November 1, 2011

Bet You Didn't Know This About High School Football

by Jeff Fisher

This one disgusts me!!

I know it's not the end of the world, but...betting on high school football games?!

Seriously?

Click here to read more...

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Turn Down the Hype!!

February 13, 2011

by Jeff Fisher

Photo courtesy: www.northsouthallstarfootball.com

You know Ive been on this soapbox before.

What soapbox?

The one where I preach that ESPN and others HAVE to stop covering high school sports with the same parameters as pro sports.

My soapbox preaching began in 2007 with a commentary piece on ESPNs made-for-TV interstate high school football match-ups. Made-for-TV high school basketball games are really out of control, but for now, Ill keep my rant to football.

What put me back on the soapbox?

It was an article in the NY Times by writers Mark Viera and Pete Thamel on Jadeveon Clowney of South Point High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina, who is considered the #1 college prospect in America. It centers on Clowneys expected decision on Monday, his birthday and Valentines Day, on where hell play his college football.

Now, it probably doesnt seem like that topic should have me seeing red on the day before V-Day. However, by the time of the second paragraph, I was boiling!

The NY Times article states that two people with knowledge of Clowneys classroom performance at South Pointe in Rock Hill, S.C., have raised questions about whether Clowney will be able to meet the NCAA minimum academic standard if he wants to play next season.

That of course will be interesting news to Alabama, Clemson and South Carolina, who Clowney says are the finalists for his talents.

Whether Clowney academically qualifies or not, isnt what has me mad. I DO NOT know Clowneys academic record, but my guess is, theres a decent amount of truth to the Times article.

What I want to focus on is thisis Clowney, who has been rumored to have questionable academics, being helped by missing school because ESPN comes calling for a cover shoot for ESPN The Magazine or a live hit in the middle of its 10-hour national signing day special on ESPNU?

I think the answer is NO!

Then theres the other question of whats the message being sent to other high school student-athletes when it comes to academics? Meaning, are studies not that important, if you can get the cover of a national magazine?

ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit was spot-on when he said in the middle of ESPNUs signing day coverage that he was concerned about these high school players showboating on the air by putting on hats from the school they chose.

What seems to be lost during this so-called signing day event, is that the players will have a tremendous opportunity to get an awesome education as the result of the academic scholarship theyre being given.

Yes, when the dream of NFL goes bye-bye, that degree will mean a lot.

Having worked as a sports journalist for over 35 years, I understand ESPNs business plan when it comes to being the Worldwide Leader in Sports. It makes total sense in ESPNs business plan to create a storyline that goes from the NFL to college to high school. However, when the lineage starts at the high school level and goes the other way, I believe it creates problems that wont be able to be reversed.

As Ive always saidstudent is ALWAYS the first part in the term student-athlete.

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The Super Bowl You May Not Know About

Feburary 5, 2011

by Jeff Fisher

Streaks rule sports.

It starts with winning streakslosing streaks.

Then there are accomplishment streaksJoe DiMaggios hit streak or Brett Favre and Cal Ripkens consecutive game streaks.

Today I want to talk about the Big 33 streak.

You dont know about it?

Well Im here to tell you on the eve of Super Bowl XV, its one of the most amassing high school football streaks that will stand forever.

First a little background on the Big 33 game that is played annually in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

The first Big 33 game was played in 1958. Through the years, Pennsylvanias top 33 football players have squared-off with all-star teams from Maryland, Ohio and Texas. There have been games against an all-USA all-star team, plus sometimes the eastern part of the state battled the western part of the state for bragging rights.

For the past 18-years, the Big 33 has pitted the Keystone State against stars from Ohio. Its been a very competitive series with each state winning nine times coming into this years game in June.

The names of those who have strapped em up for the game reads like a whos who of NFL footballMontana, Namath, Marino, Dorsett and the list goes on.

And, that gets me to the streak.

When the Packers and Steelers hit the field tomorrow in Dallas, it will mark the 45^th straight year that a former Big 33 player will compete in the Super Bowl.

Thats right, theres never been a Super Bowl without a Big 33 alum!!

It all started with Big 33 alum Herb Adderley of Northeast High School in Philadelphia. Adderley played in the first two Super Bowls with the Packers. It continues tomorrow with five former Big 33 players on the turf at Cowboys Stadium.

Continuing the Big 33 streak tomorrow will be Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and safety Ryan Mundy. On the other side of the ball, Green Bay has three former Big 33 playerslinebacker A.J. Hawk, cornerback Brandon Underwood and linebacker Matt Wilhelm.

Roethlisberger, Hawk, Underwood and Wilhelm are former Ohio Big 33 all-stars, while Mundy is a former Pennsylvania Big 33 all-star.

Will the streak hit 46 next year? Who knows.

But what we do know, much like DiMaggio, Favre and Ripkens streak, its going to be hard to top the Big 33 streak.

Click here to learn more about the game and the Big 33 Scholarship Foundation.

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High School Football Around the World

February 3, 2011

by Jeff Fisher

Is the rest of the world catching-up with the United State when it comes to its home-grown game?

If you use Wednesday night's Team USA vs. The World all-star football game won 21-14 by America as the barometer, the answer could be yes. Of course, you really can't use an all-star football game in February as the measuring stick.

The game itself was sanctioned by the International Federation of America Football (IFAF), a Paris-based federation composed of 59 countries that possess a national federation dedicated solely to American football.

With wind-chill temperatures around 11 degrees, 500 fans braved the cold at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas to watch the Americans take a 2-0 lead in the series. Last year's inaugural game in Florida was won 17-0 by Team USA.

