Category Archives: History

JOHNSTOWN Locals can receive a history lesson with a touch of Halloween fright this weekend at the annual Johnstown Haunted History Walking Tour.

Presented by the Johnstown Historical Society, the tours will commence at 5:30 p.m. on Oct.14 at the Johnstown Colonial Cemetery, with tour groups leaving every half hour before the final group departs at 8:00 p.m.

The guided, 90-minute tour will take attendees on a walking tour from the cemetery through the citys downtown region while making a stopover at James Burks Inn for refreshments.

The tour, which costs $10 per person, will take participants through the citys mystery-steeped historical locations.

More: All News |Everything Johnstown

We did it once before the pandemic and we did it last year, Johnstown City Historian Noel Levee said of the tour. It does have a bit of a Halloween theme to it. It talks about some of the freaky murders and deaths.

The tour serves as a fundraising event for the historical society.

It usually has a fairly good turnout, but so far we havent received a count (of participants), Levee said. Its an interesting tour and people like going onto it. Its a little bit of a walk and there are a couple of hills, but its a good event.

Each group will consist of 10-15 attendees, with the historical organization noting that, with the tour requiring attendees to walk long distances up and down hills, the event is not suitable for young children. Older children are welcome to participate in the haunted tour.

Its a large block that we walk around and theres guides that tell the story about each incident and give a little bit of history, Levee said. We walk by the old jail and some of the historic buildings and give a little rough history of them.

Registration is required for the Friday night haunted tour, either online at or by calling the Johnstown Historical Society at (518) 762-2777.

Continued here:

Johnstown Historical Society to host haunted history walking tour - The Gloversville Leader Herald - Gloversville Leader-Herald

If you asked a college football fan at random to rattle off some of the best rivalries in the sport, its likely that Florida-LSU would sit fairly low on the list.

Though the two schools have played annually since 1971 and have been each others cross-division rival since the league added divisions in 1992, this rivalry didnt really reach its stride until the 21st Century and largely played second-fiddle behind more prestigious conference rivalries for both schools.

Now, this is one of the most competitive rivalries in all of college football. Florida leads the all-time series of 68 meetings by just one game, and LSU will look to even things up in the Swamp on Saturday night as it goes for its fourth straight win in the rivalry.

But if recent history has taught us anything, its that this game is sure to be pure chaos. Heres a rundown of the insane results from the last few years of this matchup

The Tigers entered last years contest at 3-3 with what was perceived as a lame-duck coach in Ed Orgeron after the team had lost two straight. But they earned a huge ranked win against a Gators team that would spiral after this one.

Max Johnson got the better of Anthony Richardson in a barnburner, LSU forced four turnovers and running back Ty Davis-Price had a career game, going for 287 yards and three touchdowns as UFs defense was absolutely gashed.

Florida went on to drop four of its final six games and fired coach Dan Mullen.

This game needs no introduction for fans of either school. In one of the craziest games in an already crazy series, LSU pulled off a massive upset against a top-10 Florida team on the road in the midst of a rough year in the final game of the regular season, putting quite a damper on the Gators playoff hopes.

With the game tied at 34 in the fog in Gainesville, Florida got a crucial stop on third and 10. But cornerback Marco Wilson picked up a loose Tigers cleat and tossed it, resulting in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down. LSU went down the field, and Cade York kicked what would ultimately prove to be the game-winner from 57 yards with 23 seconds to play.

This game was much better than the final score indicates. In a compelling quarterback dual between Joe Burrow and Kyle Trask, LSU emerged victorious in the battle between undefeated teams. The two quarterbacks combined for more than 600 yards and six touchdowns, but an interception in the end zone late on what could have been a game-tying drive made the difference.

This is the last time the Gators got the better of LSU in this series. Playing a second-straight game in Gainesville due to Hurricane Matthew, Burrows first and only trip to the Swamp didnt go as planned.

Mullen earned a signature win over a top-five team in his first season, and the final score ended up looking more lopsided thanks to a pick-six for Brad Stewart at the end one of two picks Burrow threw in this game.

