School is back in session. That means that high school sports are also underway at Yorkton's two fine high schools, Yorkton Regional and Sacred Heart.
Both schools boast entertaining football programs, strong soccer teams and high quality volleyball clubs at this time of the year with basketball and a plethora of other sports waiting for the winter and spring seasons.
Yet for some unknown reason no one in the city seems to be aware of this fact at all.
And for proof of that statement all you'd have to do is visit Century Field during any YRHS Raiders senior football home game and count the number of fans. Or have your kindergarten brother, sister, niece, nephew, son or daughter count them for you (after all, the number would be so low that they'd most definitely be able to figure it out).
To be blatantly honest the support that high school sports get, not only in this city but nationwide, is so sad it borders on pathetic or insane (or pathetically insane).
While the Raiders and Saints are playing in front of a smattering of friends and family, down south, in, let's say Texas, high school sports, especially football, is a way of life.
In fact the 5A state championship game in Texas is attended by over 54-thousand (yes, THOUSAND) people yearly with local games for many high school teams, regardless of division, attended by several thousand people.
Just close your eyes and picture that for a moment, will you? Two high school teams, full of student athletes, charging on to the field greeted (and booed) by thousands of raucous fans.
Now open your eyes and head down to Century Field or Sacred Heart football field. The only really loud noise you'll hear at one of the football games at either venue, other than the echoing voice from the announcer, is when a train goes by and blows its horn to warn traffic. What a huge difference in atmosphere from there to here.
But don't feel like I'm just blaming the average person.
The problem actually starts at the student body of each and every high school. In the United States the student body gets itself up for a home sporting event. They paint their faces and bodies. They make signs for their fellow peers who, almost magically, become heroes.
And not just for one sport, they do it for them all. Go to YouTube when you have a minute and type in 'San Marcos Pride Flash Mob'. The video you will see is high school fan support at its finest for the San Marcos Royals basketball team as they play their crosstown rivals the Santa Barbara Dons. I just watched it. I have chills.
American high schools even have hundreds, if not thousands, of alumni attend their home games each and every time.
Why can't that happen in Canada, where most of the games are free?
So to wrap this edition of 'The Hot Corner' up, I'm issuing a challenge, no, two challenges, to the people of Yorkton, as well as the student bodies of the two schools.
Challenge one: Make your way down to the Sacred Heart football field on Thursday, October 2. Wear green and support the Sacred Heart Saints as they take on the Foam Lake Panthers. Yes, the game begins at 4:00p.m. which would pose a problem for some people. But there are more than enough people free at that time to make it an incredible atmosphere for the players involved.
Challenge two: Head out to Century Field (it's behind the YRHS in case you don't know) on Friday, October 3 for what will most likely be one of the best high school football games played on the continent this year when the YRHS Raiders host the perennial powerhouse A.E. Peacock Tornadoes for the Friday Night Lights game. Kickoff is set for 7:00p.m. so there are no excuses!
I'll be there. And I'll be counting just how many people attend the games. If the average attendance is over 1,000 per game I'll allow the people of the city to vote on what embarrassing and ridiculous thing I'd have to do.
