WPCNR PRESS BOX. By The Pigskin Bard. September 4, 2004: White Plains High School plays Saunders in Yonkers this afternoon at 1:30 P.M. in a battle of two young ball clubs on the rise. In honor of the opening kickoff, the Pigskin Bard has created this ode to the Opening Kickoff:

MIKE LANE KICKS OFF THE TIGER FOOTBALL SEASON SATURDAY AFTERNOON. Photo by WPCNR Sports

Tiger Kickoff

By The Pigskin Bard.

The black jerseys mill, brawny lads jumping in giddy anticipation, collide and test

In slanting golden sun rays bouncing off flaring black gladiator helmets.

Stalwart imposing men in baseball caps, clipboards and playsheets clutched to chest,

Implore, slap hands with each player bumping gauntlets.

Gathering on the vast, testing striped green with the hallowed high goals

At either end, the squads of both elites eye each other sizing up

Their test to come. Tigers of generations past spirits fill their souls

Each Tiger about to play takes up the honor of their predecessors' wordup.

As the teams deploy, each young boy feels the rush of blood,

The filling of his soul from Tigers of the past giving lift to their step and drive to their block

As earnest instructions and camaraderie is instilled they don their orange hood

Step to the line as the striped arbiters of Armegeddon align to judge the play till no seconds are on the clock.

A whistle, the diverse colored lines merge in mayhem

As the obelisk leather object sails to fleet receiver.

Gathering it in, he runs like the wind navigating, twisting between them

Fighting clawing, following interference, deking, dodging, a deft deceiver.

It is the First Down of another season, as Tiger Football begins

Imploring parents in stands, worried for safety of their stalwart cubs,

Demanding that extra inch, that little-bit-higher-reach of all their new legions,

As each Tiger feels their first hit, the feel of soft grass, the challenge of the collision.

Tall, rangy, surveying the line on the season’s first play, the new Tiger Leader

Looks over the dee as his wired line poises to charge.

Yes, this is where they want to be in the tumult in the fray climbing the ladder

To higher ground fighting through the bruises and hurt to triumphantly emerge…

The feel of the hard snap in his hands, the back coming to take the hand

The tackle pulling and clearing a hole. The breach in the line so grand

The daylight and alluring green stripes ahead light up the runner’s eye

Feeling his spikes dig into turf, cutting digging gearing up his body for a last stand.

Stronger, tougher, swifter, faster, reaching inside for effort on each play

Each year’s Tigers create their own patina of spiritual armor

By their heart and poise and effort they will commemorate the day

Remembering and creating a new the White Plains Tiger way – their way.