LSU had a rough start to Orgerons first full season in 2017. It entered this one at 3-2 with losses to Mississippi State and Troy. But the Tigers managed to get their revenge for a heartbreaking loss in Baton Rouge the prior year, taking down Florida 17-16 in the Swamp.

The Gators played from behind most of the game and had to overcome a 17-3 second-half deficit. They scored what could have been the game-tying touchdown with fewer than two minutes to play, but kicker Eddy Pineiro missed the extra point, sealing Floridas fate.

This game kickstarted the end of the Jim McElwain era, as it began a five-game losing streak of which he was fired in the midst.

This game had to be moved to the end of the season and from Gainesville to Baton Rouge due to Hurricane Matthew, which ultimately resulted in a tenser rivalry over the last few years than usual. With the SEC East on the line, the Gators won a battle in Death Valley.

It took a 98-yard touchdown pass to Tyrie Cleveland and a pair of huge goal-line stands, but Florida survived in what remains its last win at Tiger Stadium.

Read more from the original source:

LSU vs. Florida: The wild recent history of the rivalry - LSU Wire

Tuesday, Oct 11, 2022 Linsey Retcofsky : Contact

Sampson Dewey, president of UTA's Native American Student Association

The University of Texas at Arlington celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day with the dedication of a monument and a Native American Land Acknowledgment courtyard designed by students.

Members and past presidents of UTAs Native American Student Association unveiled a bronze plaque resting on a two-ton granite boulder in the newly designated courtyard. The plaque reads:

UT Arlington respectfully acknowledges the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes upon whose historical homelands this university is located. Their ancestors resided here for generations before being forcibly displaced by U.S. settlers and soldiers in the mid-1800s. We recognize the historical presence of the Caddo Nation and other Tribal Nations in the region; the ongoing presence and achievements of many people who moved to the area due to the Indian Relocation program of the 1950s and 1960s; and the vital presence and accomplishments of our Native students, alumni, faculty, and staff. This Roundhouse Planetarium and Commemorative Site are dedicated to the first people on this land to look up at the stars and to those who continue their legacy.

Les D. Riding-In, assistant dean and director of graduate programs for the College of Liberal Arts and faculty advisor to the Native American Student Association, thanked the UTA community for its advocacy for Native and Indigenous students.

We are lucky to be here at UT Arlington; it is truly a special place, Riding-In said. Our Native and Indigenous pathways at UTA lead to the highway, a highway where there are few obstructions and multiple opportunities.

The commemorative boulder stands near the west entrance of the courtyard, which includes a fountain, seating area and garden.

David Hopman, landscape architect and associate professor in the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs, led a cohort of students through the design process for the courtyard. To prepare, he and his students studied literature on Native American uses of plants and indigenous placemaking, visited the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City and met with members of nations from Texas and Oklahoma.

Plants featured in the garden are native to North Texas and were historically used by the regions nations for practical and ceremonial uses. The switch grass that lines the path near the planetarium wall was used as roofing material for summer and winter shelters. Other featured plants were used for medicine and food, Hopman said.

UTA President Jennifer Cowley congratulated UTAs Native American community members and supporters whose efforts brought the landmark to fruition.

We honor the Wichita and Caddo and other Native nations who inhabited this land in Arlington for generations, Cowley said. I hope that this space will bring people together and create a connection for them to the important history of this land.

In a brief speech, Jim Ross, mayor of the city of Arlington, declared Oct. 10 Indigenous Peoples Day.

In todays world there is a lot of divisiveness, but this event gives me hope, Ross said. The young adults and students at UTA understand that we are stronger together than apart. They know that diversity is not a hurdle to overcome; its our strength.

UTAs support of the Native American community has earned recognition nationally. For five years in a row, UTA has been listed among the nations best universities for Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students by Winds of Change, a publication that evaluates and ranks the top universities with strong Native American communities and academic support systems in place for student success.

