NcDeuce
11-20-2003, 11:54 AM
Fort Campbell troops return to true football homecoming
By JILL NOELLE CECIL
The Leaf-Chronicle
Fort Campbell High's football game Friday isn't just the regional championship and a chance to close in on the state championship.
It's a homecoming for some parents who haven't been able to watch their children play because, as soldiers, they were deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"I missed the whole season," said Fredrick Wallace Sr., who returned two weeks ago for a leave. "We'd wake up early every morning (after a game), get on the Internet and try to find what the scores are."
The Falcons -- ranked No. 3 in the final 2A regular-season poll for Kentucky -- hosts No. 1-ranked Owensboro Catholic in the quarterfinal game of the state championship. Catholic beat Fort Campbell in the first round of last year's playoffs.
Wallace, whose son is linebacker Gabriel Wallace, said he values his time watching Gabriel play, and he remembers the importance of his parents attending his football games as a teen.
"They were always at the games for me," Wallace said. "Kids like to show off for their parents. You play even harder for them."
Chris Levale has gotten to watch his son Bronson play offensive guard and defensive tackle in the last month since he's been home on family medical leave. He also missed the regular season, but has helped the team prepare for the playoffs.
"I'm not here every day, but I try to stay involved," Levale said during practice Wednesday. "I feel fortunate to be here, so I just ask the assistants (coaches) to tell me what help they need."
Otis Nunn said last Friday night was the first time he was able to watch his son, Steven, who is a running back. He is home briefly before he is sent to a school at another military installation.
"I got deployed as soon as I got here (last November), so I don't know too much about the program," Nunn said. "He loves sports. He's been playing since he was knee-high."
The three fathers watched the team practice Wednesday with loyal fan, Ti Suitu, who coaches the school's girls volleyball team. Suitu said he thinks it is important for the different sports teams to support each other.
"Not too many parents come out for the games," he said. "I see people who just drop off their kids and leave. We need to do better than that."
Sophomore Jesse Jerkins, who plays defensive tackle, said he understands parents who are in the area may not be able to come to the games.
"I know most are out working or are busy, but we are expecting a big crowd Friday," Jesse said. "My mom is back (from deployment) now. She always sits right in the middle so I know where to look for her."
Sophomore Durell Williams said he hopes for the same kind of turnout the Falcons had when they played Fort Knox in the annual Army Bowl earlier in the season. There were about 5,000 at the game, an unofficial attendance record at Fryar Stadium.
"It just makes us happy to see the crowd," said Durell, who is a defensive end.
For the most part, deployment has hurt turnout for Fort Campbell games, said assistant coach Kim Butts. She and others at the school are urging a show of community-wide support Friday night.
Catholic is rumored to be bringing bus loads of fans and the school doesn't want to be outshone on its home turf, said team assistants freshmen Linshetta Jordan and Marisol McKinnon and senior KaTadrian Wright.
"We heard they were supposed to have three or four buses," Linshetta said.
"We should have more people here," KaTadrian said. "We are here to boost them up."
This is Fort Campbell's best season since losing in the state playoff semifinals in 1996. Fort Campbell has two players who have verbally committed to play football at the University of Kentucky -- Gabe Wallace and free safety Marcus McClinton.
Many of the team members' parents remain deployed and won't see the Falcons play Friday. But through technology and a local radio station, they can listen to the game via the Internet.
Soldiers away from the area can listen on WJZM.com. The radio station at 1400 AM streams the broadcast onto its Web page. Station owner Hank Bonecutter has worked with Fort Campbell officials to get the word out to deployed soldiers.
"You can hear it anywhere in the world," Bonecutter said. "It may just be a ball game to some, but to a lot of people in Iraq, it's a big deal."
The station is also coordinating with Armed Forces Radio to rebroadcast the game sometime over the weekend, Bonecutter said.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/stories/20031120/localnews/673617-244968.jpg
Fredrick Wallace Sr., Steven Nunn and Chris Levale, from left, all 101st Airborne Division soldiers and fathers of Fort Campbell High School football players, watch a practice Wednesday afternoon. The men, who were deployed to Iraq, will attend the quarterfinal state playoffs against Owensboro Catholic Friday night at Fort Campbell.
IF YOU GO
Fort Campbell High School Falcons play the No.1-ranked Owensboro Catholic football team at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Fryar Stadium on post. The team is urging the military community to show its support by attending the game. Those without military tags for their vehicles must enter post through Gate 4.
