Friday Night Ethnography

I managed to find myself doing my field notes in El Paso, Texas.  Different environment, different area.  I am at a friday night high school game where it is sort of a west side versus east side kind of thing.  Both sides of the stadium seem to both be pumped up for the game, but I would say the east side team, Eastwood, has the upper hand fan-wise.  The west side team, Coronado, seems like they don't really want it as bad.  Both schools seem to be of mixed ethnicities; both rallying up to cheer and support their football squads.  The first half has been real intense.  There has been cheers and yells everywhere.  Drums beating hard, helmets colliding.  Everyone is enjoying and having fun at the game.

There has been some tension between some people from opposing sides here and there, but nothing serious.  A lot of bad-mouthing along with it all.  There are a lot of adults at the game also.  Perhaps parents, alumni, or just random supporters.  Some students are walking around talking to more grown adults referring to them as "Ms." and "Mr.".  Some of those happen to be teachers, as well.  The teachers seem really relaxed about being confronted out of the classroom; I used to know teacher that didn't even want to be bothered outside of the classroom.  It's good to see that teachers are making an important connection with their students.

On the field, the coaches look really helpful towards their student athletes.  When a mistake is made, they take them out, talk to them and solve the mistake.  Not always is it going to be done calmly, either.  There have been a few instances where the coach chewed out his player.  I would think it's for a good cause.  It is for a good cause.

The game is almost over, Eastwood is over Coronado 38 to 13.  Coronado fans are starting to leave.  I would think Eastwood fans are also.  Leaving a parking lot after a game can take awhile because of the traffic.  The cheers have calmly died, from one side.  The Eastwood Troopers will carry their hype into next week.  May their cheers last then.