Staying silent at football games is a tall order

Sounds of silence - It’s a tall order to ask a crowd of 50,000 rabid fans – many of whom have been tailgating for hours – to remain silent, remove their hats and stand for a brief moment of silence followed by “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a football game. It’s not a law that these moments occur before games all the way down to Little League and youth football; it’s just a tradition. Showing a lack of respect or using the moment as a form of protest usually brings the heat down on those exerting their right not to play along. As a career high school teacher, coach and sportswriter, I always emphasized to my students why respect for the moment was so important. I often take photos during the national anthem. Some find me annoying, but it’s what I do because the images tell their own story. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was established as the American national anthem in 1931. I have attached several images to appear with the online version of this column. 

Leading questions - Two sets of questions I usually ask Delaware people, from middle schoolers to fully formed adults, upon first meeting them: Where did you go to high school? And, do you have any idea who I am? Before the Tunnel to Towers race at Cape Henlopen State Park Nov. 15, I took a group photo of eight motorcycle troopers followed by four mounted troopers. I asked each of them, “Do you know who I am?” None of them did. It was suggested that they were all from up north. Plus, they were millennials who are not exactly plugged into a Sesame Street by the Sea local boomer muppet. But the chopper pilot knew who I was and promised someday to give me a ride across the Great Marsh that did not involve the word medevac.  

Sills and Kiffin - David Sills, a seventh-grade quarterback prospect at Eastern Christian Academy (Red Lion), verbally committed in 2010 to play at the University of Southern California under coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin was later fired, as was subsequent coach Steve Sarkisian. Kiffin (Ole Miss) and Sarkisian (Texas) are now $50 million composite coaches with buy-out clauses – you get fired, you get paid; you leave, we get paid. Sills subsequently de-committed and ended up at West Virginia where he led the nation in touchdown receptions in 2017. Sills, 29, is known by age-group contemporaries in Dewey Beach; he is always described as a nice person. Sills has signed and played for the Bills, Giants, Broncos and, as of Sept. 13, was on the active roster of the Atlanta Falcons. Kiffin, who had the offensive genius label and is just as odd as Steve Spurrier, is rumored for the Florida job. A few years ago, David Sills ran a Races2Run 5K event in Dewey with his girlfriend. No word on de-commitments, but that makes this national story a local one.

Passing the grade - The first marking period has passed for Delaware high schools. Athletes who flunk off teams have to actively work at not working, but vigilant coaches keep a close eye on all their players. Basically, seniors should be passing all the courses they need to graduate. It's usually five credits, with two being majors from the a la carte menu like science, English, math and social studies. I have a hundred stories from my Coach Fred days about negotiating with teachers and rescuing athletes from their trifling selves, often deflecting criticisms, “They made their own bed, let them sleep in it.” But who sleeps in a made bed? 

Snippets - Go to diaasports.org for updated brackets for semifinal football action across Delaware’s three groups. The finals will all be played at Delaware State University. There are a total of 63 swimmers on the Cape Henlopen swim teams. Coaches are Bill Geppert, Colleen Bailey, Rick Brokaw, Julianna Danese and Pete Olsen. Last season, the boys were 11-0, while the girls were 10-1, losing to 10-0 Sussex Academy. Indoor track at Cape has a combined 100 athletes in the program. This is Cowboys week for the Eagles. NFL.com gives Philly a 99% chance of making the playoffs, while the Cowboys have an 11% chance if they beat the Eagles, which drops to 3% if they lose. There are dueling 5Ks on Thanksgiving Day, which is why turkeys have two legs. Go on now, git!