The Americans took a 21-6 lead in the third quarter behind Texas recruit Joe Bergeron (North Mesquite HS, TX) 13-yard touchdown catch from Stanford-bound quarterback Kevin Hogan (Gonzaga HS, Washington, DC). Bergeron was named game MVP after rushing for 118 yards on 15 carries. He also scored on a 56 yard touchdown run on a fake punt.

The World Team still had a shot to send the game to overtime, but a Hail Mary pass from its own 45 on the final play of the game failed to work.

On the positive side for The World, which was made-up of players and coaches from 16 different countries and four continents, the game marked the first time that the USA's 19-and-under squad had surrendered a point in international competition.

So back to the question I posed at the begininng...is the world catching-up?

Skills are skills, and The World team is developing them. I still think the US has a sizable lead, but watching the game, I saw what I believe is the same thing that others saw when our exports of baseball and basketball began to grow around the globe.

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Signing on the Dotted Line

February 1, 2011

by Jeff Fisher

It's amazing how high school football's National Letter of Intent Signing Day has grown over the last 16-years.

In 1995 while working as a sports reporter at WFMZ-TV in Allentown, Pennsylvania, I decided to call all of the athletic directors in our coverage area that had players that were signing their letters of intent on the first Wednesday of February. I asked them to help me set-up a schedule that would allow me and my cameraman to get to as many signings in our large coverage area as possible.

While my request was met with surprise, every school official was happy to oblige. What was really surprising were the return calls from the school officials asking if they could invite the family and hold the signing ceremonies in-front of the student body.

My answer was a resounding YES!

After traveling over 100 miles in eight hours I sat down to edit what I still consider to be one of my best television features in my career. I still remember that it was four minutes and 18 seconds in length, which angered the show producer.

It wasn't fancy, it was a straightforward story that captured the celebration of years of hard work by the student-athetes, their families and their schools.

The reaction from the viewers was nothing short of astounding. Most weren't aware of how the players got their college scholarships.

I'm not saying I was a trailblazer with that 1995 piece, but I do know I was one of the first to cover the signing day to that extent.

Now on the eve of 2011's signing day, sitting in a blizzard in Chicago, I'm asking the question, have we gone too far?

ESPNU will have 10-hours of coverage tomorrow that will feature about seven players making their official announcement on the Worldwide Leader in Sports. Last month there were were two all-star games that have been built on players making their decision announcements on national television.

It all seems a little bit overblown to me.

It's the same feeling I had back in 1997 when James Mungro of East Stroudsburg High School in Pennsylvania called the local media to his school in the Poconos. Mungro, who is still Pennsylvania's all-time leading rushers, lined-up five possible helmet choices on the stage in the auditorium before he announced that he was going to Syracuse.

What I remember the most was the pressure that Mungro had on him. Yes, he was excited to have the "signing event", but you could see in his face and hear in his voice that he was more relieved than happy on that day.

I remember James telling me that it was tough to be constantly asked about what school he was leaning toward. But, James was a special kid and gave everyone the time.

Times have changed with recruiting news traveling very quickly thanks to the internet and social media.

When I read last week that one of the nation's top recruits, Philadelphia (Mississippi) High's C.J. Johnson closed his Facebook account over unruly comments and slanderous messages, I felt we've gone too far.

If you've been following my work over the last several years, you know I haven't liked the direction the sport is taking as a result of the bright lights from ESPN and the FOX Sports Nets of the world. I'm all for the promotion of the sport, but I do not feel as though these made-for-TV, national match-ups do anything other than promote someone's Top 100 players list or someone's Top 25/50 Poll.

Of course, that's why I started High School Football America. I want to bring storytelling back to the sport. Remember there are over 15,000 football teams and 1.1 million players...not just 50 teams and 300 players.

Now to end on a positive note, tomorrow is a HUGE day for these kids...and not just for football. These kids are being given an opportunity to get a FREE education.

Of course, I can go off on a tangent here and attack how the NCAA abuses its student-athletes with its current rules that allow all but the athletes to benefit. However, I'm not going to do that.

What I am going to do is to wish each player and their families heartfelt congratulations, and hope that each student-athlete takes the time to go to class to take advantage of that FREE education. America is in your hands, and even if you do make it to the NFL, the life expectancy of a pro football player is three-and-a-half years.

In closing, click here to see exactly what that precious piece of paper known as the National Letter of Intent looks like.

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An Al-ARM-ing Situation? Not for Breckinridge County's Chance Anthony!

January 22, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

Having a bad day?

We all have them.

I had one earlier this week, but then I get a news release announcing the winner of the 2010 High School Rudy Award. Then after learning about Chance Anthony of Breckinridge County High School in Hardinsburg, Kentucky, I got the feeling that feeling sorry for myself wasn't the thing I should be doing.

Anthony was born without the lower part of his right arm. That has not prevented the senior from being a contributing member of the school's football and basketball teams.

Courtesy of www.highschoolrudyawards.com

The two-way starter caught his first touchdown pass last season during the school's homecoming game. He can also bench press 235-pounds...basically with one arm!

Chase told me the other day that when he was born the doctors told his parents, "they would have more problems with the arm, than their son."

Nothing has stood in his or his family's way when it comes to achieving dreams and goals.

One hand or not, you can still catch a football and still catch a basketball, Anthony added. Sometimes my friends forget Ive only got one hand. I do as much as anyone else at school. Its how you deal with adversity that counts. If somebody gives you the opportunity, you better take it and run. Dont look back and question why. I know Im going to look back and really appreciate Coach giving me the opportunity to be the best I could be.

Anthony, who won a $10,000 scholarship, was chosen for the 2nd annual award from 250 nominees.

