COMMENTARY: As football season arrives, a few reminders to pass along

 COMMENTARY: As football season arrives, a few reminders to pass along

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press writer

CANTON--"Player XYZ messed up! He's a jerk!"

"Team ABC stinks!"

"Fire Coach JKL!"

Before fans made their completely outlandish and inconsiderate remarks, did the one fan stop to think that player he berated is the child of a mother and father not to mention he is also a cousin and uncle too (in some cases) not to mention a nephew and a grandson as well?

Did the fan that made his eviscerating comment about the team realize that the athletes on the team are high school athletes and not major college or professional players?

Did the fan who said to fire the head coach realize that he has a wife not to mention sons and daughters in the stands as well, not to mention although he is an adult, has his grandparents and other family relatives in attendance as well?

By the time this commentary is completed, most of us are hotly aware that football season is on the horizon and with the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game being played between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers, that means one of our favorite pastimes is officially here.

August is on the doorstep, Educators and administrators will start prepping their classrooms and offices  for another 180 day journey. Football coaches and players will be getting into the hot two-a-day sessions as they prepare for what they hope will be a voyage that ends in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium being one of 14 teams competing for a coveted state championship. Seniors are now in the batter's box as they will become the leaders of their teams and after playing in the same district from the time they were in kindergarten to now their last year of high school, when next summer makes it's revolution, they will make the matriculation from high school graduate to the realities of today's world and the challenges that await them.

There are a few reminders that must be observed and it's best to get those out of the way now before the official start of the high school football season come August 21st.

First, a ticket is a rite of passage into the stadium. You are there to watch the game and cheer on your respective team. Remember, you too was once a high school athlete in competition. You were praised when you made a great play. You too were berated from the stands when you made a mistake. Family members stood up for you when you were concentrating in the realm of competition on the field. Now you are in the stands and have a son or another family member competing. Just because fans may have booed you doesn't give you a pass to commit the same atrocity if an athlete makes a mistake. Don't set a negative precedent for your child. If the athlete commits a mistake, encourage them to overcome it. Be a positive example in the stands.

Second, every football player on the team has a mother or father. However, there are some who may come from one parent settings. In unlikely cases, they may be raised by an aunt, uncle or both or grandparents. When you denigrate a team after a loss, you denigrate every young man who is on the team. That includes their families and their surname. Think about this: educators and administrators wouldn't put down a child, who are you to do such? Remember, you too went to school K-12 just like the players on the field and like the family members who sacrificed for them to achieve their dreams, your parents did the same for you when you were having your comeuppance through the school years.

Third: Remember the head coach is the one who gets accolades for the victories. Also know this, he is the one who has to take the arrows in the back for the losses. He too is a parent. Think about how his kids feel after he has a tough loss. When you harshly criticize a coach, you criticize his kids and wife as well including the family members in his life.

Player XYZ is going to make plays. But at the same time, he is going to make mistakes. Don't label him as a jerk. Encourage him to overcome the mistake.

Team ABC will win their share of games. However, they will endure losses as well. Don't say they stink or any other immature statement. Encourage them to bounce back from the loss.

Coach JKL will win games. But he will have that one tough loss. His wife and children will be there for him. Don't call for him to get fired or belittle him. Encourage him that it will be OK.

Good luck to all teams this football season, players and coaches. Good luck to the educators and administrators who will be standing behind the student-community-athletes not just on the field but in their respective classrooms as well. And also, my immediate well wishes to the parents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and grandparents who will provide undivided support from the stands and thank you all for being a part in the lives of the athletes who will be on that field come Friday nights.

And finally to the seniors, the class of 2026. Enjoy the ride because once it's over, there are no do-overs. Leave it all out there on the field with no regrets.

And fans, remember that you too were on that same field as a student-community-athlete. You too had educators and administrators who provided the vitamins for your success. Now not just as a parent but a fan too, encourage the players and stand behind them.

And if anyone is thinking about attacking a player or a coach, take it out on me. I'll take the missile for the players and coaches. I took a missile for a young student-community-athlete from Dover who was unjustly lambasted (he played for the middle school basketball team) and the gentleman (whose name I won't mention) told me to "run on back to Massillon where" I came from. I am from Canton by the way. But like I said, anyone who wants to downgrade a player or coach including a family member, you take it out on me. I'm OK with it. I'm an adult. I'll take the missile for them. Let it detonate off me. Just not the kids or coaches and their respective family members.

Here's to a prosperous 2026 high school football season.

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com