in jubilation as the band plays the fight song, fireworks bursting in the background. When the game is over, the home team celebrates another victory by chanting the fight song. The sense of pride and tradition of fans and players alike is overwhelming. This is the scene every fall Friday night in Pioneer Stadium.
