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High School Football a Thanksgiving Day Tradition

By
Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty

I grew up in Watertown, Massachusetts as a kid. We lived there from when I was in kindergarten until I went to 7th grade. Growing up I always played sandlot football and idolized YA Tittle and the NY Giants. The then Boston Patriots had not yet arrived as a force as they are now. 

Watertown HS LogoOne thing I always remember is that I had uncles and cousins that played high school football for Watertown and we used to go and watch them play every Saturday during the fall season. I can still smell the fallen piled up raked leaves burning on the side of the street. Oh how I loved that smell. 

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving it always makes me think of those Thanksgiving days where our whole family with aunts, uncles and cousins would head down to Victory Field and watch Watertown play Belmont in the annual Thanksgiving day rivalry. These games were the best games of the year as you were playing your arch rivals.

Ashland HS logoAs I grew up and went to High School I went to Ashland High in Ashland Mass. and our arch rivals were the Hopkinton Hillers and we were the Ashland Clockers, mighty mighty Clockers. Yes, I typed it correctly, Ashland Clockers as that is where the first electric clock was made. Also, Hopkinton is where they start the Boston Marathon. The four years I lived in Ashland I would go and watch the runners pass by on route 135 in Ashland.

So, Thanksgiving day football rivalries have really become a staple in Massachusetts and I also know High School Football is real big in Texas, but, what I don't know is Thanksgiving day football big in your town and state?

 

***UPDATE *** Thanksgiving Day

Watertown lost to Belmont 20-12 at Watertown *** Watertown ends their season with a 2-8 record.

Ashland defeated Hopkinton 34-26 at Hopkinton *** Ashland ends their season with a 7-4 record.  

Linda Scanlan
A Fan of AR - Burleson, TX
Jay, what can I say??? They even made a silly TV show about it here in Texas.
Nov 21, 2007 01:00 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Jay here in Middletown the big rivalry is between Middletown High School and Xavier High School and they will be playing tomorrow.  That game will probably draw close to 5000 people.

Nov 21, 2007 01:09 PM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

Linda...My guy is such a sports nut.

 Someday George, you and Jay need to be in the same room watching sports! I bet that would be fun to watch.

Nov 21, 2007 01:19 PM
Linda Scanlan
A Fan of AR - Burleson, TX

I love sports, too, but here in Texas it's almost at the mania level. They even get football players out of jail on Friday night so they can play ball and then send them back! I'm serious!

My brothers used to play and I LOVED going to the games. Sometimes they're more fun than college ball.

Nov 21, 2007 01:21 PM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
LOL..OMG I can imagine it.
Nov 21, 2007 01:27 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert
Monika that room would rock!!!!!
Nov 21, 2007 01:32 PM
Jay McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Exeter, NH
Real Estate Broker

Linda I saw that movie and I really enjoyed it. I know Football is BIG TIME in the BIG D. Never heard of the jailbirds. LOL

George, we would have a good time. Someday if I can get Sox tickets for Fenway I'd have ya up and it would be awesome if it were a Yankees game.  

Nov 21, 2007 01:49 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
I love football, but our high school games are over. But, hey we get to watch the Lions every Thanksgiving Day.
Nov 21, 2007 02:11 PM
Ray Saenz
Exit Realty Laredo - Laredo, TX
Homes for Sale in Laredo, TX - Texas, Realtor

Jay,

Have a happy thanks giving, I just wanted to say hello and I look your blogs, take care ! :P

Ray Saenz

 

Nov 21, 2007 02:16 PM
Monika McGillicuddy
Prudential Verani Realty - Atkinson, NH
NH Real Estate Broker
OMG George and Jay together at a Sox/Yankee game. That would be the Nuts!
Nov 21, 2007 02:29 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Jay & Monika that would be awesome.

Nov 21, 2007 02:37 PM
Danny Thornton
R & D Art - Knoxville, TN
WordPress Guru
Jay, I can remember growing up and Turkey Week would be about football. Our bowl would end with the final games on Saturday.
Nov 21, 2007 03:41 PM
Debbie Malone
Londeree's Real Estate & Property Management - Lynchburg, VA
From Lynchburg To The Lake (434) 546-0369
Jay, I went to Shawsheen Tech in Billerica, Mass and I loved our Thanksgiving Day football games. Froze our A**es off, but loved the tradition! Happy Thanksgiving!
Nov 21, 2007 03:52 PM
Jay McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Exeter, NH
Real Estate Broker

Hi Missy, we get to watch the Lions too every Thanksgiving. Too bad they lost today.

Hi Ray, thanks and Happy Turkey day to you and your family.

Danny must be a New England tradition.

Debbie, I to remember freezing my buns off too. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. 

Nov 22, 2007 11:22 AM
Monika McGillicuddy
Prudential Verani Realty - Atkinson, NH
NH Real Estate Broker
What a day..all that food, good company and of course football!
Nov 22, 2007 12:11 PM
Aziz Abdur-Raoof
RE/MAX Rewards - Columbia, MD
Howard Co. Real Estate Scoop
Jay -- there are some local rivalries that play in this area too on Turkey day.  They even get tv coverage.
Nov 22, 2007 04:51 PM
Judy Tuscano
Prudential Verani Realty - Nottingham, NH
NH Real Estate Professional
For me it was the Golden Tornadoes of Malden vs the Mustangs of Medford in the Thanksgiving Day Classic. I rooted for our Malden team every year remember it fondly.
Nov 23, 2007 02:25 PM
Jay McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Exeter, NH
Real Estate Broker

Aziz, TV coverage is great I am sure the kids love it.

Judy, Malden and Medford's rivalry is virtually tied I am not sure who won this year. Medford leads the 100+ year rivalry 55-54-2. So if Malden won this year then they woud be deadlocked. Amazing.....

Nov 24, 2007 01:10 AM
Judy Tuscano
Prudential Verani Realty - Nottingham, NH
NH Real Estate Professional
Thanks for the stats Jay, AS a teen in High School I remember that the rivalry was always close seesawing back and forth for the lead in wins. I didn't hear from anyoone in Malden since the classic so I'm not sure who won.
Nov 24, 2007 08:06 AM