It's a shame, but it's likely the smart thing to do.

I to hate to see tradition go away. But safety has to be at the fore front in today's society. Trying to think out of the box, is there any sort of electronic device that could simulate the cannon firing. If so it would be completely safe for the public. And also should fall within the boards guidelines.

I hated the cannon as an opponent but I hate to see part of the tradition of HHS going away. With that being said, I understand the move but like JA stated above, David Cecil will be a bit different on Friday nights.

 

It has been interesting to learn how much Highlands opponents disliked/hated the cannon. I know this may be heresy, but as a Highlands player I really didn't really even notice the cannon when it was fired so I assumed the opposing players didn't notice it much either once the game began. Perhaps it became more of a big deal to the players after I graduated. I really think the cannon was more of a big deal to the Highlands fans than it was to the Highlands players. Great and neat tradition for sure and there is a part of me that wished something could have been worked out to allow it to continue to be fired (and a part of me that was glad when they voted to ban it), but it just wasn't something that motivated me to work harder during the off season or to play harder during the game. Other former Highlands players may disagree with me on that however and perhaps it's just me. I wasn't an emotional player and I never noticed the fans cheering for us or against us during a game. They weren't "even there" as far as I was concerned; it was all about staying focused to do my assignment on that play and then going back to the huddle to get prepared to do the same thing on the next play, over and over until the game ended.

I wasn't an emotional player and I never noticed the fans cheering for us or against us during a game. They weren't "even there" as far as I was concerned; it was all about staying focused to do my assignment on that play and then going back to the huddle to get prepared to do the same thing on the next play, over and over until the game ended.

 

Had they even invented "cheerleaders" yet when you played?

 

My guess is the leather ear flaps probably made it hard to hear the fans.

Had they even invented "cheerleaders" yet when you played?

 

My guess is the leather ear flaps probably made it hard to hear the fans.

 

Smarty pants.

Could they move the cannon off school property and then fire it?

I'm one who loves traditions that enrich experiences, and though I'm not a Highlands fan, I mourn the passing of the cannon. It's a shame the realities of insurance / liability can dictate things the way they can. I understand the realities, but still regret the outcome. It's a shame that we find football to be an acceptable risk, despite the number of catastrophic - and even fatal - injuries that occur each year on the field, but that one accident over a number of decades is grounds for getting rid of something like the cannon.

 

In no way, shape, or form am I belittling the horrible accident that occurred, and my best wishes and prayers go out to the injured fan. But I hope they can at least commemorate the cannon in signage at the field, and perhaps in some form of "replacement", such as an audio recording, or perhaps a "fake" cannon(?)

 

It needs to remain a part of the Highlands tradition in some manner.

 

I also understand that the following, due to the inherently unacceptable levels of risk, have also been banned from HHS games next year...:lol:

 

...vehicle parking within 1500 feet of school property

...pedestrians walking in the stadium without approved safety footwear and helmets (see newly-approved OSHA regs for high school football fans)

...referees who fail to wear kevlar vests

...parents. period.

...any cheerleader stunt that requires a cheerleader to be raised more than 3 feet off the ground. Stunts with lifts of less than three feet will only be allowed if the cheerleaders are standing on mats made of recycled pom poms.

...tackle football

...snacks with sharp edges

...loud bands. All bands performing at HHS games will heretofore insert mutes into all horns and drums will be muffled.

 

:jump:

 

(sorry, the politically-incorrect part of me sometimes cannot be suppressed... )

 

 

CM

Edited June 15, 200917 yr by ColonelMike

Had they even invented "cheerleaders" yet when you played?

 

My guess is the leather ear flaps probably made it hard to hear the fans.

 

 

"Now I don't care who you are but thats funny right there."

"Now I don't care who you are but thats funny right there."

 

 

Don't encourage him. :irked: