Friday night lights is a night where students dress to a specific theme to show school spirit and support their peers during the football game. There are stadium lights to illuminate the field and loud cheering for the team.
Ryan Faux is a junior on the Varsity Football team. Faux has 5 years of playing experience and plays safety and halfback for the team. When asked what he thinks of having no Friday night lights he said “I think it’s disappointing because you only get one opportunity in high school,” Ryan Faux told The Prowl.
Friday night lights is a night most high school students get to experience. It helps boast morale and school spirit, but without it less people go to football games and there’s less unity between students.
Football games tend to be way more fun when in the dark. But since South Windsor High School doesn’t have lights for the field games start at 4:00pm to accommodate this.
When Faux was asked why he said “Playing with the night lights is kind of special,” Faux commented.
The players on the team want Friday night lights. With more cheering it motivates them to play better and get a win for the school.
Although it’s on school grounds the surrounding houses have expressed their opinions on why it’s too disruptive to the town to run due to the lights and the noise it would produce.
The Prowl asked Coach Rich Mabey about what he thought about this “You live near a school and that presents various circumstances and challenges that should be known prior to being there. I do not believe that these houses should have much say at all – if it is good for the community then it should happen. ”
Many in the school share this sentiment that when people move to a house that surrounds the school they should have expected sports games and lights.
He was then asked how he thinks it would motivate the athletes “I think our student athletes in soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, track and field and football would love the opportunity to play under the lights for their moms and dads, grandparents, siblings and other community members I think it could enhance their performance for sure!” Maybe told The Prowl.
With South Windsor being one of the only high schools without a lighted field it causes missed opportunities for athletes to have a night where they are supported and cheered on by their peers.
“This is a huge miss by the South Windsor community and back in the Fall of 2017 – our football team earned a home playoff game for the first time in school history against Naugatuck and had to go play the game at East Hartford High School!!!! This should never have happened and the fact that we are the only school on our schedule every year not to have a lighted field is not right.” Maybe told The Prowl.
Many coaches, players, parents and students hope to implement Friday night lights soon.
