I smell sour grapes!!

[DinwiddieProud]

eh31, what a great experience you got to enjoy. Thanks for sharing.

I had the good fortune to know a retired, disabled, Army Sargent that was born in that general area. Just before I became acquainted with him, I had read Homer Hickam's, The Rocket Boys: A Memoir. As I got to know him and found out he was from out there, I must have asked him a million questions. He was so descriptive, I could hear the coal trains and smell the wood smoke. He didn't know Hickam personally, but he knew some of the people in the book.

Sadly, he passed away not long after I got to know him. But I cherish the memories he shared with me.

 

[Intrinsicrewards]

Before it was shut down, Big Creek high school in McDowell County, WV (on the Tazewell County border) had their field built on the front lawn of the school. There was a huge wall in the end zone separating the active railroad tracks that set on a hill above the field. The tracks were probably only 20 yards from the field. I brought this up on another forum and a poster told me that back in the hay day (1950's and up) for Big Creek football trains would park on the tracks since they were elevated next to the field and watch the game. That guy said the conductors would blow their actual train horns during the game for Big Creek.

This is actually one of the coolest things I have ever read on here.

 

[FORT89]

I wish The Fort had fans like Giles. Hell, the crickets are louder at a FC game. Our fans suck. What happens on Friday night stays at the game. Get loud and crazy and blow the damn horn.

 

[ClarkeFan83]

Sadly, Clarke fans don't get too loud or crazy. Shoot, the band won't play pep tunes very often at all.

 

[Bo Bob]

That a shame. I'm sure I annoy some folks with my cow bell but,.....Don't care. If we are on defense and the other team is lining up my bell is singin!!!

 

[vman3196]

Maybe I am different, but last time I checked, the game is played on the field. Not in the stands. Bring what you want. A good coaching staff has their team mentally ready and focused in practice and games. Yes, I love traditions and seeing the community support there team. It was definitely fun to see as a player on the field. But does any of that stuff affect the outcome of the game?

 

[Bo Bob]

Maybe I am different, but last time I checked, the game is played on the field. Not in the stands. Bring what you want. A good coaching staff has their team mentally ready and focused in practice and games. Yes, I love traditions and seeing the community support there team. It was definitely fun to see as a player on the field. But does any of that stuff affect the outcome of the game?

I would say it does or it can at least.
QB can't hear calls from sidelines. Receivers can't hear QB. Timeouts burnt, delay of game, illegal procedures,...
The kids can feed off the energy of the fans as well.
A good coaching staff makes a huge difference but we are talking about high school kids too. They aren't always the pinnacle of focus and attention.

 

[GatorBait1988]

I am all for doing whatever you want at YOUR field, but when you are on the road, you have to play by their rules.

Stop complaining, no one has "Sour Grapes", they just don't want to hear that obnoxious horn if they don't have to.

I always enjoyed watching Giles play, running such a simple offense to perfection and win, plus, the best high school football played I ever saw from Region C was out of Giles. But, this complaining about taking a horn on the road is just asinine. Grow up. You don't always get to do what you want, guy.

 

[singlewinger92]

I am all for doing whatever you want at YOUR field, but when you are on the road, you have to play by their rules.

Stop complaining, no one has "Sour Grapes", they just don't want to hear that obnoxious horn if they don't have to.

I always enjoyed watching Giles play, running such a simple offense to perfection and win, plus, the best high school football played I ever saw from Region C was out of Giles. But, this complaining about taking a horn on the road is just asinine. Grow up. You don't always get to do what you want, guy.

Typical response out of u. It's not about me guy.

 

[GatorBait1988]

Typical response out of u. It's not about me guy.

You were the one who brought it up, I will direct my comments towards said person. Pretty simple. Win the game on the field and stop worrying about a horn.

