JumboTron has come to high school football.The story was written by Bob Sakomoto, the Trib's high school vootball guru, and it probably was far and away the biggest game of the night. I guess the football parents wanted to match the hype with atmosphere.
What's next? Skybox suites?
In what's believed to be the first time in Illinois high school football, Libertyville set up a 40-by-25-foot screen in the corner of the end zone for replays and crowd shots.
"This is the same screen that was put up in [the city] last year for the White Sox [World Series] celebration," athletic director Tim Albers said.
"It was paid for by all the merchants and companies in town. There were so many who wanted to advertise on it that we had to turn some of them down."
And when Libertyville quarterback Ryan Kennedy took off on a game-clinching, 47-yard touchdown run, heading right toward the big screen, did he take a glance?
"No, I didn't even think about it," Kennedy said with a laugh after leading No. 5 Libertyville to a 21-12 victory over No. 17 Stevenson on Friday night before a Johnson Sports Complex standing-room crowd estimated at 6,500.
"But," he admitted, "I did take a look after I scored on the other [10-yard] run.
"This is just amazing, and it didn't seem like a normal high school football game. Our parents and teachers—everyone—they do so much for us.
"And look at these fans. They're the best."
Kennedy gave them something to remember. He finished with 227 yards of total offense and accounted for all three scores for the Wildcats (7-0, 4-0 North Suburban Lake).
The adult part of me, the part that shook my head at VHHS' Rust-Oleum Field, thinks the JumboTron may have been a bit over the top. But the part of me that can't fathom how awesome it would have been to be Marching Wildcat last night thinks a giant screen at LHS is pretty freakin' cool. I hope to find some pictures soon.
Read the rest of Sakamoto's story here.
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