Moshier: Richfield Springs football not dead yet
No, it wasn’t easy doing Wednesday night’s story about a Richfield Springs Central School football program that in recent years has been on life support. The news, though, could have been a lot worse. At least I didn’t have to write an obit.
For a guy who nearly 35 years ago was a proud, purple and gold captain of the Richfield Springs football team, writing about the program’s demise would have cut me to the core. I would hate to see football die at any high school. But this was my school, my alma mater, and if the program has to combine with Mohawk to keep giving student-athletes at RSCS the opportunity to play football, then so be it. That’s certainly better than no football.
I’m 52 years old, and now and then I still dream about playing high school football for Richfield Springs. That’s how much it meant to me. There’s no other team sport quite like football, the preseason workouts, the dreaded two-a-days in 90-degree heat, the practices, and the game days. It’s tough, but you’re all going through the same thing, every day. Now, nearly 35 years later, I feel the same way about running the Boilermaker. From the fastest to the slowest, we’re all in it together.
Richfield Springs may never field its very own football team again. I know that. That’s a shame. But I sincerely hope the student-athletes there, like me and my brother many years ago, will always have an opportunity to play the game if they so choose. Depriving a high school athlete of that opportunity, at any school, would be more than a shame. That would be the worst loss of all.
For a guy who nearly 35 years ago was a proud, purple and gold captain of the Richfield Springs football team, writing about the program’s demise would have cut me to the core. I would hate to see football die at any high school. But this was my school, my alma mater, and if the program has to combine with Mohawk to keep giving student-athletes at RSCS the opportunity to play football, then so be it. That’s certainly better than no football.
I’m 52 years old, and now and then I still dream about playing high school football for Richfield Springs. That’s how much it meant to me. There’s no other team sport quite like football, the preseason workouts, the dreaded two-a-days in 90-degree heat, the practices, and the game days. It’s tough, but you’re all going through the same thing, every day. Now, nearly 35 years later, I feel the same way about running the Boilermaker. From the fastest to the slowest, we’re all in it together.
Richfield Springs may never field its very own football team again. I know that. That’s a shame. But I sincerely hope the student-athletes there, like me and my brother many years ago, will always have an opportunity to play the game if they so choose. Depriving a high school athlete of that opportunity, at any school, would be more than a shame. That would be the worst loss of all.
posted by Ron Moshier at
8:33 PM
2 Comments:
I to, like Ron, graduated from RS and played football during its hey day in the early 60s. At that time, Mr. Joseph Moore, who later coached at the University of Notre Dame was our Head Coach fresh out of college. Mr. Joseph Fischette was the AD at that time, Mr. "Old School" himself!!! Playing sports then as well as now gives our student atheletes the opportunity to learn more about the life lessons all of us encounter than any book can teach!!! I applaud the board and the administration for their efforts to still give our students the opportunity for those life lessons!!! Due to decreasing school enrollments, budget concerns, etc. I am pleased that our kids will still have the choice to compete and learn many of those life lessons!!!!!
respectfuly, john houghtaling
Uncle Ron-
your thoughts, as well as Mr. Houghtaling's, are appreciated- especially at this time as your nephew is considering whether or not to quit his first participation in baseball at Richfield.
He is dealing with the trials of 7th grade and all that comes along with that as well as participation in school sports.
I have read your comments to him and made it part of my attempt to teach him a "life lesson" with hopes that he will appreciate your perspective as he struggles to keep a positve perspective.
I was his age when you played back then Ron and I remember how proud I was of my big bro.
Amy
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