 

[vman3196]

I would say it does or it can at least.
QB can't hear calls from sidelines. Receivers can't hear QB. Timeouts burnt, delay of game, illegal procedures,...
The kids can feed off the energy

I agree with you for the most part on this. I am a Giles guy, should the train horn be taken to away games, I would say if other school do not care, why should their fans. I personally would say" no its not allowed". "This is our house not yours". Point being, this does not make a good program, its a tradition. The game still takes place on the field.

 

[singlewinger92]

You were the one who brought it up, I will direct my comments towards said person. Pretty simple. Win the game on the field and stop worrying about a horn.

And that they did

 

[GatorBait1988]

And that they did

Great job!

Glad to see the horn's absence didn't affect the boys.

 

[FORT89]

Everyone on here seems to be blowing their own horn. My point is, blow the damn horn. We Pioneer fans may get to hear it in a couple of weeks. LoL! What’s next, cheerleaders???

 

[GatorBait1988]

Everyone on here seems to be blowing their own horn. My point is, blow the damn horn. We Pioneer fans may get to hear it in a couple of weeks. LoL! What’s next, cheerleaders???

It seems the majority of people here don't mind the horn when Giles is at HOME.

I think the majority of people here don't think when Giles is on the road that the home team should have to acquiesce to their wants.

Get it?

 

[Bo Bob]

I agree. Keep it at your home venue.

 

[Union_Fan]

Maybe I am different, but last time I checked, the game is played on the field. Not in the stands. Bring what you want. A good coaching staff has their team mentally ready and focused in practice and games. Yes, I love traditions and seeing the community support there team. It was definitely fun to see as a player on the field. But does any of that stuff affect the outcome of the game?

Not pro or anti Giles horn at all, BUT in response to your question "But does any of that stuff affect the outcome of the game".....yes, it can. I've witnessed it several times.

In 2015, Union was at Letcher Co, Ky. In case some don't know, there are no artificial noisemakers allowed during games in Kentucky. This includes cowbells, air horns, thunder stix, etc... Also, the bands may only play during timeouts or in between quarters.

Because of these rules, the players may not be accustomed to loud crowds. The game was tight, and Letcher had a crucial drive going. The line of scrimmage was directly in front of the Union crowd(both teams share the same bleachers). The Union fans began yelling, screaming, and stomping on the aluminum bleachers. This caused 2 false starts and a timeout. They punted. Another such drive occurred, and once again the line of scrimmage was in front of the Union crowd. Another false start and 2 delay of games led to another punt. Momentum completely changed and Union blew a very close game open.

I have seen Union's fans cause multiple delays of game, false starts, and time outs due to noise, and we have nothing rivaling the Giles' horn. I do believe that crowd noise can affect the outcome of a close game. The more disciplined teams may not be susceptible to this, but it only takes disrupting one player to cause a false start or delay of game.

A local news reporter posted this on his Twitter after a game this year....

 

[Hoos19NC]

Horn at home.....not on the road.

 

[Spring Road]

Wuss home venues then. Here is deal and I wasn't there. But where did it hurt Glenvar? Plus word I hear there horn blower was making ass of himself doing it to be heard. Or seen!!! Grow some nuts !

 

[BigWinners]

Not pro or anti Giles horn at all, BUT in response to your question "But does any of that stuff affect the outcome of the game".....yes, it can. I've witnessed it several times.

In 2015, Union was at Letcher Co, Ky. In case some don't know, there are no artificial noisemakers allowed during games in Kentucky. This includes cowbells, air horns, thunder stix, etc... Also, the bands may only play during timeouts or in between quarters.

Because of these rules, the players may not be accustomed to loud crowds. The game was tight, and Letcher had a crucial drive going. The line of scrimmage was directly in front of the Union crowd(both teams share the same bleachers). The Union fans began yelling, screaming, and stomping on the aluminum bleachers. This caused 2 false starts and a timeout. They punted. Another such drive occurred, and once again the line of scrimmage was in front of the Union crowd. Another false start and 2 delay of games led to another punt. Momentum completely changed and Union blew a very close game open.