The High School Football Rudy Award is named after Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, who became a not-so-famous, famous player while at Notre Dame while only playing two downs as a 5-6, 165 pounds.

Anthony will join me and my co-host Trish Hoffman Sunday night on the NHSCA Sports Hour radio show to talk about his award an incredible journey to overcome his handicap. Click here to listen LIVE to the Sunday night at 6 PM EST.

The first runner-up was Cody Rye of Ironwood, Michigan...2nd runner-ups were Kyle Wilcos of Seffner, Florida and Tray Waite of Warren, Ohio.

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Deep in the Heart of Texas

December 18, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

Sometimes things don't live up to the hype, however, that was NOT the case when it came to the Texas high school football championships.

I've covered numerous state championship games, but none come close to the atmosphere Trish and I were a part of starting Friday afternoon.

From the moment we entered Cowboys Stadium for the 3A title game between Carthage and Coldspring to the time we left around 11 P.M. on Saturday after watching #1 Euless Trinity lose a heart-stopper to #18 Pearland, the crowds were electric.

Standing on the sidelines with 43,000 in the house for the Euless Trinity-Pearland game, you could feel the hopes and dreams of both communties rise-and-fall on each play.

That energy even spilled into a local restaurant well after midnight when Pearland fans entered shouting "are there any Oiler fans in here?". BTW...the answer was a resounding yes as they all sat around each other savoring their upset victory that snapped Trinity's 28-game win streak.

I really don't have much more to say other than Texans LOVE their high school football, and if you love high school football, do yourself a favor and once in your life check-out a football game in the Lone Star State...it really is the holy grail of the sport.

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Taking to the Airwaves...or at least the Internet

November 28, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

It's been a fun Thanksgiving weekend in the Lehigh Valley...who said you can never go home?!

Aside from celebrating the holiday, I watched some great high school football and returned to my broadcasting roots...radio.

Saturday began with a two-hour guest appearance with old friends Jack Logic and Joe Craig on the Jack, Joe & Company radio show on WGPA-AM. It was a nice stroll down memory lane with plenty of talk about my early days on WEST-AM in Easton. The segment with my first broadcast partner Bruce Nagy, who's now living in California, made it a perfect start to the day.

Last night I spent a chilly night watching high school football in my favorite high school stadium...Cottingham Stadium in Easton, Pennsylvania. The 1920-era stadium came alive in the cold night air around when the Easton faithful celebrated the Red Rovers' district gold medal with a come-from-behind 13-10 win over Whitehall, which avenged an earlier season defeat at the hands of the Zephyrs.

Now, I'm preparing for my debut show as host of the National High School Coaches Association Sports Hour. You can listen to the show starting at 6 PM EST on the Artist First Radio Network.

My first guest is Easton head coach Steve Shiffert, who will talk about preparing his team to play three games in eight days, which included a Thanksgiving Day game against the Red Rovers' arch-rival Phillipsburg.

Also joining me on the first show will be Pius X (Roseto, PA) head coach Phil Stambaugh, who just finished a successful first year as head coach of the Royals. Pius, which is the subject of a documentary I'm doing for High School Football America, was 8-4 and finished in second-place in Class A in District 11.

My third guest will be Mollie Omenski of GTM Sportswear, sponsor of the NHSCA Athlete of the Month.

Click here to listen to the show every Sunday at 6 P.M. EST.

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Touchdowns & Turkey

November 23, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

Aside from the first day of practice, Thanksgiving is my favorite day of the high school football season!

I've never forgotten my first high school football game on Thanksgiving. It was back in 1969 when my alma mater, Wilson played Nazareth at Lehigh University's Taylor Stadium. It was a double thrill because it was also the first time I was ever in a college football stadium...and Taylor Stadium was unique with the blast furnace of Bethlehem Steel just a couple of blocks away.

It was a double thrill for another reason.


Wilson and Nazareth played at 10 o'clock in the morning, and as soon as the game ended, we high-tailed it from Bethlehem to Easton to watch Easton and Phillipsburg do battle at Lafayette College. Yes, a football doubleheader followed by a family feast is hard to beat.

Wilson and Nazareth no longer play each other, although there is a movement to revive the game. However, Easton and P'burg will play #104 on Thursday. Being part of the Easton/Phillipsburg crowd of 15,000-plus is always exciting, and for the first time since I left the Lehigh Valley in 2000, I'll be back in the Lehigh Valley for the granddaddy of them all.


With High School Football America camera in-hand, I stopped by Easton High School today to check-out the building of the bonfire, which currently stands at about 20-feet tall with more wood coming tomorrow. For those that will be driving on Route 22 tomorrow night without knowledge of Easton/P'burg rivalry, they'll be wondering if the school is on-fire.

This is ONE BIG BONFIRE that is being guarded all-night-long by the Red Rovers' senior class that camps-out in 30-degree temperatures to make sure the woodpile isn't ignited prematurely by their arch-rival fans. Considering the Stateliners faithful already nabbed the Rover statue a couple of weeks ago (it is back in the hands of Easton officials, but not on its pedestal), it's a great idea that the students built a mini "tent city" around the massive pile of wood.

Easton brings a four-game series win streak into the contest. The Red Rovers lead the overall series with 58 wins to P'burg's 40, and there have been fives ties.

How big is this game for the two schools that are only separated by the Delaware River?

After Easton plays its bitter arch-rival, it must turn-around two days later and play Whitehall in a district championship game that sends the winner into the PIAA Class AAAA state tournament...the Rovers WILL NOT rest their starters...this game is too important!

