From the
Upper Deck
Swimming In a 'C' of Excitement
By Jim Steele
steele@mckenziebanner.com |
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You think Rebel fans aren't excited about McKenzie
football this year?Think again.
Nearly 400 people ringed the practice field at McKenzie
High School last Friday to watch the Rebels take on
Jackson Christian School in a pre-season scrimmage. And
it wasn't only MHS fans that were here en masse; JCS
brought a pretty good fold as well.
Seeing that support out there Friday was a positive
step. We've come a long way, baby.
I remember times when those who attended scrimmages
could meet for tea and crackers in a phone booth
following the affair. There were more people at a Dixie
Chicks concert at Ground Zero than what McKenzie used to
have at its practice games.
Friday was a fun day. The parking lot was full, fans
shouted encouragement. Even the JCS players were a bit
bemused by this show of support.
It also allowed MHS principal ponder the notion of
charging admission. He did so jokingly. I suggested he
at least charge for parking.
"I was shocked at the crowd," said McKenzie coach Wade
Comer. "We had more people at the scrimmage than we did
in some of our regular home games when I first got
here."
The anticipation was palpable. Success is infectious and
after two straight trips to the state semifinals, Rebel
fans are beginning to utter the "C" word - "C" as in
"championship." They are curious about this team of
upstarts. They are excited about the prospects.
That's a good sign. I've always believed that if you
can't talk about going to a state championship, or if
you are afraid of it, you shouldn't plan on it.
And why shouldn't Rebel fans? Before I move on, I sure
don't want to jinx anything, so let's muse
hypothetically, shall we?
The Rebels have enjoyed unprecedented success; they've
had six straight winning seasons. Maybe for other
schools this is commonplace, but we have to be honest;
McKenzie's football legacy is spotty at best. It would
make a Dalmatian envious, not to mention a jaguar. Or is
it jag-yew-are as are pals from across the pond say?
Never mind.
The Rebels are on the rise and you can see it in the
clubhouse, even in the off-season. During the baseball
season, Union City players were mouthing to the Rebels
"you don't want any of us in football." The response
from the McKenzie guy was, "we'd kill you in football."
When is the first, last or in-between time you ever
heard that from at McKenzie player regarding Union City?
Not to pick on UC, but there is swagger in the
clubhouse, there is confidence. There is a sense of
accomplishment, but also a sense of urgency and an idea
that the task is still unfinished.
The enthusiasm is there. The support is teeming. The
ingredients are in place. Other teams have come from
farther back than McKenzie to challenge for the crown. I
point to top-rated Crockett County, which had the worst
team in the state not eight years ago. Two years ago,
they played for a state crown; last year, the Cavaliers
reached the semifinals. Ditto Covington. The Chargers
weren't so good about that same time frame, yet they've
emerged to challenge for the crown.
Union City has gone to the turf. So have Martin, Milan
and Huntingdon. They all expect to go back this year.
And they should. They've earned that expectation. And
one could safely wager that Milan and Huntingdon are
strong contenders. People in those towns utter the "C"
word all the time.
Now that talk is rampant here in McKenzie. We've earned
the right to use that word now, too. Rebel fans are
swimming in a "C" of excitement these days. |