In addition, UTAs Native American Student Association is the longest continuously running native student group in Texas and supports Native American interests with its annual scholarship benefit powwows.

Stephen Silva Brave, vice president of the Native American Student Association, said the landmark raises the visibility of the Native American community on campus.

I dont feel invisible here at UTA, Brave said. Now theres a spot on campus that everyone knows about. We have our spot and thats important.

Read the original post:

UTA honors local Native American history - News Center - The University of Texas at Arlington - uta.edu

When the Penguins take the ice tonight at PPG Paints Arena, the trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang will join an exclusive list when it comes to longevity with teammates in American sports history.

For the three Pens players, it will be their 17th season as teammates.

This feat has only been achieved one other time among NHL, MLB, NFL, or NBA players which occurred from 1995 to 2011 when Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Jorge Posada were with the New York Yankees.

The Penguins core three first played together in 2006 and now are entering their 17th year as teammates and friends.

During their time with the team, they won the Stanley Cup three times (2009, 2016, 2017) and achieved a number of individual feats including scoring titles, MVP awards, playoff MVP awards, all-star games, and much more.

Crosby, Malkin, and Letang have collectively contributed the following to the Penguins organization:

Its safe to say that the trio of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang have already made Penguins history and will continue to do so over the next several years.

Read the rest here:

Crosby, Malkin, and Letang to join exclusive list in sports history with 17th season together - PensBurgh

REVERE From roller coasters to sand castles, Revere Beach has a storied history of entertaining people from all over Massachusetts and around the world.

Despite all the efforts from Mother Nature, it's very hard to hold the Crescent Beach down.

"It's incredible. I mean it's so lively reading about the history of this area and all the amusements, the crowds that gathered here," Visitors Services supervisor Matthew Nash said.

In 1896, it was made official. Revere Beach became the first public beach in the United States. Its popularity and nicknames always made the headlines

"The matchless Mystic City by the Sea, the Beach with the Million Lights because they had arches with lights, Mecca for Millions," Nash said.

Back in the early 1900s the growth of the beach was the idea of architect Charles Eliot

"So I want you to know about Charles Eliot, his vision for the area, to bring people here. To bring people out of the cities to enjoy this beautiful natural landscape," Nash said.

And over 100 years ago, that natural landscape was booming from Point of Pines to Eliot Square. It was 4.5 miles of amusement rides, ballroom dancing, food and fun.

The murals at the beach tell the story. And at the time, wearing your best clothes was the way people went to the beach.

"People from all different economic backgrounds would dress up to come to the beach and that continued until the 1960s. Imagine that, think of the 60s and people were here in formal attire."

Maybe the most famous attractions were the roller coasters. There were a number of them with the Cyclone grabbing all the bragging rights. A funhouse was where people went to get scared.

"There's the Bluebeards Palace, it was this spooky funhouse," Nash said. "You went through the dark, these characters came out and popped out at you. There was this dizzying room where the ceilings slanted and the walls slanted."

The popularity of the beach declined through the 50s and the Blizzard of '78 destroyed many of the structures and the sea wall.

But in the 1990s, a revival happened.

"And there's been a resurgence in fine dining restaurants with the new apartments that have come in," Nash said.

The events on Revere Beach have also brought people back to the Playground of New England.

"This year was the 18th year for the sand sculpting festival and on the weekend, it draws a crowd of a million people, they estimate. Then we have bocce games and movie nights on the beach," Nash said.

Levan Reid is a reporter for WBZ This Morning. He is also a veteran sports reporter for WBZ-TV.

Read more here:

It Happens Here: The storied history of Revere Beach - CBS Boston

If you've ever wondered how Illinois State University decided its colors would be red and white, you're not alone.

ISU archivist April Anderson-Zorn has been asked that question numerous times, given her position as a sort of university historian, but she said it wasn't until this year that she was able to provide an answer.

"There's no golden document that says, 'We are red and white because of that,'" she told WGLT in an interview. "That just doesn't exist; there needed to be time for research. This homecoming gave me the perfect excuse to sit down and do it."

