not in their house
It's time for me to say something that I've been debating for a couple years now. I usually don't like to criticize people involved with the high school athletic departments. But every once in a while something will irk me more than usual, and it happened the other night at East Hartford High.
But I'm not talking about the Hornets. Despite their reputation (mostly unfair) the Hornets fans caused no problems that I could see at that game. What bothered me came from the Southington side.
More specifically, it rang out from the track, a sound so piercing, so overpowering that it forces one to plug his ears each time he hears it.
I'm talking about the air raid siren. And it's about time it found its way to the grave.
For those who don't know what I'm talking about, the air raid siren has been a relatively short-lived tradition of the Blue Knights football team. From my understanding, it began during the tenure of former coach Jude Kelly (though I don't know if it was his idea).
The siren was intended to be rung each time the Knights took over on offense, signaling to the opponent that they were about to be put under attack by a barrage of deep passing. You see, the Knights for years had the most potent air attack in the state, and their names litter the state record books for passing and receiving yards.
Things have changed, however. The Knights are no longer a pass-happy offense. They have become more and more balanced each season under coach Bill Mella, and in fact have used defense to win games more in recent years.
Furthermore, it has gotten to the point that the siren is now rung more than just to start a drive. It shrieks out first downs. It shrieks touchdowns. It shrieks big gains.
I mean, logically, if the opponent doesn't know it's under attack by the time Southington scores a touchdown, I don't think the siren, symbolically, is going to warn them in time.
Of course, that's not my biggest problem. That lies squarely in the fact that Southington brings the siren on the road, submitting opposing fans to have to listen to its harsh wails on their home field, and quite frankly, it is tactless, arrogant and offensive.
If I were an opposing AD, and I saw them wheel it up to the field, I would ask them to return it to the bus or leave the premises. If I heard it go off during a game, I would immediately ask them to go home.
I'm not joking about this. This runs along the lines of Terrell Owens raising his arms to the heavens... on the Dallas Cowboys midfield star... as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. And while I am a 49ers fan, at the time of that incident, I didn't blame George Teague for sprinting out to clothesline Owens. That was the Cowboys' house. That was like dancing on their altar.
And please, somebody from a Southington opponent, stand up for your school. Don't physically or emotionally harm anyone. But make some kind of statement that such insults will not be viewed kindly. Stand up for your pride.
Better yet. I call on Southington AD Eric Swallow to do the right thing, now that he has taken over the position (with positive results I must add). Get rid of the siren. It makes your entire athletic program look bad.
If nothing else, the siren should remain in Southington for home games. Let your own fans deal with the noise.
But I'm not talking about the Hornets. Despite their reputation (mostly unfair) the Hornets fans caused no problems that I could see at that game. What bothered me came from the Southington side.
More specifically, it rang out from the track, a sound so piercing, so overpowering that it forces one to plug his ears each time he hears it.
I'm talking about the air raid siren. And it's about time it found its way to the grave.
For those who don't know what I'm talking about, the air raid siren has been a relatively short-lived tradition of the Blue Knights football team. From my understanding, it began during the tenure of former coach Jude Kelly (though I don't know if it was his idea).
The siren was intended to be rung each time the Knights took over on offense, signaling to the opponent that they were about to be put under attack by a barrage of deep passing. You see, the Knights for years had the most potent air attack in the state, and their names litter the state record books for passing and receiving yards.
Things have changed, however. The Knights are no longer a pass-happy offense. They have become more and more balanced each season under coach Bill Mella, and in fact have used defense to win games more in recent years.
Furthermore, it has gotten to the point that the siren is now rung more than just to start a drive. It shrieks out first downs. It shrieks touchdowns. It shrieks big gains.
I mean, logically, if the opponent doesn't know it's under attack by the time Southington scores a touchdown, I don't think the siren, symbolically, is going to warn them in time.
Of course, that's not my biggest problem. That lies squarely in the fact that Southington brings the siren on the road, submitting opposing fans to have to listen to its harsh wails on their home field, and quite frankly, it is tactless, arrogant and offensive.
If I were an opposing AD, and I saw them wheel it up to the field, I would ask them to return it to the bus or leave the premises. If I heard it go off during a game, I would immediately ask them to go home.
I'm not joking about this. This runs along the lines of Terrell Owens raising his arms to the heavens... on the Dallas Cowboys midfield star... as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. And while I am a 49ers fan, at the time of that incident, I didn't blame George Teague for sprinting out to clothesline Owens. That was the Cowboys' house. That was like dancing on their altar.
And please, somebody from a Southington opponent, stand up for your school. Don't physically or emotionally harm anyone. But make some kind of statement that such insults will not be viewed kindly. Stand up for your pride.
Better yet. I call on Southington AD Eric Swallow to do the right thing, now that he has taken over the position (with positive results I must add). Get rid of the siren. It makes your entire athletic program look bad.
If nothing else, the siren should remain in Southington for home games. Let your own fans deal with the noise.
Labels: football, Southington
posted by Ryan Pipke at
12:48 AM
5 Comments:
Its football games are loud fun and exciting go watch golf or water polo if something like a siren is bothering you. I have gone to many high school games in CT and many teams have instruments to get their respective team excited. I know one team has a CANNON another I think its Manchester puts a FIRE TRUCK right off the field. But Im sure the Southington siren is louder then a Fire Trucks siren. Get a clue and leave your whining at home.
You are right on with this post. It's hard enough to take at Southington, I had no idea they actually brought it with them for away games! All ADs (including Southington's) should be putting a stop to this. Unbelievable!
Manchester does have their fire department there during varsity and JV games. I seem to remember Cheshire does too. They score, the truck's siren AND flashing lights go off. Are you going to tell them to stop too?
Go watch a game at South Windsor, they beat garbage cans and lids the whole game. Except when they're on offense of course. Lets not forget Xavier has their student section called "The Black Hole." They're loud and obnoxious. And yes, New Britain has their cannon. Its ear piercing at best. Plus the band plays on and on and on and on.
Football games are suppose to be LOUD and EXCITING. Go to a college game. You'll never know what you'll see or hear there.
The siren didn't ring at all this Friday and it wasn't because the Blue Knight fans didn't want it. Isn't the Southington AD from Glastonbury? I wonder who he was cheering for? Mr. Pipke, you got what you wanted, no siren. That's sad. I thought your job was to report the game, not change how fans cheer for their team.
I'd like to point out that the point of my post was mainly to say that Southington should not be bringing the siren on the road with them. Personally, I find it obnoxious sounding to begin with. But if the fans and students want to hear it at home games, so be it. That's their decision.
Don't bring it with you to other teams' homes. That's bordering on arrogance, if not entirely over the line.
South Windsor, New Britain and just about every other town don't bring their ultimate noisemakers on the road. If they did I would be just as critical.
And for the record, Eric Swallow does live in Glastonbury, and his children attended GHS. I'm sure he is very torn when watching games between the schools. But I'm not quite sure how it relates to this issue.
In response to the comment about the New Britain band playing plays "on and on and on and on", the marching band is an invaluable part of every football team. Each town has a marching band, but it is up to them to support the football teams in the way that only a band can.
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