As the 2013 high school football season gets underway, the players aren’t the only ones excited. The O-Zone, our enthusiastic student section, is also ready for some football.
Excitement is even greater this year after strides were seen last season along with many of the key starters returning.
Participating in the student sections, whether it be The O-Zone for football, or The Lew-Natics for basketball, has become the thing to do on Friday nights. You will see even the shyest of kids go wild in support of their Oracles.
Support for the football team and sports in general has taken a big leap forward the last couple of years. Senior Braden Abbott has a lot to do with that. Ever since he was a freshman, he has gone wild cheering for the Oracles. “They work really hard and they deserve the support of their classmates,” said Abbott. “It’s our job to give them energy throughout the game,” he added.
Coach Strasser is an obvious fan of The O-Zone. He says that “our 12th man has brought a unique atmosphere to Berto Field.” Strasser believes the fans are extremely important and it starts with the student section. Good fans are important to the success of a team and The O-Zone wishes nothing but the best for the football squad.
One of the key returning starters, junior linebacker Tyler Burns, is without a doubt one of the more enthusiastic players on the field every Friday night. Burns, like his coach, has noticed improvement in the student section. “There has been a difference in school pride even since my freshman year. There used to be hardly anybody [at our games] and now there are 75 plus people going crazy for you,” Burns said. “It brings enthusiasm to every play.”
Even during a tough defeat to second ranked and four-time defending state champion Central Catholic, The O-Zone was loud in cheering for their team. Coach Strasser and Burns both said it means a lot for the student section to be there in good times and in bad.
There is always next time, and the next time happens to be arguably the biggest game of the year, the Bacon Bowl against the rival Carroll Cougars. If you thought The O-Zone was loud last week, make the trek over to Flora Friday night and watch as the Oracles fight for the skillet.
There will be a tailgate at Carroll after school until the game starts. The opening kickoff is set for 7:30.
