Opelika Observer Staff Editorial - 8/5: Band members should be worthy of 'athlete' status, too

When discussing the front page of our sports section this week, our editorial staff kicked around a number of stories we could possibly feature.

Football previews.

Dixie Youth wrap-ups.

A look at some upcoming Rec League sports.

“Why not the marching band?” someone asked.

Why not, indeed?

With daily practices and band camps in the same heat that their football-playing fellow students suffer through, the almost 200 members of the Spirit of the South Marching Band show the same sort of drive and determination that we expect and cultivate in Opelika’s more traditional athletes.

There are complex and varying marching sets to be learned, as young section leaders try to maneuver younger band members to their exact spot, a spot that must be hit time and time again perfectly – not unlike receivers running their plays repeatedly.

Tackles and pileups may not happen much in the band world, but Opelika’s band members do their fair share of heavy-duty exercise.

Go and strap a tuba on for a few hours in this hot August heat, marching around and playing some of the songs.

Even lighter instruments like flutes and clarinets have to hold their arms and instruments at perfect angles, requiring good arm strength to extend their arms for indefinite lengths of time.

You won’t doubt the athleticism of these young people after walking a mile in their clean, white Bando shoes.

Auxilliary members, the girls in the majorette line, flag corps and kickline, learn complicated dance routines and tricks, not unlike similar work done by Opelika’s cheerleaders.

And, lest we forget, all of this marching, twirling, and kicking is done while playing music kept in perfect time, music these kids work hard to memorize over the course of their summer and school year.

We generally come to Bulldog Stadium each Friday to see the football game, overlooking the contributions and hard work these kids make in order to find our way to the concession stand or bathroom for a much-needed break.

We should show more respect for these young people than that.

We should take pride our town boasts one of the most successful high school bands in the state of Alabama, a band that has twice represented us in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, as well as a host of other honors.

Director Jason Smith and all of his assistants continue to hold dear the standards and qualities of excellence that have come to make the Spirit of the South a name to be reckoned with in Alabama.

Students, keep up the excellent work you seem to be doing and continue to make us proud.

Community, let’s be sure to give these kids the support and encouragement they need.

Rather than leave during halftime this fall, take time to listen, watch and appreciate our band’s halftime show.

And, when the kicker note comes in the show’s closer, follow the lead of band parents and former band students around you and give those students the standing ovation you’d give a touchdown pass or a great interception.

They are athletes, too, and that moment, brief though it may be, is their time to shine.