In recent years, both teams have in the same position, and there's NEVER talk about canceling game or anyone playing the JV's. This game is more important than a state championship for either team.

One other note...Easton is 11-1 this season with it's only loss this year coming at the hands of Saturday's opponent Whitehall.

Three games in nine days...no problem for either school. They just strap 'em up and play...and that to me makes Thursday a great day to give thanks for high school football.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Jeff

Playing Like Warriors and the True Meaning of Sportsmanship

October 31, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

I saw a first on Saturday...an 11-man football team playing with only 11 players.

Carson Long Military Institute suited-up only eleven players in Saturday's game against Pius X in New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania. The Warriors didn't have much of a chance in their 66-24 loss to the Royals, who won their sixth straight game to improve to 6-3. However, Carson Long did give the Royals a lesson in heart, while Pius showed the fans and their opponents the meaning of sportsmanship.

Carson Long's Warriors played like warriors by playing all 48-minutes both ways while NEVER giving-up! Royals head coach Phil Stambaugh showed respect to his fellow head coach Pete Lasavage, who Stambaugh's family has known for over 20 years, by running a modified version of his high-powered passing offense, while openly rooting and cheering for Carson Long players, who put on one of the most valiant efforts I've every witnessed.

Even though Pius is one of the smallest teams in America playing 11-man football (63 boys in the small Catholic school in Roseto, Pennsylvania), it still suits-up 50 players.

Kudos to both coaches who showed class in every sense of the word, in the face of a very difficult situation!

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Winning Ways in Wisconsin

October 26, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

The 2010 high school football playoffs begin tonight in Wisconsin, but that's not what I want to talk about here today.

Instead, I want to talk about an interesting fact that seven of the state's ten winningest all-time football coaches are still moving up-and-down the sidelines!

To me, that's simply amazing!

That number will be reduced to six when Germantown's 2010 season comes to a close. Phil Datka, who's been coaching 42 years and is tied for fifth on the all-time list, will retire at the end of his team's current playoff run that begins with an opening round game tonight against Sheboygan South.

Heading the list of living and "still coaching" legends is Bob Hyland of Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs, who brings a 356-100-2 record into the postseason. That's really amazing when you consider that Hyland began his coaching career in 1971 with a 1-15-2 record!

Along the way Hyland won 10 state championships, 25 conference championships, plus eight state runner-up finishes.

On Monday, WLUK-TV did a great feature on Coach Hyland, who has no intention of hanging-up his whistle.

There could also be a change in the all-time list tonght if Stevens Point Pacelli beats Markesan. A win would move head coach Bob Raczek into sole possession of second place on the list with 351 victories.

Congratulations to all on the below list for their great careers.

Wisconsin All-Time Coaching Victories

1. Bob Hyland, Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs 356-100-2

2 (tied). Dick Basham, Milwaukee Marquette 350-87

2 (tied). Bob Raczek, Stevens Point Pacelli 350-153-2

4. Jerry Sinz, Edgar 327-70

5 (tied). Wayne Steffenhagen, D.C. Everest 278-80

5 (tied). Phil Datka, Germantown 278-149

7. *Win Brockmeyer, Wausau 265-43-14

8. Tom Taraska, Arrowhead 264-95

9. Bill Young, Waukesha Catholic Memorial 260-98

10. *Walt Kroll, Marshfield Columbus 243-105-2

*Retired from coaching

Editor's Note: Don't forget, if you're looking for scores from tonight's games, go to our 2010 High School Football Scoreboard.

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Streaking

October 18, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

The 2010 season hasnt been a good one for teams riding long winning streaks.

Friday night, Reidsville (North Carolina) lost 28-7 to Cummings to stop the nations longest active win streak at 55. Ironically, the streak began for Reidsville back in 2006 after a 39-21 loss to Cummings.

Reidsville became they third team in America this year to see its quest to match De La Salles (Concord, CA) record of 151 straight wins go up in smoke this season.

Plymouth (New Hampshire) began the season with the longest active streak at 55 straight, but after a 2-0 start, the Bobcats streak was snapped at 57 with a 20-9 loss to Kennett, which back in 2004 ended Plymouths then record 46-game win streak.

Lake Travis (Austin, TX) would have been next-in-line to take over the top spot, however, one week before Plymouth lost, the Cavaliers saw their 48-game win streak snapped in a 14-10 loss to Westlake.

Two 40+ game win streaks were snapped during the first weekend of September.

Solon (Iowa) had its 42-game win streak snapped September 3^rd when it lost 21-15 to Regina (Iowa City, IA). That same night, Cascia Hall (Tulsa, OK) was beaten 34-27 by Holland Hall, which snapped the Commandos 41-game win streak that was one short of Oklahomas all-time record of 42 set by Ada in the mid-90s.

So the question iswho now has the bulls eye on its chest?

According to our research, another North Carolina team has taken over the top spot. West Rowan (Mt. Ulla, NC) won its 39th straight game last Friday night with a 40-0 shutout of Statesville. Directly behind the Falcons at 37 is Phoebus High School (Hampton, VA). Right behind Phoebus are two teams riding 36-game wins streaks....Alcoa (Tennessee), which is going after a record 7th straight Tennessee state championship and Highlands High (Ft. Thomas, KY).

Shifting gears, but still speaking of streaks...Soldotna beat Kenai Saturday for its fourth Alaska Small Schools football championship in five years. The Stars and Kardinals, which are separate by 10-miles, have now combined to win nine straight titles.

The 77-42 victory was the highest scoring game in Alaska high school football championship history, which was then followed by the lowest scoring game as Anchorage West beat Service 6-0 for the Big Schools title.

