Under the Lights

The difficulties of playing football at the varsity level aren’t a secret to anyone. All of the practices, the weightlifting, the crowds, the weather, the atmosphere. These factors are the main differences between freshman football and varsity football. For example, the freshman football team is far more likely to move practice indoors, or even cancel practice all together in harsh weather. They also have far less practice than varsity football. But the biggest difference of all is by far the crowd and atmosphere of the games. The average Timberline freshman football game has an attendance of around a hundred people, while in just the second game at Waukee Northwest, the varsity team had over a thousand total fans in attendance, as well as a live broadcast on WHO-Channel 13. So you can imagine what it must be like as a sophomore playing varsity football, and how big of an adjustment it is to go from small crowds and easier practices on the freshman team, to strenuous practices and huge crowds on the varsity level.              

Sophomore Receiver Xavyer Guttierez expressed the difficulty of adjusting to the much brighter lights on Fridays than the ones on Thursdays, “Last year we just played ball. We just went out there and had fun. This year I just feel like everything is so serious.”  When asked if the serious and intense atmosphere deterred Xavyer’s love for the game he explained that the intensity has actually increased his liking of the sport. “I love the way we’re so serious about winning,” Guttierez said. “We value winning more than just getting a 5-4 record.”  Sophomore Right Tackle Colt Schipper explained his gratitude towards the freshman team coaches, “They put us in a good spot. They always try to resemble the high school as much as they can, but it’s never going to be exactly the same, but I think they did a good job.” Guttierez and Schipper, as well as their sophomore teammates, are still adjusting to the contrasting climate of varsity football, however, they continually embrace the opportunity to play under the lights.