If you want the answer, Anderson-Zorn says you'll have to attend the virtual presentation she's giving on the topic alongside former ISU administrator and self-described "history geek" Barb Dallinger. (They'll discuss the topic during their free Zoom presentation called "Retrospective of the Red" on Wednesday at 6 p.m.)

Both Anderson-Zorn and Dallinger declined to share too many details so as to avoid spoilers, but Dallinger did say she felt quite the reaction when she learned the answer to the question.

"It was an 'aha!' moment," Dallinger said. "It was like, "Well, yeah!"

Dallinger and Anderson-Zorn have partnered up to share ISU history during homecoming week for the past five years, their enthusiasm for the 165-year-old institution's binding them together. Dallinger said prior to her retirement, she did her master's project on ISU history.

"When April came, she reached out to me and said, 'I hear you're the local history geek,' and I said 'yep,'" Dallinger said. "And then we struck up a dog-and-pony show that's been going ever since."

Added Anderson-Zorn: "It's not homecoming unless Barb and I can get together and do our shtick and talk about ISU history."

See the original post:

ISU history enthusiasts team up for a panel on the university's school colors - WGLT

A quick look at how the center has been used since it was erected in 1915

The building housing the Waldron Arts Center was erected in 1915 for use as City Hall, then housed the police department from 1965 to 1985. In the late 1980s, the Bloomington Area Arts Council renovated the building to operate as a community arts center. A major financial gift from Cecile Waldron in honor of John Waldron helped secure the funding needed for a renovation that added a performance auditorium on the third floor, an art gallery, concession area, offices and gift shop on the second floor and a small theater, gallery space and classrooms on the first floor.

In 1994, local community radio station WFHB moved into the firehouse at 108 W. Fourth St., which is connected to the center. The radio station continues to offer local commentary, news and music from that location.

Becoming one:Celebration launches Bloomington's merged theatrical group, Constellation Stage and Screen

In 2010, Ivy Tech Community College took over ownership of the center and more changes were made to the performance and gallery areas. Arts education programs were added to the center's events. In 2020, Ivy Tech closed the center and transferred ownership back to the city of Bloomington.

On July 1, Constellation Stage & Screen began operations, combining the efforts of Bloomington Playwrights Project, Cardinal Stage and Pigasus Institute into one entity. First access to the Waldron for renovations began was given by city officials at the end of July.

Read the original:

History of the Waldron Arts Center in Bloomington - The Herald-Times

Cypress trees, some dead and some living, stand in Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Fargo, Ga. Proulx writes about the swamps of Okefenokee in her book. Stephen B. Morton/AP hide caption

Cypress trees, some dead and some living, stand in Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Fargo, Ga. Proulx writes about the swamps of Okefenokee in her book.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx may be best known for her works of fiction, titles like The Shipping News and Brokeback Mountain.

But the 87-year-old author's newest book, Fen, Bog & Swamp: A Short History of Peatland Destruction and Its Role in the Climate Crisis, is a love letter to ecosystems that are rapidly disappearing America's wetlands.

"Before the last wetlands disappear I wanted to know about this world we are losing," Proulx writes. "What was a world of fens, bogs and swamps and what meaning did these peatlands have, not only for humans but for all other life on Earth?"

In a conversation with Morning Edition's Leila Fadel, Proulx answers this question, describing the role of wetlands in preserving the environment and storing the carbon emissions that accelerate climate change.

But, Proulx says, this book is no call to arms. It is more a lesson in observation. Proulx wants her readers to understand better the world they live in and how to take care of it.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

On what drew her to the subject of wetlands

It began when I found that I could not concentrate on writing fiction, which is what I am usually writing. I was too concerned with what was happening to the natural world, and I felt I knew very little about wetlands. The way I learn about something is to write about it. So I began reading and taking notes and scribbling, asking questions and after a while, I had something that looked like an essay and I sent it to my agent not particularly expecting it to be published, but I thought it might have a place somewhere. To my surprise, she suggested that it could be a book.