Last but not least, the High School Football America cameras were on the south side of Chicago Friday night to do a future story on THE streak in America.

It belongs to St. Rita alum Dr. Gerry Grieco, who has now attended 491 straight Mustang games! Yes, Dr. Grieco, has not missed a game since 1968 when his beloved Mustangs were 0-9.

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Pink is the New Red in Lowell

October 11, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

It's been a month since Trish and I pulled into Lowell, Michigan, but the night still sticks with us as one of the best night's we've spent at a high school football game.

We traveled to Lowell, a town of 4,000 near Grand Rapids, Michigan, on September 10th for the 3rd annual Pink Arrow Pride game, which turns the Lowell Red Arrows football team into the Pink Arrows.

It's hard to truly describe what an entire football stadium awash in pink looks like, but trust me, it's captivating!

As you will see in our video vignettes, this isn't NFL players wearing pink shoes or wristbands during the month of October...the Lowell players wear pink jerseys and change the red arrows on their helmets to the color pink. With some 8,000 Lowell fans clad in pink, you'll feel the love that this community has for one another.

The idea to put-on-the-pink came from Lowell head coach Noel Dean, who suggested the idea after seeing Brett Favre's wife wearing a pink jersey on an NFL sideline during her battle with breast cancer.

Now, three years later, Lowell has raised nearly $300,000 for cancer awareness and research, plus the money raised also helps families cope with the life altering circumstances of cancer. Pink Arrow Pride has also resulted in the opening of a Gilda's Club in Lowell.

What brought tears to my eyes, was to see the names of loved ones...some cancer survivors, some cancer victims...on the backs of players and t-shirts of fans. To hear the PA announcer's voice crack while presenting the players and their cancer representatives before the game to the crowd, almost went beyond words.

As far as the people we met...there aren't words to describe the smiles they put on our faces. I was so moved by the outpouring of love in Lowell, that we're going to try to help grow this event on a national level.

To learn more about the Pink Arrow Pride organization, go to www.pinkarrowpride.org.

Click here to watch our video from the game.

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A Town with a Colorful History

October 1, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

There's no secret that I love my hometown's passion for high school sports, and specifically, its on-going love affair with high school football.

The Lehigh Valley in eastern Pennsylvania, which encompasses the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, has produced some of the Keystone State's best athletes and teams over the last 100 years.

Tonight, High School Football America's cameras arrive at my all-time favorite high school football stadium...Cottingham Stadium, home of the Easton Red Rovers.

Cottingham Stadium, which is situated between 11th and 12th Streets off of Northampton Street, was build in the early 1920's, and has played host to some great teams.

In Easton's 116-year illustrious history, eleven Red Rover football teams have finished the season unbeaten, although not all of those teams played in Cottingham, which is named after William W. Cottingham, who served as Easton's Superintendent of Schools for 50 years. With nearly 760 wins under its belt, Easton is currently listed at the 11th winningest high school football program in America.

While the seating capacity in the concrete stadium is somewhere around 5,000, some of the old-time fans enjoy standing at the fence at field level to get an up-close look at their favorite team.

Cottingham will be packed tonight as the unbeaten Red Rovers face the unbeaten Whitehall Zephyrs. However, there's more to our story than the stadium.

Easton is the third place that the Declaration of Independence was read publicly back on July 8, 1776. One of its residents, George Taylor, whose home still sits at the corner of 4th and Ferry Streets, is one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

The city of 28,000 is also the birthplace of Crayola Crayons and is still home to former heavyweight boxing champ Larry Holmes, who toured the world as the Easton Assassin while wearing his hometown red.

So while, Crayola has developed a rainbow of colors for its world famous crayons, the one color that Easton loves the most is...RED!

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A Day in the Sunshine

September 25, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

The term Friday Night Lights is now a part of America's vernacular when it comes to high school football in this country.

Of course, the book by Buzz Bissinger really started it, followed by the movie and then the TV series.

However on this past Saturday in Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, I started coining a new phrase...high school football in the "Sunshine of Saturday".

What made the game unique is that the home team Green Knights hosted Wilson, my alma mater, in a game that featured two teams that don't have lights on their home fields.

This is a rarity in this day-and-age!

While, Friday nights are fun! Saturday afternoon sizzled...literally...with temperatures reaching 85-degrees.

Pen Argyl is actually the first place I ever watched a high school football game when I was 10 years old and running back Woody Petchel, who played for his legendary coaching dad Elwood, was on his way to a then state-record 88 career touchdowns.

What I remember from that day was the view from the top of the top of the hill...that's the picture above.

You can only get to that view by actually walking-up to the press box, which is not attached to the grandstands. However, with a little exercise you will get to see a panoramic view that spans some 50-miles. The flaming Fall foliage makes it all the more breathtaking.

Part of the fun of a Saturday game at Pen Argyl is the fact that more than just the fans from the two teams playing show-up. Yes, high school football starved fans from around the Lehigh Valley venture to The Hill to get there fix of football.

So the question in this day-and-age is...will Pen Argyl ever join the masses in the Friday night frenzy?

My guess is no.

Talking with some of the fans on Saturday, who have been attending games on The Hill for decades, they believe that's the answer as well. There doesn't seem to be a groundswell of support for such a move...and that makes me happy. It wouldn't be the same with Pen Argyl playing a home game on a Friday night.

Of course, forever is a long time, and last year High School Football America was in Oak Park outside of Chicago, when Oak Park River Forest High School flipped-on the light switch to end 112-plus years of Saturday afternoon football.

Here's hoping that Pen Argyl and Wilson both believe that daytime is the best time to play their home games.

