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MFootball is good for FairfieldEditor, Gettysburg Times:Reference is made to an article that appeared in today’s edition of the Gettysburg Times (July 23) entitled: “Fairfield football issue won’t get a referendum vote.”In the article, Mrs. Terri Ferguson stated that, “I’d love to know what the community really wants, but I don’t think a referendum is the way to decide.”First of all, it should not be what the community wants but rather what the Fairfield High School students and their families want. I cannot Imagine that the community was polled to decide on what sports would be played in Fairfield when it was opened. Mrs. Ferguson further stated that allowing such a decision to go to the voters would be showing that the board could not coine to a decision on the subject. She is correct. The board obviously cannot come to a decision or rather will not make a decision.Some board member, either Mrs, Ferguson or Mrs, Gills, made the following comment in the article, “Fairfielddoesn’t have a stadium, doesn't have thefacilities, and just isn’t prepared for football.” Whoever made that statement has no idea what she is talking about, Fairfield High School has a field with stands, That is a stadium! I have no idea what “facilities” mean. You need a practice field and I am sure that an area exists that can be used for a practice area. I also have no idea what “isn’t prepared for football” means. How does one prepare for football? You prepare for football just like you do other sports. You have tryouts, you practice, and you play games. It is that simple if you want to allow Fairfield High School students the opportunity to play football,I coached at a private school in Maryland for !8 years. We did not have a stadium or even a home field. Our practice facilities consisted of a field approximately 50 by 60 yards. We did not have locker facilities and used large equipment bags to keep our equipment in. However, we were a high school football team and had the opportunity to play high school football.There is an old saying, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” In my opinion here? in lies the real issue. The majority of the board members do not want football at Fairfield High School. In addition, the majority of the board members do not know a thing about the game and do not want anything to do with it. They obviously do not care about the many students at Fairfield who would “love” to play football for their school.1 was listening to Mr. (Times Sports Editor Ken) Picking's radio (broadcast) about two weeks ago when the subject of Fairfield football was discussed. It was obvious to me (hat there was some hidden “reason” for not allowing Fairfield High School to have a football team. As I listened to that radio broadcast, it appeared to ine that there was a “soccer” factionthat did not want football at Fairfield High School. Soccer people walk around with the biggest chip on their shoulders. They feel that soccer is The sport. Let me remind the soccer people that if soccer was a fast food establishment, it would be a Taco Bell. Football, basketball, and baseball are the McDonald’s, the Burger King’s, and the Arby’s. Soccer people should stop crying about not getting enough respect. Soccer will never be as popular as the “major” sports. In fact, lacrosse will eventually become more popular than soccer in this country. Soccer people refuse to admit that football is the most popular sport in this country, I get tired about hearing about soccer being the most popular sport in the world, Who cares? In the United States, what is more popular the Super Bowl or the World Cup? If soccer people are putting a wrench in the effort to allow football at Fairfield High School, it would not surprise me. Soccer people have that type of mentality. Listen all you soccer people, soccer has its place in the sporting world.The young people who play soccer aredecent athletes and play just as hard as other sports’ athletes. But deal with the fact that it is not as popular as other sports and stop trying to make it something that it is not.I would like to advise the students at Fairfield High School who want football to stand up for your right to have football at your school. Women sports had to stand up for their rights and they. won. You can win too. It is not right that Fairfield High School is denied the right to have football based on a few individuals who obviously do not want football for their own personal feelings, And please do not feed me all that stuff’ about it being an additional burden on retired taxpayers. What about all the other retired people jn Pennsylvania who live in school districts that have football?Fairfield High School and the community would benefit immensely from having football at the school. One of the most popular extracurricular activities at any high school is homecoming. And homecoming is synonymous with football. I would also encourage any Fairfield students who want football at their school to consider legal advice in the matter. A good attorney would have a “field day” with this. Go Fairfield High School Football!S(u MackintoshCarroll Valley■ ■:/.'s'■Si-;, j •*“An efficient bureaucracy is the greatest threat to liberty.”— Former Sen. EugeneMcCarthy
Newspaper Details
Gettysburg Times
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, US
Tue, Jul 30, 2002
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Gettysburg C.
PA, USA 27 Jul 2022
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