 "Photo:")
The lights are beaming down upon the field, and the crowd is becoming antsy waiting for the clock to start running. A silent yet bitter fall chill has settled onto the stadium, leaving all spectators wrapped in blankets, huddled with family and friends, while grasping a cup of hot chocolate.
It's what die hard fans have been longing for, what proud parents and girlfriends have been waiting for, and what each and every teammate have had on their minds since the end of last season.
Four quarters of hard hits, graceful passes, and absurd calls by referees are waiting to be laid out, recorded, and written about by local observers.
Dedicated and driven athletes have suffered months of long practices in the hope of shining for a single second under the lights.
Brutal afternoons in the scorching, blistering central California summer sun have pushed the men's football team to long for the chance to suit up and destroy (or at least embarrass) any team that dares to step onto their turf, even if that means crossing the blue track that surrounds that sacred 100 yards of luscious green grass.
Regrettably, there will be no such chance for anyone to enjoy the lights that blare down onto the men who make up the MJC Pirates football team. The lights will be shut off from here on out till further notice. There will be no concessions, no ticket takers, and no annoyed parents chasing youngsters around the stadium. The fall 2008 season of Pirates football has been canceled.
It may be hard to wrap your head around the idea of such a thing, but it's really happening. Due to the lack of players showing up to late spring and early summer practices, the coaching staff as well as the athletic committees have decided to pull the team. The idea of pulling a team's season is not an uncommon one. If a school cannot field a full roster there is no shame in not having a team. It may cause a rise out of the players and some faculty members, but when the decision has been made there is no going back.
This may not be such a bad idea in the long run. It will give a number of student-athletes the opportunity to take on that title and actually hit the books. More classroom time will be possible for the former football players, instead of them spending all their time in the weight room or on the field.
But don't fret; all other fall sports are still scheduled to field teams. The soccer program is still going strong and in the running for yet another amazing season. And don't forget to stop by the gym and cheer on my personal favorite-the volleyball team.
But rest assured, there will be a football team ready to take the field in the fall of 2009, recharged and with a new found respect for that overused word coaches love so much: "HUSTLE!"
Be the first to comment on this article!