By Aaron Coe
Herald Writer
I’ve had this newspaper’s prep-sports gig for about three football seasons now – long enough to have learned a thing or two.
I’ve learned by traveling to exotic places like Pasco and Kent, along with many towns throughout Snohomish County. I still haven’t figured out what that really long, imposing pipe is on Ebey Island off the trestle, mostly because I’m afraid to ask.
I don’t know why basketball coaches wear suits, football coaches wear sweatshirts and baseball managers wear uniforms. (Wouldn’t it be great to see Terry Ennis, or any prep football coach for that matter, in full pads?)
OK, I still have a lot to learn, but I have figured out most of the things I really need to know.
Best place to watch a football game: Snohomish.
It’s a safe bet the Panthers are going to pack Veterans Memorial Stadium with 5,000 fans wearing red and white every home game in the fall. My guess is that they’re afraid the late Dick Armstrong, the legendary former Panthers coach, will return to kick their butts if they don’t.
They’re probably right.
Close second: Stanwood.
Same colors as Snohomish, same type of wacko (in a good way) fans.
Best popcorn: Mount Vernon.
This is very important to a sports writer. Blood pressure be darned, it is imperative that every kernel hold the maximum amount of salt and butter. Price and size of bag is also important, because prep writers are on a budget. Don’t be fooled by cute little popcorn bags or cups. They may look nice, but nothing makes me smile more than popcorn served in a lunch bag, which holds twice as much corn.
Sure, Mount Vernon doesn’t have a stadium, but the snack shack is standing firm. For $1, you get a full-sized lunch bag of popcorn salty enough to burn sores onto the roof of your mouth.
Come on, pucker up, this is football we’re talking about. You’ve got to be tough.
Close second: Goddard Stadium.
Smaller bag, not as salty, but it’s a bargain at 50 cents. Snohomish has Kettle Corn, which adds sugar – a prep writer’s dream – to the required butter and salt. Yummee, but at $3, it’s out of my league.
Best hot dog: Arlington.
Those little machines that spin hot dogs can be hypnotic, but there are few more beautiful sights than a giant grill covered with bratwurst. During Eagles football games, you can get a brat smothered with green peppers and onions for $3.
Just don’t breath on anyone.
Best fries: Stanwood.
Get ‘em dripping with fresh oil, then sprinkle the salt on the crispy potatoes to form a thick paste. Is there a doctor in the house?
Best press box: Edmonds District Stadium.
I know, I know. Who cares, right? Don’t you want your friendly prep guy to have a nice warm seat? I like Edmonds Stadium because of the unobstructed views and separated, heated rooms. Good popcorn, too. Who cares if the four teams that play in it went a combined 10-26 this season?
Best pop: Goddard Stadium.
It’s pretty hard to find a can of pop for 50 cents these days. A buck’ll get you a Pepsi and a popcorn at Goddard. If my calculations are correct, those same items would cost $97 at Safeco Field.
Best quote: Rollie Wilson, Cascade coach.
Don’t ever ask Wilson, “Does this make me look fat?”
He’ll tell you. In fact, I think he’s told me, and I didn’t even ask. After a game, if his team played well, he makes Cascade sound like the ‘72 Dolphins. If they were bad, they’re more like the ‘85-2001 Seahawks.
Most positive football coach: I don’t know how he does it, but Kamiak coach Dan Mack gets through most practices without making his lungs hemorrhage. Oh, he knows how to yell, but most the time he doesn’t. Practices are as crisply run as any, but the mood is light. The Knights are focused without the need to wear earplugs.
And Mack’s approach works, too. The Knights were quarterfinalists in ‘99 and semifinalists last year. Folks, don’t be surprised if Kamiak wins it all at the Tacoma Dome in a few weeks.
Best player name: Nana Asamoah-Boadu, Mariner.
Hey, anybody know how to fix a spellchecker?
Best football uniforms: Jackson.
Jackson may be a relatively new school, but you’ve got to love the old-school uniforms. There is no better color for a football uniform than black, and there is plenty of it on the Timberwolf getup. The block style numbers and letters on the jerseys and the scripted “Timberwolves” across the helmet make the look a classic one.
Best mascot: Lake Stevens.
That Viking costume is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. Leif Erickson looked like Brad Pitt in comparison.
That’s what makes it so great.
Best pep band: Stanwood.
My old band teacher at Mount Rainier High School, Ken Copeland, used to say nearly every day: “A band is only as strong as its weakest member.”
Why he always stared at me while saying that, I’m not sure.
Well, Mr. C, all a pep band really needs is a trumpet player who can hit the high notes and 40 other kids to fill in the blanks. The Spartans can make “On Wisconsin” – seemingly the fight song of 87 percent of all high schools – almost palatable.
Best football announcer: Bill Hamilton, Edmonds District Stadium.
This man does the job the way it should be done. No gimmicks, no play-by-play. Just ballcarrier, yards and tackler.
I don’t like it when a PA announcer steals all the good lines.
And Hamilton is accurate. With help from spotters, he does not guess at the yards gained on a play, he gets it right. If he says it was a 2-yard gain, you can bet your bullhorn it was. He gives the crowd accurate information and lets the players – and writers, of course – do the talking.
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