Mineola Kicks Off Fall 2012 Sports Season with Pep Rally

They say that if you can’t stand the heat, it’s better to stay out of the kitchen. If that’s the case, anyone using a thermal imaging camera on the building might have mistaken the gymnasium for the cafeteria; filled with 5 grades of students, noisy, boisterous and humid enough to make you think for a moment you might have been attending summer school at the height of July.

This of course, was the first Friday in September, and was not summer school, but the annual opening rite – the pep rally – of the religion that Long Island high school practice most: sports, the biggest one of all being the fall and the start of the football season.

There were other teams mentioned as well, taking their place besides the prancing mustang and scarlet “M” at center court: the members each of the respective soccer, golf, volleyball and cross country teams; but fall is all about football.

Let’s be honest – they don’t trot out the marching band and color guards if it takes place off the gridiron, turn the viewing stands into a T.P. tower, shoot off silly string or set off airhorns inside, and the seniors don’t empty bags of confetti over the hardwood, bleachers and each other – as well as anyone else who happens to be in range – for any other sporting contest.

It’s supposed to be a party – that one perfect time in the season when there are limitless possibilities, where there are no records to chain yourself to, when everyone can envision the playoffs and you can still dream of hoisting a trophy above your head, before whatever reality comes crashing through those double-hung doors.

Because for now, hope still springs eternal, even in the fall.