Clover Blue Eagles - - Real Blue

For the first time in four years, I missed the Clover Blue Eagle season opener.  Apparently, they did, too.  Sixty three to nothing?  South Point victory?  Yowza!  I don't think my heart could've taken it.  Just as well, I was at home preparing the Last Supper before my youngest went off to college on Saturday morning.  It didn't seem to be the time to go traipsing off with my blue and white pom poms and cow bell.

I did receive score updates from my friend Joy, who watched the entire travesty of a football game.  She and her husband Tom aren't ones to abandon their positions as fans in the stands, no matter how terrible the game.  They stay until the last whistle, every time.  That's just the kind of people they are.

As I received the texts with the score - - 21 to 0 in the first quarter, oops, make that 28 - - I realized that we may be entering a new era of Clover football.  I don't remember the score at the half; could've been 42-zip. I just knew that the locker room during the game break couldn't be a happy place.  I once asked a football player what went on at the half during a slaughter like that.  "Mostly, the coach just yells," he replied.  He explained that the coach gets the team all fired up and mad and then they take their anger to the field and ideally turn the game around.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen with the Clover/South Point game Friday night.  There was no turning around, no redemption, no saving face.

Clover has a new coach this year, who came from South Point.  Yep, the same team that showed no mercy, kicked on-side kicks to recover the ball even when they were so far ahead, they were in a different time zone.  I suppose they had something to prove, and enjoyed antagonizing their old coach by running up the score.

I wasn't at the game, so I can't really comment on what happened to our beloved Blue Eagles.  Maybe they left the game during the first half . . . mentally, if not physically.  I just wish they had stuck around like Tom & Joy.

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What a Feeling!

Occasionally, I wake up with something burning on my heart, that I must write even before breakfast.  On Saturday morning, after riding through downtown Clover the night before in a school bus, celebratory horns blaring and kids yelling out the window, escorted by the best of Clover's police force, I felt it an experience that must be shared!  This is a copy of a letter sent to the editor of The Lake Wylie Pilot:

Congratulations to the Clover High Choraliers and director Jay Forrest for winning first place at the State Choral Festival on Friday!  As the parent of a senior (my second to come through the program), I had the honor of chaperoning the group to Columbia.  Previous years I’ve gone to the competition to watch them perform, but since this was my last year, I decided to spend the whole day.

The group worked very hard to prepare for their performance.  Every note, beat, and word pronunciation was carefully rehearsed, as well as getting on and off stage.  Each group had just thirteen minutes from the first foot hitting the stage, to the last one leaving, to get set and perform three songs for the judges.  Considering most of the choirs had 40-50 students, and the Choraliers weigh in at 115, they had to come up with some creative ways to get on and off the stage!  They walked up two by two, and exited the stage in rows of four, yet still maintained a dignified, disciplined look.

Last year, the group came home with the second place trophy, which Mr. Forrest told the students was “fantastic, considering the large number of freshmen in the group.”  Still, it was a tough pill to swallow for a group that strives for perfection.  After last year’s performance, the group knew it wasn’t their best, and they were disappointed.  Overall, however, the group had an amazing year, and they learned that they didn’t have to win state to call the year a great success.

This year, their performance was nearly flawless.  To watch other groups perform (some of them singing the same songs as The Choraliers), the differences were clear:  The Choraliers were a very disciplined group.  There were no wandering eyes, kids scratching, or misplaced arms during performance.  Confidence showed on their faces and in their voices (no wimpy male voices trying to keep up with the sopranos in this group!). 

When it was time for the winners to be announced, the students were excited but very nervous.  “I don’t care if we get second place,” I heard one senior say to another.  “I’m proud of what we did and how hard we worked, and I’ll be happy.”  (Great life lesson learned, I’d say!)  The third place choirs, Wando Show Choir and Sumter, were announced with a tied score of 280.  Second place went to Wando Girl’s Choir, with a score of 281.5.  And with a score of 297, the Clover Choraliers took home first place trophy.  They were further honored with a police escort through the town of Clover at 10pm upon their return, celebrating victory!

It takes great commitment to be a Clover Choralier.  With block scheduling, these students choose to dedicate most of their electives to the choral program, with the rest of their academic schedule being mainly required core classes.  Many of the students in Choraliers also participate in sports, student council, and other extra curriculars.  You’ll often find the valedictorians, student body presidents, and other leaders in the group.  Why?  These kids learn and exercise far more than notes and beats.  They learn time management, teamwork, discipline, public speaking (or public singing), memorization techniques, people skills, leadership, confidence, respect.

In line for dinner Friday night, the students happily invited the bus drivers and chaperones to the front of the line.  That’s their culture.  I heard one patron remark after the Choralier Candlelight dinner a few weeks ago, “It’s kids like these that give me hope for the future.”  I tend to agree.

Thanks for reading my blog!  And thanks to Joey Bradberry for the picture.  For more about living in Lake Wylie and Lake Wylie waterfront resources, please visit Lake Wylie Information website.

Blue Eagle Season Opener 2009

Lawsy, it's been awhile since I've posted, but life has been throwing me some interceptions lately. However, nothing like a Clover High School football game to get me going again!

I do love those Blue Eagles! Last night's first game against the South Point (no "e") Red Raiders was tons of fun, although hotter than blazes. My husband opted out of the game, as he is morally opposed to watching football when it's over 90 degrees. A guy's gotta have his standards, I guess.

Anyway, the Blue Eagles started out strong. Defense looked good (hallelujah), offense pounding 3 to 5 yards a down. Classic Blue Eagle football.

We all went thru metal scanners on the way in the gate, which was probably good because otherwise someone would've shot the ref's. Clover could hardly make it through a play without a penalty flag. Yeah, there were a few offsides calls. But, you know, first game. The boys were excited to play! But there were quite a few questionable, okay, BOGUS calls as well, at least if you agreed with the fans in the stand.

As for me, what do I know? Without the instant replay tape and the announcers drawing little circles on the screen, I just gotta take their word for it.

So anyway, 14-0 at the half, and that's with two touchdowns being called back for penalties. We were feeling pretty cocky. (And by "we", I am referring to the fans. Jerry Seinfeld makes fun of folks who say "We won! We won!" after their team aces a game. Jerry says, "No, THEY won. YOU watched.)

The second half started out with more penalties against Clover, and the crowd became rather unruly. South Point managed a touchdown, but blew the extra point. 14-6.

Clover scored again, answered by South Point with a 2 point conversion. 21-14. Clover's QB Aaron Miller put the ball in the air on a third and long play and we were treated to a miraculous catch by Brian Barrett. Whoooeee! 28-14, just a couple minutes left. The South Point home side started emptying the stands. Fine with me. Less traffic to fight on the way out.

But honey, it wasn't over. The Blue Eagles thought they had it in the bag, and started playing like it. South Point scored again, 28-21. Uh oh.

Then an onside kick play by South Point actually WORKED. Uh oh.

South Point fought their way towards the goal line again, and the Clover boys woke the heck up. With tiny seconds left in the game, a whole lotta Latta emerged and finalized the victory for Clover, stopping the drive. Clover had the ball, took a knee, and took the win.

It's gonna be a good season, y'all.

Jan Todd lives in Lake Wylie and works for The Lake Wylie Man. For more blogs about living in Lake Wylie, Blue Eagle football, and Lake Wylie real estate, visit The Lake Wylie Man website!