We all said how we wished we could see their band! We also have an excellent band program, so yes, I bet halftime was great. I don't think they showed it on tv, and instead went to the talking heads about the college games in progress. And we switched over to the USC game (my son's alma mater). Our best friends' (and our hosts last night) son went to OU, so the rivalry is pretty intense.
That was an excellent article. I was glad he pointed out that the stereotyping works both ways. I can call us Yuppieville, and Stepford, but I will also defend the good about us. Our kids work extremely hard in ALL areas. The academic achievers get just as much praise and recognition as the athletic. The first year our young swim team went to state, I was moved to tears when a group of elderly men, the Dragon Council, drove to Austin to support us. These were old football guys, but doggone it, they were above all, Dragons, and they were there for those kids, even though they didn't have a clue what was going on, and I KNOW they thought swimming for was sissies. (Really, there's not much more boring than a swim meet.)
Aside_ some of the players from other sports attempted to work out with the swim team in their off seasons and were collapsing right and left. It was kind of fun.
Yes, we have advantages far above most, but the money out here is mostly nouveau, and the parents are big on hard work and discipline. They earn what achieve.
SPeaking of academics, I was impressed by some of the great grades of some of the Bulls' team members, and the fact that the school is really emphasizing academics. Dreams of pro ball are all well and good, but not terribly realistic for most. The lessons of hard work, discipline, and success through those are a whole more important. And the community unity was very moving.
Another aside- interesting to observe Nate Newton- who probably grew up more like Miami, though I am just guessing?-- and his son Tré, now a Yuppieville kid. |
