OK, y'all know I'm just not into football. Never understood the game, but attended many during my high school years. My main interest was the socializing and watching all the excitement. I jumped up to scream when others did; didn't know if it was a score or if they were screaming at the Ref. I loved the halftime show; seeing the cheerleaders go over to the visitor’s side and fain interest in chatting up the opposition, only to come back to the home side-shaking pom poms, giggling and throwing slurs at those "knobby-knee capped, bucked tooth, stringy haired" things from "THERE." Diplomacy and restraint!
I loved hearing the band play; loved seeing the majorettes strut and twirl. Loved all the blue uniforms with gold braiding. The majorettes were so Hollywood with those beautiful, braded, white satin epaulettes on gold uniforms. Wearing short skirts just above the knee against shapely (some skinny) tan legs; white boots with tassels tasseling. Oh my!
I distinctly remember my first football game. I was in sixth grade at Wallace. My oldest brother Rayford (my go-to man) played a tuba in the W. S. Neal Marching Band. I begged, whimpered & cried for permission to go with him to a football game until snot flowed. HELL FROZE OVER that magical fall night in 1952: Earline the embarrassment of the Smith family was riding the bus to East Brewton, Alabama to see her first football game. Rayford required a pound of flesh by having his uniform brushed, shoes shined and a warning of death if I moved from where he intended for me to sit in the stands.
"Don't even think of speaking to me once I point to your place."
Thank you, sweet Jesus!
I was sworn to follow behind him at a distance as we returned to the bus after the game. I would crawl if it was called for. I was going to a football game and couldn’t wait until Monday morning to share that info with the anointed ones at Wallace. I LOVED FOOTBALL Y'ALL!
In 1952 student drivers could drive the busses to games and other events if they held a driver’s license. Our driver that night was senior Edson White, a Wallace boy in good standing. I was the only girl on the bus that night. The stars fell from Heaven as Edson & his brothers, Leo and Alva Normand (two of Wildfork’s finest) sang songs of the day.
YOU BELONG TO ME
See the pyramids along the Nile,
Watch the sun rise on a tropic Isle,
Just remember, darling, all the while,
You belong to me.
I was in love with love that night. Most drop-dead handsome guys in the world singing straight to me.
When we got to the football field and unloaded, Rayford scowled at me and hooked his finger to follow and "keep it zipped." I did. He motioned me to a spot beside the band section. I sat. "Oh God!" I needed to pee so bad. I smelled popcorn. My nerves were frayed. The students were laughing and shoving in their effort to find the best place to sit or not. Band members with cumbersome instruments huffing and banging about. Cute majorettes twirling batons and adjusting. Cheerleaders spinning like drunken dervishes in their calf-length skirts and sweaters with the Royal Blue N. Students and parents of students were meeting and greeting. Football fever was flowing down on this crowd. I felt it, I saw it, I could taste it.
It was FOOTBALL.
"I'm coming next Friday night if I can convince Rayford to let me come with him."
***First and last time until I entered W. S. Neal in fall of 1956.***
The field lights had East Brewton aglow. The team ran onto the field to cheering of thousands…or maybe hundreds…lots of 'em. Anyway!
The drums drummed and the concussion made my heart vibrate out of my chest. Touchdown or something caused loud cheering, clapping, and sometimes groans. It was alright as I just went with the flow. Nobody spoke to me, nobody ask my name, nobody looked at me. I didn't care, I was at a football game. But, and this is important, I knew one person in that wonderful production besides my brother. She was a cheerleader and her name was Judy Betha. How did I know her?
I had looked at her picture in Rayford's yearbook as he had told me her name and it said so right there on the page. Besides, she was his best friend Leo Normand's girlfriend. I loved Leo long before Judy knew him. They married after high school--both are still married and beautiful people. Don't remember who we played, who won or if I embarrassed my brother--bet I did. Didn't matter. What mattered was, I was chosen.
I cannot remember the ride home or if I bragged at school about the game and my riding the bus loaded with Wallace GQ's. I had seen a football game and now I had braggin' rights. B-E-A-T…MILLER!
***I still don't understand the game, BUT (and this is important) my grandson played football. Now he is a college student and I plan to go see a game soon so I can see him. He doesn't play football, but football will be secondary.***
You can check out Earline’s blog and buy a copy of her first book “Life With the Top Down” at: http://www.earlinesdoins.com