On what she learned in her research on fens, bogs and swamps

We tend to tag everything in the natural world in terms of what use it is to humans. And I was curious to know how it fits in with the great scheme of life, how it belonged to other parts of the world, how land and water and creatures and weather and climate change were all knit together. So that was the thing. I wasn't looking for benefits to humans as an explanation of anything. I was looking for how these guys work with each other. But also, I was very curious about human responses to these wetlands. So that took me into the history. And that, of course, was the fun part. Poking around with the people of the fen, the battle in the bogs and the various swamps in North America that were drained and made into productive soil.

Annie Proulx's new book about wetlands started out as an essay. Scribner hide caption

Annie Proulx's new book about wetlands started out as an essay.

On the history of peatland destruction

The peatlands have never been regarded as something that's a necessary part of life, but as an obstruction, something that's in the way. The ideal, of course, is agriculture. For most people, it wasn't a measure of any kind of utility to talk about a peat-producing wetland as helpful. So it was really a change of attitude more than anything else that I stumbled on. It's really hard to read about this sort of thing because people insist on thinking of the natural world only in terms of utility to humanity. We don't see ourselves as part of this system, but as lords and rulers of the natural world.

The tiny buds of the pipewort plant is a common sight in the spring along a wilderness water trail in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Stephen B. Morton/AP hide caption

The tiny buds of the pipewort plant is a common sight in the spring along a wilderness water trail in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

On the vital purpose of wetlands

The problem with destroying the fens, bogs and swamps is they are holding in carbon dioxide and methane gas. And the more we rip them up, the more carbon dioxide and methane comes floating into the atmosphere and the faster the Earth will be warming. But that doesn't occur to us, to consider that a real problem, except for ecologists and those deeply concerned about the climate crisis.

On the exploitation of fens, bogs and swamps

We still do look at swamplands, bogs and fens as candidates for drainage. And I think there will forever be people who want to drain wetlands. They don't see how they could be useful. But there is a place for wetlands. Many gardeners buy bales of peat that have been dug up, dried and packaged, because it enriches their garden soil. Peat has the extraordinary ability to hold many times its weight in water. So it's a grand thing to put out in your garden.

On whether her book is a call to action

No, it isn't a call to action, but it's been mistaken as such. It is, simply, what it was for me:

That is, to know what the difference is between fen, bog and swamp. To be able to go into a wetland and look around at it and say, "Aha, I know this is a swamp, it's full of trees. Or, this is a bog, full of quaking sphagnum moss." It's more didactic than a call to arms. That's just not my thing.

This interview was conducted by Leila Fadel, produced by Julie Depenbrock and edited by Simone Popperl.

Read more:

Annie Proulx's new book is a history of wetland destruction - NPR

Along the way, Abrams was considered as a potential running mate for Biden and became a highly sought-after public speaker and author worth more than $3 million who now has investments in technology and a solar startup.

But she has also kept her eye on the governorship since her last run for office. It was soon clear to me that the work still needed to be done and that the direction that Gov. (Brian) Kemp was taking the state in was not consistent with what I believe the state needs, Abrams said.

If Abrams prevails in her race against Kemp, she will make history as the first Black governor of Georgia and the first Black woman to serve as governor of any state.

But she faces significant challenges to gain enough support among voters, who have put Republicans in the Governors Mansion since 2003 and given the GOP a strong majority in the state Legislature.

Providing Georgians with the information they need to participate fully in democracy is our highest goal. AJC reporters strive for fairness and accuracy. They do not support political parties and are not allowed to endorse, contribute to or campaign for candidates or political causes.

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Even if Abrams were to win the race for governor, the likely Republican majorities in Georgias House and Senate mean it could be difficult for her to accomplish some of her key campaign promises including expanding Medicaid.

Know that what I say Im going to do, Im going to do, Abrams said at a recent campaign event.

Thats easier said than done, according to University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock.

It will be a challenging situation where she will have to negotiate every step of the way, Bullock said.

