Even now, more than 20 years after I graduated from high school I still remember our biggest rival.
It didn’t matter the sport, whenever our two teams would meet there was a sense of anticipation that was hard to match. Probably the only way the intensity of the rivalry could have been cranked up any higher would have been if our schools somehow met for a state championship in some competition.
That never happened, but classic events on the football field, basketball court, baseball diamond and everything in between did take place.
Twenty years later I still remember.
I imagine it is probably the same way for students and student-athletes at Winder-Barrow and Apalachee. The meeting on the football field this Friday is another in a series of contests the schools will compete against other.
To me, local rivalries are healthy. Students probably take them a little more serious than they need to (I was the same way when I was their age) but in the end, I think it’s all good, clean fun.
There’s something about wanting to defeat players you know. Granted, all the WBHS players don’t know all the AHS players but many do. I imagine there are even family ties. Bragging rights are on the line.
It’s the same thing you see when college rivals clash. Georgia against Georgia Tech. Tennessee battling Florida. Auburn going into battle with Alabama. Texas vs. Oklahoma. To the players, fans and members of the community who bleed Bulldogg red and black or Wildcat blue and gold, this Friday will have that same amount of intensity.
On paper, AHS will be favored to win the game. The Wildcats are ranked ninth in the state and are the only remaining undefeated team in Region 8-AAAA.
However, funny things have a way of happening when rivals, especially ones located within the confines of the same county, get together. Don’t be surprised if a break here or break there leads to a competitive contest when the teams hook up in a couple of days.
Despite their best efforts to the contrary, WBHS coach Ben Corley and AHS coach Shane Davis know they will not be able to downplay this contest. They’ll probably try to some degree, but in the end the enthusiasm of youth will win out.
The players for WBHS want to defeat the players at AHS. The players at AHS want to defeat their counterparts at WBHS.
In football, they say once the game begins all the pregame talk of rivals and wanting to do this and that goes out the window. I’ve usualy found that to be the case and expect it to be that way this Friday around 7:30 p.m.
Still, the buildup to this game is something special and I don’t think it should be downplayed. Let the kids enjoy the rivalry for it is. It will take several years for them to realize they are all one county, one school system and in reality, one big team.
For now, let them enjoy lining up opposite of someone they know and trying to defeat them. Regardless of who wins, it should be fun to watch from a spectator standout. Look for a more competitive game this season than last fall.
Rivalries are good for sports and besides, “Our team will always be better.”
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