Editor's Note: Another one of my favorite games from my youth, also featured Pen Argyl. It was a game between Petchel and Artie Owens of Stroudsburg High School in 1971. While the game was played in the Poconos at Stroudsburg, it featured the two top running backs in the state. For a stroll down memory lane, click here to check-out a story on the 53-29 win by Stroudsburg from Pocono Record columinist Tom DeSchriver.

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Rockville, Indiana Salutes Local Hero...and he Salutes Back

August 28, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

Words can't really describe my meeting Friday night with Matt Kinsey, a former Rockville Rox football player.

Kinsey, who just three months had his foot amputated after stepping on a landmine while serving his country, was on the sidelines as a volunteer football coach for his alma mater.

Not only was Matt walking up-and-down sidelines on his new prosthetic foot, he is able to run! His recovery has amazed everyone, including the doctors, who took care of his at Walter Reed Hospital.

Before the game, Kinsey was honored by his school and a standing-room only crowd waved flags throughout the ceremony. When Matt was introduced to the crowd, he stood at attention and saluted the fans.

In a day-and-age when "role models" don't usually hold-up their end of the bargain, Matt Kinsey is running circles around most role models...even if it is on a prosthetic foot.

I'll have a video clip, plus a full story on Matt, the Rockville football team and community next week.

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Review of Blood, Sweat and Chalk by Sports Illustrated Writer Tim Layden

August 25, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

You've all seen the blackboards with the X's and O's, but let's be honest, how many fans (I'm not talking about coaches & players) truly know what it all means?

Well, if you're in that group of not really understanding what all those squiggly and diagonal lines are about, pick-up a copy of Blood, Sweat and Chalk by award-winning Sports Illustrated writer Tim Layden.

For me it was a refresher course that transported me back to 1968 when I played guard on the Wilson Vikings Junior Pee-Wee team trying to learn what a playbook was all about.

If you're reading this thinking...wow, the book could be dry and full of "coach speak"...you're wrong.

Layden does a magnificent job of taking readers through the origin and evolution of twenty-two offensive and defensive schemes and plays that form the backbone of football. Yes, the beginning of each chapter has a play diagram, but Layden goes beyond X's and O's with interviews with legendary coaches like Bill Belichick, Don Coryell, Joe Gibbs, Darrell Royal and Tom Osborne.

That best part of the book for me is the roots it has back to high school football.

For example...did you know the Run-and-Shoot started at the high school level?

And, then there is...what's old is new concept.

Layden looks at a couple of high school football programs that win regularly using the Single Wing.

Whether you've coached for decades, or If you want to understand football better and enjoy the games more, pick-up Blood, Sweat and Chalk.

To learn more about the book, please listen to an interview I did with Layden on High School Football America's Prodcast #1

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On the Road Again

August 23, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

Willie Nelson couldn't have said it any better..."Just can't wait to get on the road again"!!

While we're not making music, the sound of pads popping is like music to my ears. Yes, high school football is in the air, and I can't stop taking deep breaths of it!

Since August 12th, High School Football America has visited South Bend, Indiana; New Buffalo, Michigan; Roseto, Pennsylvania (3 days) and Rockville, Indiana.

Judging by the jump in hits to the website, everyone is enjoying High School Football America's inside look at the Pius X High School Football program. Your all-access pass will continue through the entire season.

This past Saturday, Trish and I ventured 180 miles south of Chicago to Rockville, Indiana to begin preparing for our first visit of the 2010 season. We'll head back to the town of 2,900 Friday night for the Rockville Rox home opener against Covington.

The side story on Friday night will be the fact that Rockville is situated in the heart of Parke County, which is known as the "Covered Bridge Capital of the World". There are 31 of these magnificent structures along five color-coded routes that total approximately 161 miles of driving.

We ventured along the 'yellow route" on Saturday, starting at the West Union Bridge, which at 315 feet long is slightly longer than a football field. The bridge is closed to traffic, but the next one, the Marshall Bridge (pictured above), isn't.

The oldest bridges date back to between 1856 and 1860.

As we drove around the 34 mile yellow route, we let our minds dance back to a bygone era when people weren't as lucky to be driving the route in a car.

We were surprised at how much wooded area was in this part of the country...I always thought Indiana had nothing but flat farmland.

We ended the night at the Thirty-Six Saloon where we enjoyed a well-prepared walleye platter and a porterhouse steak, served by a very friendly staff. The Thirty-Six Saloon is also a taxidermist's dream with a wide array of stuffed animals ranging from a rattlesnake to a mountain lion.

However, when we return on Friday night, we'll be hunting for some good ole' fashion small town high school football.

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County Music Star Kenny Chesney Sings High School Football Anthem

August 13, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

Most people don't know this about me, but my first full--time job in radio was as a county music morning-drive disc jockey at WHOL-AM radio in Allentown in 1980.

I can still hear the jingle I had to play four-times an hour...Top Gun in Allentown...W-H-O-L...followed by a Ricochet Rabbit-type gunshot and the bullet hitting some metal object.

I loved those days...got kissed by Barbara Mandrell; the owner of the station was in Willie Nelson's first band and I met Eddie Rabbit, who wrote Elvis' Kentucky Rain, which I still love to this day.

Without waxing too nostalgic, I always enjoyed country music and thought it needed to be the genre for a high school football anthem.

Well, the anthem is here...and it's sung by former Gibbs High (Tennesse) football player and now country music star Kenny Chesney.

Boys of Fall, which can be viewed at the top of this post, was written by Dave Turnbull and Casey Beathard for an upcoming documentary on high school football by Chesney, who played wide receiver in high school.