Thats not entirely unfamiliar territory for Abrams.

As a legislator she had the reputation of being able to work in a bipartisan fashion, Bullock said. Both Republicans and Democrats would say she was probably the smartest person over there ... (and) would come to her and ask her to explain complex legislation.

But for those who see Abrams as a hero of the left and would expect her to deliver on Democratic priorities such as expanding Medicaid and repealing Georgias restrictive abortion law and permitless gun rights statute as she has vowed, the political realities could bring disappointment.

Shes not going to have a majority in the House, shes not going to have a majority in the Senate, and its not going to happen, said Fran Millar, a Republican from Dunwoody who left the state Legislature in 2019.

Expanding Medicaid and repealing the abortion and gun laws are just not in tune with where we are in the state, Millar said, adding thats why he also think Abrams wont win against Kemp.

State Rep. Chuck Efstration, R-Dacula, said Abrams is attempting to divert attention away from what voters really care about, and that is the harmful economic impact of the Biden administrations failed economic policies, and I expect that those are the issues that the Legislature is going to focus on.

Abrams also wants to legalize sports betting and casino gambling to expand HOPE scholarships. She has pledged to use Georgias $6.6 billion budget surplus to fund some of her key initiatives, including raises for teachers and law enforcement officers and a $1 billion tax refund to many Georgians. But some key elements of her platform would require cooperation from the Legislature.

When asked about the likelihood of an expansion of Medicaid if Abrams is elected governor, state Rep. Carolyn Hugley, a Columbus Democrat who was Abrams top deputy in the House, said: I would never underestimate Stacey Abrams. ... I think there is a possibility it will happen.

Stacey Abrams has proven that she can fight. And when she becomes governor she will have to prove she can lead and she can govern, Hugley said. Those are two different things.

Abrams, for her part, said she is absolutely certain she can expand Medicaid, adding that most legislators want to get more people on the public health plan. And she has aimed to channel frustration over the states anti-abortion restrictions and permissive gun policies into votes.

But Abrams noted that her first priorities will be making certain we are taking care of the fundamental issues in Georgia, including education, jobs and affordable housing.

It wouldnt be the first time a Georgia governor has dealt with a divided government. Early in Republican Sonny Perdues first term as governor starting in 2003, Democrats had the majority in the Georgia House. But in Perdues time, Republicans held the majority in the Senate and some Georgia Democrats in office were conservatives, Bullock said.

Today, for Abrams, liberal Republicans dont exist, Bullock said. If she were elected governor, Republicans could work to obstruct her.

Abrams also would face the challenge of gaining the trust of legislators across the aisle after Fair Fight spent the past four years suing Georgias Republican leadership and accusing Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger of voter suppression and unconstitutional election policies.

In her 2018 campaign for governor, Abrams lost to Kemp with 49% of the vote and delivered an election night speech in which she did not concede a move that has dogged her during this years campaign as critics compare her to election deniers who say Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election.

In the wake of Kemps win, Fair Fight called for a federal judge to overturn state laws, alleging that statutes resulted in purged registrations, canceled ballots and other obstacles to voting. On Sept. 30, a federal judge ruled against Fair Fight in the remaining parts of its voting rights lawsuit.

After the judges decision, Kemp tweeted that Abrams had used this lawsuit to line her pockets, sow distrust in our democratic institutions, and build her own celebrity.

Its no surprise that Abrams has been derided by Republicans. But Abrams also has some detractors in her own party.

As minority leader, she sometimes made decisions that actually angered the progressive wing of the Georgia General Assembly, Emory University political scientist Andra Gillespie said. I dont think shes the type of person that would let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Abrams says she once took a tea party leader out to lunch, for example, to discuss environmental legislation and its impact on property values. And she partnered with Republican state Rep. Tommy Benton who called the Ku Klux Klan not so much a racist thing but a vigilante thing to keep law and order to advocate for kinship child care.

