Robservations: Make yourself at home in Sparta tonight
For most teams, a five-week long stretch of road games could wreak havoc on fan support.
But when those fans have been starving for a winner for years — and finally seem to have been given one — the road gets a whole lot friendlier.
My esteemed cohort, Dale “President of the Pioneer Pep Club” Stubblefield, already praised the immense fan turnout from last week’s game in this space two days ago. But there’s always room for more back-patting, and what better place to get it than from your weekly dose of Robservations?
Last week’s sea of red at “The Pit” was a sight to behold. Just looking across the field at those visitors’ bleachers probably cost the Lincoln County Falcons a few first downs, if not a few touchdowns.
After the first of what will be a five-week span of road games, one thing is clear: Pioneer fans are gassed up, and they’re traveling with this team no matter where the road takes them.
So tonight, as the caravan heads to Sparta, what can those fans do to top last week’s showing?
One word: Tailgate!
We’ve seen it before, on road trips with the Pioneers. Fans arriving early, cooking up some grub and turning parking lots into party zones prior to a game. But usually it’s the home team’s fans which are having the party, and the visitors who have to walk through their tailgate zone, intimidated by the sight of such fan fervor.
Let’s turn the tables on the Warriors tonight, Pioneer fans.
Let’s get there early, take over their parking lot (the nice one right next to the field) and let’s make White County High School our home away from home for the night.
It won’t take much effort, to be honest. All you’ve got to do is leave a little earlier, and maybe bring a burger or two.
Imagine how the Warrior faithful will react when they pull up to the stadium, ready to park in their normal spot, and head to their normal seat… and the whole lot’s full of raging Pioneer fans, partying like they’re at Neyland and chomping at the bit for the kickoff.
It’ll have to rattle the Warriors’ cages, won’t it? And even with a rejuvenated team on the field, a little help from the folks in the stands can go a long way.
So get there tonight, and get the job done. Get there early, get there in bunches, and make yourselves at home.
But Riverdale’s soccer coach, Ali Arman, ran the score up on Warren County Tuesday night, allowing his star player to tally a dizzying seven-goal performance.
Had it been a hat trick, that would’ve been one thing. Maybe after four goals, you take the kid out, tell them “good game,” and coast to the victory.
But seven goals? After scoring five in the first half? That’s ridiculous.
I’m sure coach Arman doesn’t feel like he was out of line, and has no regrets. But if his star scorer had torn a knee, or rolled an ankle in the second half, I bet he’d be regretting plenty.