| Even if youve never been to a Texas high school | | | | So, what is it exactly about Texas high school |
| football game, you probably know that these | | | | football in particular that seems to appeal to such |
| games and the fans who follow them are | | | | a mass audience? While there may be no |
| somewhat different than other high school football | | | | definitive answer for that question, there is |
| games and fans. In Texas, football isnt a sport | | | | definitely one certainty: nothing else on earth has |
| and it isnt an extra-curricular activity. No, its | | | | quite the same intensity and passion to it. You can |
| almost been elevated to the level of a religion. To | | | | feel it reverberating in the air when you step into |
| say that Texas high school football fans are | | | | any high school football stadium throughout the |
| passionate about the spot would be an | | | | state. |
| understatement; a huge understatement. | | | | High school football fans in Texas are not just |
| Friday Night Lights may have been first a popular | | | | passionate about football; they live it and breathe |
| book and then a film but it all started with the | | | | it. On any given Friday night during football season |
| true story of one season with the Odessa | | | | in Texas youre likely to see just about as much |
| Permian Panthers. Hollywood didnt need to pump | | | | violence in the stands as you are on the turf if |
| up the real life story of this Texas high school | | | | one fan happens to aggravate another. |
| team with fabrication; the real story was already | | | | And thats not even mentioning the rivalry that |
| enough of a legend to carry it all the way to the | | | | can take place between teams in Texas. While its |
| silver screen. | | | | not uncommon at all for neighboring towns |
| If you think you know high school football, you | | | | throughout the country to form high school |
| havent seen anything until youve seen it from the | | | | football rivalries, Texans take it to a whole new |
| Lone Star State. Even the smaller schools really | | | | level. In many cases, extra policeman have to be |
| get involved. Its not uncommon to see entire | | | | called out during big rival games just to keep the |
| caravans traveling the Texas highways on Friday | | | | peace among the crowd. In a few instances, |
| nights; the football team, drill team, cheerleaders, | | | | some towns had to stop even playing one |
| marching band and sponsor. All of that can easily | | | | another at all because of the violence that ensued |
| require a dozen buses or so. And thats not even | | | | between fans in the stands and on the sidelines |
| including the hordes of parents and fans that | | | | during rival games. |
| travel right along with them. In relatively few | | | | The exact allure of Texas high school football |
| other events will you see devoted fans travel | | | | may be somewhat difficult to describe, but one |
| hundreds of miles for a playoff game; and keep in | | | | thing is certain: you feel it when you experience it. |
| mind that in Texas thats entirely possible. The | | | | If the rest of the world loves soccer, Texans |
| border from east to west stretches almost one | | | | love football. |
| thousand miles. | | | | |