During football season, SHS and HBHS united for the sake of Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium after it was vandalized by Fayettevillians just before the SHS vs. FHS football game. In that moment, we were one town standing up to protect our dignity, tradition, and pride. One sporting season later, we’ve resorted to trash talking each other, and they have demolished bleachers in our arena as a result.
I’ve become great friends with quite a number of Springdale High School kids. They’re awesome people, and I love them to death. I’ll even admit that if I’d gone to that game, I probably would’ve sat on the SHS side, because my best friend writes on the Bulldog Herald staff. But when I found out what happened at the game (which I couldn’t go to due to the car wreck I got in that night), I was disappointed in both schools.
First, I’d like to speak to the Bulldogs. Seriously guys?! They have an amazing student section. I’ll definitely give them points for that. The tradition at that school runs deep, and the school pride shows through the spirit.
Part of that spirit comes from the fact that SHS principals allow their students to have spirit. The leaders of the student section put theme messages out on Twitter and the student body works as a team to promote school spirit. They have more frequent pep rallies this time of year; whereas, we only have one, maybe two, for basketball season. Every game, away games included, they’ve had a sizeable student section.
Unfortunately, we Wildcats can’t say the same. Our student section isn’t always the best, but not for lack of trying. I’d like to give a shoutout to senior Luke Burton for his valiant efforts to create a more spirited student body throughout basketball season, and anyone else who tries to promote school spirit through social media.
However, these efforts would be a lot more effective if students didn’t get bogged down for having rowdy school spirit at games. Sometimes I wonder if our principals have heard the “Let’s get a little bit rowdy” cheer. Granted, Springdale High is a lot older than Har-Ber. They’ve been the Bulldogs a lot longer than we’ve been the Wildcats, but we should be trying to create our identity as a school through school spirit.
Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way saying that Wildcats need to get bleacher-breaking rowdy.
In fact, while I’m on that tangent, that whole “bleacher breaking” thing was unnecessary. I understand maybe one piece breaking off by accident, but intentionally breaking them was up there on the list of things that are not okay. Har-Ber didn’t do that to Springdale at their home arena.
Like I said, I had planned on sitting on the Bulldog side that night; but I’m glad I didn’t go. I’m a Wildcat. I have been since sophomore year. I could’ve become a Bulldog my junior year after I moved, but I didn’t, and I’m glad.
Instagramming pictures of the broken bleacher pieces was tacky. I won’t call anybody out on that, but I will say that I didn’t appreciate it. Although, a select few Har-Ber kids (myself included) shouldn’t have come to the audacious conclusion that Har-Ber girls are prettier than Springdale girls.
In fact, we’re all Springdale girls, technically. Not “Springdale High School” girls, but “City of Springdale” girls. We’re all one town, so we should start acting like it. It’d be much cheaper than hating each other and having to be sent a bill for broken bleachers.
I love my school and all of my friends there. But I love my Bulldog friends as well. Hopefully my underclassmen will be able to have school pride no matter what side of the arena they sit on in the coming years.