By JILL NOELLE CECIL
The Leaf-Chronicle
Fort Campbell High's football game Friday isn't just the regional championship and a chance to close in on the state championship.
It's a homecoming for some parents who haven't been able to watch their children play because, as soldiers, they were deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"I missed the whole season," said Fredrick Wallace Sr., who returned two weeks ago for a leave. "We'd wake up early every morning (after a game), get on the Internet and try to find what the scores are."
The Falcons -- ranked No. 3 in the final 2A regular-season poll for Kentucky -- hosts No. 1-ranked Owensboro Catholic in the quarterfinal game of the state championship. Catholic beat Fort Campbell in the first round of last year's playoffs.
Wallace, whose son is linebacker Gabriel Wallace, said he values his time watching Gabriel play, and he remembers the importance of his parents attending his football games as a teen.
"They were always at the games for me," Wallace said. "Kids like to show off for their parents. You play even harder for them."
Chris Levale has gotten to watch his son Bronson play offensive guard and defensive tackle in the last month since he's been home on family medical leave. He also missed the regular season, but has helped the team prepare for the playoffs.
"I'm not here every day, but I try to stay involved," Levale said during practice Wednesday. "I feel fortunate to be here, so I just ask the assistants (coaches) to tell me what help they need."
Otis Nunn said last Friday night was the first time he was able to watch his son, Steven, who is a running back. He is home briefly before he is sent to a school at another military installation.
"I got deployed as soon as I got here (last November), so I don't know too much about the program," Nunn said. "He loves sports. He's been playing since he was knee-high."
The three fathers watched the team practice Wednesday with loyal fan, Ti Suitu, who coaches the school's girls volleyball team. Suitu said he thinks it is important for the different sports teams to support each other.
"Not too many parents come out for the games," he said. "I see people who just drop off their kids and leave. We need to do better than that."
Sophomore Jesse Jerkins, who plays defensive tackle, said he understands parents who are in the area may not be able to come to the games.
"I know most are out working or are busy, but we are expecting a big crowd Friday," Jesse said. "My mom is back (from deployment) now. She always sits right in the middle so I know where to look for her."
Sophomore Durell Williams said he hopes for the same kind of turnout the Falcons had when they played Fort Knox in the annual Army Bowl earlier in the season. There were about 5,000 at the game, an unofficial attendance record at Fryar Stadium.
"It just makes us happy to see the crowd," said Durell, who is a defensive end.
For the most part, deployment has hurt turnout for Fort Campbell games, said assistant coach Kim Butts. She and others at the school are urging a show of community-wide support Friday night.
Catholic is rumored to be bringing bus loads of fans and the school doesn't want to be outshone on its home turf, said team assistants freshmen Linshetta Jordan and Marisol McKinnon and senior KaTadrian Wright.
"We heard they were supposed to have three or four buses," Linshetta said.
"We should have more people here," KaTadrian said. "We are here to boost them up."
This is Fort Campbell's best season since losing in the state playoff semifinals in 1996. Fort Campbell has two players who have verbally committed to play football at the University of Kentucky -- Gabe Wallace and free safety Marcus McClinton.
Many of the team members' parents remain deployed and won't see the Falcons play Friday. But through technology and a local radio station, they can listen to the game via the Internet.
Soldiers away from the area can listen on WJZM.com. The radio station at 1400 AM streams the broadcast onto its Web page. Station owner Hank Bonecutter has worked with Fort Campbell officials to get the word out to deployed soldiers.
"You can hear it anywhere in the world," Bonecutter said. "It may just be a ball game to some, but to a lot of people in Iraq, it's a big deal."
The station is also coordinating with Armed Forces Radio to rebroadcast the game sometime over the weekend, Bonecutter said.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/stories/20031120/localnews/673617-244968.jpg
Fredrick Wallace Sr., Steven Nunn and Chris Levale, from left, all 101st Airborne Division soldiers and fathers of Fort Campbell High School football players, watch a practice Wednesday afternoon. The men, who were deployed to Iraq, will attend the quarterfinal state playoffs against Owensboro Catholic Friday night at Fort Campbell.
IF YOU GO
Fort Campbell High School Falcons play the No.1-ranked Owensboro Catholic football team at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Fryar Stadium on post. The team is urging the military community to show its support by attending the game. Those without military tags for their vehicles must enter post through Gate 4.