October 10, 2007
A stupid stunt cast sadness on Ocean City-Mainland rivalry
By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist
It wasn't the closest game of the series but it was still special last Friday
night at Carey Stadium. It feels that way every time Ocean City and Mainland get
together.
To go back to the beginning (before 1961), students from Linwood and Somers Point
came across the causeway to Ocean City to attend high school. The Northfield
students went to Pleasantville. So, when Mainland opened in 1961, there was
already a built-in rivalry.
Through the years there have been a lot of connections. Andy Prohaska was the
head football coach at both schools. Gary Satrappe played basketball as a Raider
and a Mustang. Bud Rinck displayed his versatility for both Mainland and Ocean
City. Paul LeFever coached at Mainland. Matt Jamison played football for OCHS,
coached at Mainland and is now back at his alma mater as principal. There are
coaches on both staffs who played for the other school. These stories number in
the hundreds.
There are thousands of Ocean City grads (and teachers) who live on the Mainland
and pay taxes to support the high school in Linwood. There are also a large number
of Mainland grads and teachers who live in Ocean City or Upper Township. All of
these people want their school to win. They all love the rivalry and the great
performances it has inspired.
And they all hate what happened at Mainland last week.
A group of misfits who have too much time on their hands and a misguided idea of
school spirit decided they would trash the Mustang Corral. They poured bleach on
the football field, threw paint on the press box, bleachers and blocking sleds.
They even went down to the baseball field and painted obscenities on the dugouts.
This is not something a sensible person would do. And it something that fans from
all schools deplore, whether it was their school that was damaged or their rival's.
"We know that nobody associated with Ocean City football would do something like
that," said Mainland coach Bob Coffey. "Things like that are done by a different
kind of person, a kind of person who isn't making a positive impact on the world."
The police reportedly have photos of the troublemakers and were in the process of
identifying them as we went to press.
It was a sad piece of news that happened the week of the exciting Ocean City-Mainland
football game. It was sad for Mainland fans, for Ocean City fans, for all fans of
high school athletics.
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Mainland picked up on a college trend Friday night and had a "whiteout" cheering
section on the 5th Street side of the field. Hundreds of fans wore white shirts,
all sitting together and cheering together.
Mustangs fans have done this before. In fact, during the Ocean City-Mainland boys
basketball game in Linwood over the winter, they tried it. On that occasion,
however, one fan did not get the word. He was sitting right in the middle of the
whiteout section wearing a red shirt.
This time they seemed to get it right.
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And the last two items, both related to television.
"Friday Night Lights", an NBC drama developed from the successful film and book
about high school football in Texas, returned for a second season last Friday
night. It starts at 9 p.m. It is a good show, well written and well acted. But
explain why a network would air a show that will especially appeal to high school
football players, cheerleaders and fans at a time when high school football games
are actually being played. If they feel it has to be on Friday night, at least
start it at 10. Or, take a cue from "24" and hold off its debut until January.
And, finally, for you baseball fans who have watched the playoffs on TBS. Are you
sick of Frank-TV yet? The guy seems to get some of his imitations right on the
money. But they ran the promo so often many are getting tired of the show nearly
two months before it even debuts!
Read more of
Tom Williams' columns