While I wish the song was a little bit more uptempo, it's still creates the great feel of Friday nights. The opening of the video is awesome with a great pre-game speech from a coach.

On his website Chesney says, "Having played football, I know how true that song felt to me. And, that song is real not just for anyone who's ever played, but for the moms driving their kids to peewee football, for the guys in the barbershops talking about this year's team at the local school, for the kids on the sidelines cheering and it's certainly for anyone who's ever coached little kids, junior high schoolers and certainly for high school players coming into their own.

How is the song resonating with America? According to Chesney's website, after just one day of play, it debuted in the Top 20.

Check-out the video at The High School Football Huddle, and then let me know your thoughts on this song.

High School Football America to give its readers the Royal treament

August 11, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

As I contemplated what I could do special for the 2010 high school football season, one thought came to mind...think SMALL!

Yes, I said SMALL.

You see, as Ive been telling my readers for the past year, High School Football America is all about covering good stories. Its almost like were miners looking for those hidden gems of high school football stories that are buried deep beneath national rankings and recruiting stories.

So with that in mind, I wracked my brain for something small that could be turned into something big.

It didnt take me long to come-up with the answer. I wanted to chronicle a small town football team for an entire year to give fans a feel for how the line between a community and its football team blurs, and the team becomes part of the fabric of the community.

But the question was which team?

Once again, it didnt take long to come-up with the answer.

I just had to look a little north of my hometown of Easton, Pennsylvania to the tiny borough of Rosetohome to the Pius X Royals, a small catholic school with an enrollment of approximately 260 students in 7-12 grades. The Royals play in Pennsylvanias smallest classification (Class A).

That definitely qualifies as small, but what the school and the football program have accomplished through the years in sports is big, including an NFL quarterback in Phil Stambaughand thats where the story begins.

Stambaugh, who just celebrated his 32nd birthday on Tuesday, is preparing to open his first camp as a head coach at his alma mater on Monday, August 16thand High School Football America will be there with him.

Even after spending time as a quarterback in the NFL and NFL Europe, Stambaugh is your typical Pius X alumonce a Royal, always a Royal.

What seems to make this story feel right is Stambaugh and I have a history that includes me covering him while I worked at WFMZ-TV while he was leading his team to a 1995 District 11 Class A championship, plus his brilliant career at Lehigh University where he spent his four years re-writing school and Patriot League record books.

What appeals the most to me about Pius is how it truly is a family affair for the approximately 1,600 people that reside in the community.

Like Stambaugh, eight of his eleven assistant coaches attended the old school brick school building on 3^rd Avenue. Heck...Stambaughs mom Connie currently is the athletic director at the school. His dad, Mike, coached football, volleyball, girls softball and wrestling at Pius.

Roseto is a little bit like the imaginary TV show bar Cheerseveryone knows your name.

Hopefully, between now and the end of the season, America will know the Pius X Royals.

Editors note: Beginning Monday, August 16^th, High School Football America, The High School Football Huddle and the Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle will have daily stories on the Royals.

To learn more about the upcoming season, go to the Pius X Royals football website

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A Friday Night Lights Confession

by Jeff Fisher

I confessuntil a month ago, I hadnt watched one episode of the critically acclaimed NBC television show Friday Night Lights.

I confessthat for a month straight Trish and I watch Seasons 1, 2, 3 on Netflix like we had a drug habit.

I confessIm not sure why Friday Night Lights hasnt received better ratings, other than network executives have no clue what theyre doing.

I confessthis is one of the best dramas on televisionand not because its about high school football.

I confessa couple of times I got mad that the show wasnt always factually correct when it came to the football.

I confessIve met more women in the last month that are in love with Tim Riggins (Taylor Hitch).

I confessI think they love him for more than just his acting skills.

I confessTyra, Lyla and Julie give us guys something to think about as well.

I confessthank goodness these girls only play teenagers, but in real life they are in their 20s; otherwise wed all be in trouble.

I confessI have a man crush on Kyle Chandler, who deserves an Emmy award for his portrayal of Dillon head football coach Eric Taylor.

I confessthe women might be right about Tim Riggins.

I confessthe Academy of Television Arts & Sciences must be as dumb as NBC execs for not handing out more Emmy nominations for this show.

I confessquarterback Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) needs to receive an Emmy as well for his portrayal of a kid taking care of his grandmother with the start of Alzheimers.

I confessJason Street (Scott Porter) was inspirational from his wheelchair, but his close bud Herc (Kevin Rankin) was more convincing in a wheelchairI really thought he was paralyzed.

I confessI've really started to like Dillon super booster Buddy Garritty (Brad Leland), who really grows on you.

I confessI root, root, root for Landry Clarke (Jesse Plemons).

I confessI hate, hate, hate quarterback J.D. McCoys dad (D.W. Moffett)oh sorry, its not realits a TV show.

I confessmy high school experience was nothing like this!

I confessI wish my principal wore low-cut tops like Tami Taylor (Connie Britton).

I confessSlammin Sammy; the voice of the Dillon Panthers is annoying.

I confessthere are too many cardiac finishes in Dillon Panther games.

I confessCoach Taylor got screwed when he lost the Panthers job.

I confessCoach Taylor, as East Dillon Highs new coach will make for an interesting storyline.

I confessI hope Coach Taylor and his East Dillon Lions beat the #@%&!!! out of the Dillon Panthers in Season 4.

I confessI really think I have a man crush on Coach Taylor.

I confessTrishs crush on Tim Riggins is starting to worry me!

I confesswere addicted to Friday Night Lights.

I confesswe cant wait for April 30^th and the beginning of Season 4 of FNL.

Did I mention I have a crush on Coach Taylor?