I have seen Union's fans cause multiple delays of game, false starts, and time outs due to noise, and we have nothing rivaling the Giles' horn. I do believe that crowd noise can affect the outcome of a close game. The more disciplined teams may not be susceptible to this, but it only takes disrupting one player to cause a false start or delay of game.

A local news reporter posted this on his Twitter after a game this year....

View embedded media

Crazy thing is, I've heard it louder at the park. Some of those 90s PV/Appalachia games were as loud as some college games. 7-8000 people packed into the little park lol.
But the goal line stand against MW was as loud as I've ever heard it since Unions inception. Union kinda stole the cowbells from GC and other places and that's really helped w the noise.

 

[FORT89]

It seems the majority of people here don't mind the horn when Giles is at HOME.

I think the majority of people here don't think when Giles is on the road that the home team should have to acquiesce to their wants.

Get it?

I think it’s a difference of opinion. Get it????

 

[60 minute man]

I agree. The simplest answer is for both sides to agree to use their major noise makers at their home field only.
By agreement, only permit hand held noise makers like cowbells, those foam sticks that you bang together, (thunder sticks I think they are called), maybe hand held air horns, and possibly those damn obnoxious horns they blow at World Cup soccer, "the vuvuzela".

Truthfully, nothing is better than screaming, crazy fans. Get enough voices, and get them to be loud enough, and that makes a statement.

I guess I'll throw my opinion in on this. since everybody else has. First of all, let's be clear. This is NOT Giles High Schools train horn. This is owned and brought by an individual. To call Giles school officials and tell them the horn can't be brought to your field any more bothers me a little. This individual buys his ticket just like the cowbell, rock jug, thunder stick, etc. guys do. I think as far as noise makers go, it should be an absolute. Either everything is allowed, or nothing is allowed. I'm really against a home team saying we can have our noise makers but your fans can't bring theirs. If there is a kid on that field that hears or pays attention to a noise from the bleachers, I sure hope he is on your team, and not mine. Anything that doesn't sound like a refs whistle is OK with me, anytime, anywhere. And somebody correct me If I'm wrong, but I believe there are railway tracks up near the Glenvar school area. Aren't train horns blowing many times day and night. I think that neighborhood noise complaint is pretty weak...

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

I guess I'll throw my opinion in on this. since everybody else has. First of all, let's be clear. This is NOT Giles High Schools train horn. This is owned and brought by an individual. To call Giles school officials and tell them the horn can't be brought to your field any more bothers me a little. This individual buys his ticket just like the cowbell, rock jug, thunder stick, etc. guys do. I think as far as noise makers go, it should be an absolute. Either everything is allowed, or nothing is allowed. I'm really against a home team saying we can have our noise makers but your fans can't bring theirs. If there is a kid on that field that hears or pays attention to a noise from the bleachers, I sure hope he is on your team, and not mine. Anything that doesn't sound like a refs whistle is OK with me, anytime, anywhere. And somebody correct me If I'm wrong, but I believe there are railway tracks up near the Glenvar school area. Aren't train horns blowing many times day and night. I think that neighborhood noise complaint is pretty weak...

That individual is bringing in a car battery, horn, and generator into another venue....through the gate???? HOW IS THAT OKAY???? How is that not against VHSL rules? I told yall last year that he wouldnt be blowing it at Appo and that he did for the 1st qtr. Police and administration SHUT THAT CRAP DOWN!!! Didnt like to play by the rules.

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

Let me get this correct. Its okay to bring all that mess in a playoff game on a visitor field and you blow it when our qb is under center every snap??? Get over your self. Bring all the bell horn, rocks in jugs, and other similar things, but a generator, car battery and a train horn?????

 

[Hoos19NC]

Let me get this correct. Its okay to bring all that mess in a playoff game on a visitor field and you blow it when our qb is under center every snap??? Get over your self. Bring all the bell horn, rocks in jugs, and other man made things, but a generator, car battery and a train horn?????

A generator, car battery and a train horn......TSA doesn’t approve.