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High School Sports - Then & Now
My brother Goose is often my broadcast partner when we cover local high school football and basketball games for the public-access TV channel. We like to remember the 1960s when we played sports and it never fails to bring up a discussion about how much has changed since we played. Oh, there are still 5 on a side for basketball and 11 each way for football, but have you noticed how some of the traditions have changed?
Whatever happened to knee pads? Back in the Sixties knees pads were part of the basketball uniform. If you forgot to bring your knee pads to the game, the coach would be mad and you'd feel embarrassed ... out on the court the only one without those knee pads! They were even color-coordinated with the uniform. St. John's Academy, guys like Willie Watson, Harry Canning and Pete Hayden, wore green knee pads. Bruce Stevens, Jeff Burns and Stick Larocque over at Plattsburgh High School had black knee pads. And at Our Lady of Victory Academy I wore maroon knee pads, along with my teammates Gary Leavine, Gordie Coryea and Billy McNeil. When did knee pads go out of style?
And those shoes! The $10 Converse All-Star or Chuck Taylor high tops have given way to $100 brand name pump-the-air-in, ultra-cushioned, lowcut, smooth-move basketball shoes. Even in football we wore high tops. Nothing fancy, just plain old black high tops. And we were still able to make 60-yard touchdown runs without those expensive lowcut football shoes.
Goose often points out that football has changed in another much more obvious way. Back in our day the quarterback called the plays. After a play all 11 guys would reassemble in the huddle and the quarterback called the next play: "32 on 2," for example. That's all it took. Nowadays a high school quarterback will finish the play, run to the sidelines to get the next play from the coach, and then huddle with his teammates. Takes much more time, and, we figure, cuts down on the actual number of scoring opportunities a team might have during a game. When did that change? Who was the first coach to decide, "I'm calling the plays from now on. This quarterback play-calling just isn't working out"? And is there a coach brave enough to hand the play-calling back over to the quarterback next season?
Have you noticed the music playing while football and basketball teams warm up prior to game time? Can you imagine Coach Barry Branon or Coach Al Pajonas or Coach John Flynn allowing that? Teams nowadays even wait along the sidelines for the music to play before they can run out on the court! Do singing groups like AC/DC ("Thunder"), House of Pain ("Jump Around") and Will Smith ("Gettin' Jiggy Wit' It") really inspire athletes to perform better? I just can't picture us in the Sixties shooting our warmup layups to the songs of Elvis, Danny & the Juniors and the Lovin' Spoonful. Hey, maybe that would have worked! The Lovin' Spoonful sang "Do You Believe in Magic?" That's what it would have taken for us to beat PHS!
There are probably others changes in high school sports since the Sixties (maybe readers can add to the list!), but you get the point. Goose and I think some changes are for the better, some for the worse, but we sure liked high school sports in our day.
Comments
Foxy, In trying to comment on a subject that is at least close to your blog, I want you to know some North Country Info you may not know. ESPN is showing a segment on the the East Greenbush Devils POP Warner Challenger League in the ALbany, N.Y. area. The Tommy Hindes and his Family that are involved in this first in the country opportunity for the handicapped kids, is my cousin, and a 1968 Graduate of Beekmantown Central. He was also my sponsor for my confirmation. Today was my first time seeing the segment, and have been told by my parents who still live in West Chazy, that Tommy has received calls from all over the world on how to go about starting this type of group. I will see Tommy and his Family in Altona, N.Y. this August at our annual Family Reunion, and I will be telling him, as all my family has, of how proud I am of his achievement, and his vision! I wish you could see the smile on my face. I have been told that ESPN will be doing a longer follow-up to this story this fall. Stay tuned!!!!
(Foxy's note: Very interesting, Steve... and sounds like a possible "Fox on the Run" interview when he comes up to visit. Maybe you can set that up!)
Posted by: Steve Peryer | May 1, 2006 10:38 AM
Foxy,
My folks were kind enough to forward the announcement of your blog - congratulations! I enjoy catching up on the North Country from the perspective of my old 7-8th basketball coach. You may not remember, but look back fondly on the early Saturday practices and runs through the school. It was a special time. Best of luck with the new venture, Foxy. I look forward to your next article.