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3/21/10

From: St. Rita Man

The scene in Buddy's car dealership with the wole town watching a film retrospective of the team, the cameos of past players and footage from the 2006 state championship victory is a scene straight out of daily life at St Rita.

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The Passing of a Legend

March 12, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Merlin Olsen yesterday.

Olsen died at the very young age of 69 from mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer often related to exposure to asbestos.

When I read of his death, it took me back to my childhood dreams of being a gameday broadcaster when I spent hour-after-hour watching games on TV and listening to them on the radio. Olsen's silky smooth voice was one that I was drawn to during those years when he was usually teammed with another favorite Dick Enberg on NBC broadcasts.

Obviously I wasn't the only one that liked Olsen's voice...the Hall of Famer was the pitchman for FTD florists for a long time. Yes, the leader of the Los Angeles Rams Fearsome Foursome, could wax eloquently on why flowers were the perfect gift for a loved one.

While I wasn't a fan of Little House on the Prairie or Father Murphy, I'm sure Olsen's kind-and-concerned face was perfect for the roles.

Now to the tie to high school football...

Every morning, I spend a least an hour going through the internet looking for stories to post on The High School Football Huddle blogs. Today, I found a story in the Las Vegas Sun that ties Olsen's death into high school football, so I thought I'd share it with you.

Back in th 70's Olsen donated one of his football shoes to two schools for what is now...37 games later...know as "The Cleat Game"

Olsen's bronzed cleat is given to the winner of the annual battle between Chaparral and Eldorado High Schools.

While it's hard to find out info on why the cleat was given to the schools in the first place, I was able to determine that the first game was in 1974. I will make a call to the schools later today to see if I can grab a little more behind the history, but for now, let's just say that it's just another example of the large footprint left behind by Merlin Olsen's life.

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Getting Down to Business!

March 11, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

It's raining in Chicago...again...but at least the temperature is above 50 degrees.

The last couple of days have been grueling as I've been hunkered-down in the condo writing my business plan for High School Football America LLC. Right now I'm about 40% finished with the plan that has me very excited, because I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The journey to a national high school football website began in 2004, but actually has roots back to my days as sports director at WFMZ-TV in Allentown, Pennsylvania. As the creator of The Big Ticket, a 60-minute high school football highlights show on Friday nights, I was always looking for ways to give viewers bigger-and-better coverage.

The Big Ticket was one of the first high school football highlights shows of its kind in the northeast, and I believe in the country back in 1994. I want High School Football America to be the trendsetter that The Big Ticket was, when in 1998 as Executive Producer I decided to stream the show LIVE online, so that friends and family around the country could follow their favorite player and team.

The goal is simple...tell high school football stories about small town high school football teams and their communities that no one else is telling.

While I enjoy national rankings and recruiting lists, I feel that the big websites...USA Today, ESPNRise, MaxPreps, Rivals and Scout...overlook the little guys.

Remember, there are nearly 1.3 million kids playing high school football and ONLY 2,900 sign college scholarships each year. That means recruiting sites aren't paying attention to the largest part of the target.

There are some 15,000 schools playing football, but the websites thank rank teams, really only pay attention to about 100-200 schools.

Time to break the mold!

Back to the High School Football America journey...

It really began in 2004 when I met a guy, who wanted to partner with me after I explained my love of high school football, my track record with the TV show and my vision of a national website that would be the central database for all that is high school football.

After just one meeting, to use football terms, I thought I hit paydirt! In reality, I was sacked, stripped of the ball and left laying on the ground with my head ringing from a blindside hit!

Thanks to my bad business partner...money invested by a friend who believed in me was lost...a website with a similar 2004 goal moved past me...and I was left with nothing but a hobby that made me happy, but sad at the same time.

It really took me three years to get the idea back on track, but, as they say...what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

In 2007, with the help of Google's Blogger software, I created a network of blogs called The High School Football Huddle. I started the blogs to re-establish myself in the high school football business, but more importantly to see if people really wanted the type of website that I was dreaming of.

The good new is the answer is YES! According to Google Analytics, my blogs have had almost 800,000 page impressions since January 1, 2007.

With good feedback from the public, it was time to name the new website. While The High School Football Huddle was good, it just didn't have a ring to it.

Finally, in Febuary 2009 in a production meeting for the upcoming season with my co-host Trish Hoffman, we came-up with the name. Actually it was Trish.

Like poetry off her tongue, she said, "What about High School Football America?"

I said, "It will never be available."

Guess what?? I was wrong...as usual :-)

So High School Football America was born.

On our very first call to set-up a video shoot in Michigan, the person on the other end of the phone said she had heard of us. She really hadn't, but it was then and there I realized that High School Football America had a ring to it.

Now as I enter the next phase of the journey, I can feel the embrace from the communities and people we've met along the way...cheering for us.

High School Football...it's YOUR game America....and High School Football America is YOUR site.

Jeff

P.S. If you're an investor and would like to see High School Football America LLC's entire business plan, please feel free to contact me.

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Is America Ready for a Woman as a Head Football Coach?

March 10, 2010

by Jeff Fisher

According to the Washington Post, Friday may be the center of the high school football universe.

The Post reported today that Natalie Randolph will be named head coach of Coolidge High School at a Friday news conference.

While most will think think Randoph will be making history, the Post points out that in 1985, Wanda Oates was named the head football coach at Ballou, but she was removed from the position after one-day on the job because other coaches complained that they didn't want to coach against a woman.

It certainly will be interesting to see what the reaction will be 25 years after Oates.

High School Football America wants to know what you think about the report. Please send us your comments so we can post them.

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