Kendra King Momon, associate provost and professor of politics at Oglethrope University, said, Inevitably in this role shes going to disappoint some Democrats, at the national level and among voters.

Because at some point, in order to pass some of this legislation perhaps some of the more controversial hot topic legislation she may have to concede a bit from what she proposed in order to get Republican support, Momon said.

Age: 48

Born: Madison, Wisconsin, before moving to Gulfport, Mississippi, as a child

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The AJC is committed to ensuring that Georgians are fully educated about the candidates for governor and others who seek public office. It is critical that voters know where each candidate stands on important issues, what moneyed interests might influence them and whether the candidates have behaved ethically. Todays focus is on Democrat Stacey Abrams.

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Stacey Abrams aims for history with second run for governor - The Atlanta Journal Constitution

By J. Mike Blake, HighSchoolOT Contributor

Mint Hill, N.C. Even from the opposite end zone, I could feel the shockwave of Independence High School's cannon in my chest. The Patriots had just scored and, as is tradition, the JROTC "cannon keepers" filled the Spanish-American War relic with newspaper and gunpowder.

The blast catches visitors like me off-guard, but for second-year head coach Darryl McFadden, it's a welcome and familiar sound.

He remembers games when the cannon seemed to go off every couple of minutes the cannon keepers could barely keep pace with "Big I" scoring.

I assume all visitors to Independence's football stadium do exactly what I did when I first walked in last Friday look around to see where the Patriots list their historic run of N.C. High School Athletic Association championships. And there they were: seven in a row (2000-2006), with a state record 109 straight wins, displayed proudly on the press box.

There are venues where the school's once-proud tradition is so far removed from present-day that it taunts as much as it haunts. But not here. The stands were lively for homecoming against Providence. The Patriots are off to a 6-1 start, already a lock for its best season since 2015. No ghostsof yesteryear whispering from the treetops.

McFadden was the quarterback of Independence's last two championship teams (2005 and 2006), the final two of those seven. The Big I tradition remains for his players, but the pressure does not.

"When we were here playing with The Streak, that is pressure-filled because you don't want to be the class to lose it," McFadden said. "Half of (my players) don't even know anything about The Streak besides what they see on the press box. We really want them to just focus on building their own legacy and leaving their own mark here."

The impact of the Patriots' run went beyond the Mint Hill school and into the rest of Mecklenburg County. In a classic rising-tides-lift-all-boats example, county schools went from 1980-1999 with just two state titles to 21 from 2000-2021 (14 if you exclude Charlotte Catholic's seven).

It's not that Independence football fell off a cliff, just that other teams from the area eclipsed it on a statewide level. Although it has had six double-digit winning seasons after the title run ended, it's also had nine that didn't meet the mark five of them netted five or fewer wins.

Throughout that time, McFadden bounced around the area as an assistant coach. Always a proud alumnus, he gained experience and insight from his previous stops (including as an assistant at Independence) and was ready when his turn came.

He's struck a balance of not overdoing the nostalgia while returning the program to foundational principles that had made it the envy of every program in the state.

"It means a lot to me. I care about Independence, I always have," McFadden said. "It's a little more gratifying when you're back at your high school where you graduated and the practice field where you practiced, in the halls, and on the game field that you played on, to be in this position that we're in."

If Butler defeats Charlotte Catholic this week, then there's a chance for Independence to go into the last week of the season against Butler its old rival and the school it first handed its Mecklenburg powerhouse baton to for a share of the league crown. It would be the Patriots' first since 2015.

It would be fitting if the game got moved to Memorial Stadium in uptown, the same location where so many of those historic matchups took place because of the smaller seating capacity at both schools.

But it would also be fitting if it were held at Independence, where the cannon could ring out the echoes of a tradition that's been restored.

"Mint Hill has been waiting for Independence to get back," McFadden said. "They show up and they're loud. ... They got kind of tired on waiting for us and now that we're back on the right track, they're super excited for us."

See original here:

Steeped in history but free from its pressure, Independence's 'Big I' brand of football returns - HighSchoolOT