Time For Malakoff Tiger Fans to Step Up

By Benny Rogers

History calls

History will unfold Friday night as our beloved Tigers play in the state’s Game of The Week. Let that sink in … the Malakoff Tigers playing in the state’s Game of the Week.

No. 7 Malakoff vs. No. 6 Teague.

7-0 Malakoff vs. 7-0 Teague.

You don’t want to miss this.

With all eyes of the high school football world in the state on us, it will also likely be a historic crowd with the largest in the history of Tiger Stadium expected to be on hand. The word is out, folks, this is a big, big game.

This game has been circled on the schedule since February, when schedules were released. The assumption both teams would roll into the game 7-0 when October 24 arrived is now reality.

Both our Tigers and the Lions are to be congratulated for arriving at this point in the season with unblemished marks. 7-0 doesn’t just happen.

There is a lot of work and a lot of pressure to get there and that shouldn’t go without notice.

The game will, no doubt, be a great one and live up to its billing. Both teams are very talented and are led by exceptional coaching staffs. These are two of the best Class 3A teams in the state and it’s going to be a show.

Without question, the Tigers are up for the challenge facing them. They will be ready and they will represent in a manner in which we will all be proud.

Here’s the real challenge this week and it involves us … Tiger fans. Are we up for the challenge?

Black and gold sisters and brothers, I am telling you right now the Teague fans are going to roll in here and try and own Tiger Stadium. They will attempt to paint the place orange and white and give their Lions a semblance of home-field advantage.

Please, please tell me we aren’t about to let that happen.

If you have something black, wear it. If you have something gold, wear it. And with every ounce of Tiger pride you possess, please, please don’t just show up at the game to watch. Be prepared to stand, make noise and be loud.

Seriously, Teague fans are going to attempt to show us up at our own place. Do not, under any circumstance, let that happen. If we are to ever develop a “not in our house” mentality, now is the time. Now!

Our Tigers will do their part to make this a game to remember. Let’s do ours. We are all in this together.

And if you need further motivation, remember that we aren’t just Tigers. We are Malakooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooff Tigers.

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Benny Rogers wrote his first sports column for The Malakoff News when he was still a student at Malakoff High School. Since that time, he has been the go-to sports authority in Henderson County and the de facto historian for all things related to Malakoff sports. He is also the Voice of the Tigers and the longtime announcer at home football games. He is the former sports editor of the Athens Daily Review and currently is the Sports Information Officer for Trinity Valley Community College.