Greetings Fellow Vikings,

It is Sunday November 2^nd and the Viking Football team faces its most important game of the season this coming Friday against cross town rivals the Martin Warriors. For the seniors it is their Senior Night; their last regular season game and their last game at Cravens.

One of the many things that makes football such a special game is that it cannot be easily replicated. Sure you can toss the ball around the yard or even scrounge up a Thanksgiving game of tackle with your buddies. But that is not the same as stepping into your team uniform; under the lights and playing real football with 80 or so guys you will never forget and be coached by a living legend. I remember walking off the field against Cornell University on a snowy November day in 1976 as if it were yesterday; the last time I played football. It is something you never forget. I just pray that these Vikes get to delay that moment for six more weeks after Friday!

If you were at the 300^th win celebration game you had a live glimpse at the power the game of football has over player’s even decades later. Over 250 players “came home” to recapture a few moments of their playing years at Lamar High School. Most of them would say that their high school years were the best years of their lives and that being a Viking football player was a highlight of that time. Our current crop of Vikings probably does not realize how much they will miss their teammates, Coaches, practice (yes practice); Pep Rallies; team feeds; bus trips and all of the blood, sweat and tears that go into being a high school football player.

I want to take a moment to thank the many volunteers that have made this a special season for the Vikes. From the spring golf tournament; the televised 300^th win; the great Viking game program; the 300^th win celebration; Spirit Sales; team feeds every week; the list goes on and on. THANKS to each of you for the hours spent making this a memorable season for our boys.

I hope with all my heart that we do what is necessary to beat Martin by enough points to get in the State Playoffs. It will make the season that much sweeter and memorable for them. But win or lose, the 2008 Vikes fought hard all year and carried on the Viking tradition in great fashion and they can take great pride in all they accomplished.  

VFND

GO VIKES!

Jim Poynter

817-394-1590 ext 11