Posted by: Michael Shene | January 16, 2006 2:19 PM
Well, now that you are retired maybe you will find the time to pick up the 1964 Champlain Valley Football League Co-Champion Division II Football League trophy that I am using as a door stop. Of course, the top has to be fixed because the nuns put a baseball top on it. When the old school was closed, it was found under the old stage in the gym. It is still yours if you want it.
Carol
Posted by: Carol Mitchell | January 14, 2006 8:47 PM
Hey Fox! You didn't talk about GIRLS' sports. Maybe that's because as we were going through high school (I was at Peru while you were at OLVA), interscholastic sports didn't really exist for girls. That's a change that is certainly for the better. I remember Peru girls playing Plattsburgh girls and it was a MAJOR event. Thank goodness for intramurals because that's about all we had in "those days"!! I wonder how many girls playing high school sports today appreciate all that Title IX did for female athletes.
I can remember playing basketball and only being able to dribble twice before having to pass the ball and not being able to cross center court unless I happened to be playing "rover" that day. How ridiculous were those rules?
One sport that we played that has been lost to the North Country sports line-up was field hockey. That was a great game, but soccer has taken over the fall season, and that's a great game, too.
Just thought we should talk about the girls a little. Thanks for listening!
(Foxy's note: Good thoughts, Gale. Thanks! Yes, On the Sly is definitely written from a male point of view. I will look forward to your comments to keep the correct balance.)
Posted by: Gale Carroll | December 27, 2005 10:28 PM
I too remember the good old days. Remember old Bailey Ave. Park, that was a ball field. Friday nights with rival cross town teams. Really enjoyed the article can't wait for the next one.
Posted by: Don Terry | December 23, 2005 5:07 PM
Your Dad was a great supporter and encourager of the OLVA teams. It"s those kind of people that you remember after you leave the school.
Posted by: Bob Lambert | December 23, 2005 3:22 PM
Hello Foxy, I read the paper everyday on the "net". I will look forward to reading your new edition daily. Please say high to Goose for me. I especially enjoyed our baseball games out behind the old school on Johnson Ave. Where one off the wall was a homer. My dad replaced many a window and never once complained. Happy Holidays, Randy Vaughn,Kirwin Kansas
Posted by: Randy Vaughn | December 23, 2005 9:44 AM
Hey Foxy,
That's not all that's changed, and not all for the good. I can remember when any celabration at all after a touchdown would draw a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct and the ref would through you out for giving him a dirty look. Now, you just about have to threaten a ref's family to get tossed.
Seems like kids are being forced to take the games more seriously even at a younger age. Your brother Goose is an umpire for Plattsburgh Little League...and he can tell you first hand about some of the pressure that parents and coaches can put on kids.
It's all supposed to be fun, right? I've told my son that, if you can learn to love the hot sun on your neck, the smell of freshly cut grass and the leather of a glove, and the view of a bright blue sky, you'll never have a bad day playing baseball.
Tim D.
(Foxy's note: Very well-said, Tim! Thanks!)
Posted by: Tim | December 23, 2005 9:29 AM
the things I remember most
about high school football
that you don't see much anymore...was the singing of the school fight songs to and from the games on the team bus??? where'd that go?? it was always enjoyable to chant mannix eats.. crow.mannix eats crow,after knockin off a favored opponent,which if you recall he would predict who would win the highschool football games on his weekly sports show
Posted by: casey flynn | December 23, 2005 7:34 AM
Hi Foxy.
Well I just wanted to say I enjoyed the Article. I am a past student of yours My name is Chris Gillen, I am currently doing my Second Tour In Iraq. I just want to say thanks for all your lessons during English Class in 8th grade. I guess I just wanted to say thanks. And to everyone back home have a happy safe holidays.
Pfc Gillen
USMC Iraq
Posted by: Chris Gillen | December 23, 2005 12:19 AM