On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to extend a big 'THANK YOU' to the 2007 Stow Bulldog football team, cheerleaders, band members, Stow Booster Club (which I am a proud member of), the fans/student body, and all of those behind the scenes who made this years 'Friday Night Lights' such a great success!

From the kids on the hills, to the smell of the consessions. From the announcement of 'BAND 30', to the cheerleaders throwing footballs into the stands! From the season opener, to Parents night; its such a special part of our community!

But especially to Coach Tinkler, his staff, and the team, though you were only a few points away from a perfect 10-0 season, you accomplished much more than what you realize! Please read on:

There are hundreds, if not thousands of dads, granddads, brothers, uncles, friends, (the list goes on)... that come to these games week in, and week out, to secretly re-live our playing days from years gone by! From every hit, to every tackle, block, interception and first down you obtain, we see ourselves in your shoes.

There is nothing better than to see some Stow Youth Football members catch a glimps of something special on the field, and it stops them in their tracks! They, too, see themseleves doing what you're doing. It's the hypnotic spell those FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS cast on so many of us!

One day and God willing, many of you will have the same experience that I had with my son at the games this year; such as having your son look up to you and say: 'Hey dad, DID YOU SEE THAT? I'm going to run the ball like #5 just did!'....or...'Daddy, I'm going to throw the ball just like #7 just did; RIGHT HERE! RIGHT ON THIS FIELD one day!'.... 'Daddy, I'm going to make a block like #54 just did!'.... 'Did you see the fumble recovery #90 just made for a touchdown? How many more years until I get to do that daddy?'

The last game of the year, you will remember for the rest of your life! I know it hurts like 'heck' right now, and it will for years to come, but go ahead and clip this article and save it for 20 years; then tell us how you feel! Many of us ol' Veterans of this game never came as close as the 2007 Bulldogs did this season; and the kicker is, we never will! But through you, it was the closest we ever did, and for that, WE THANK YOU!

The Bulldogs should feel very proud, as you made all of us very proud of your season! From the music selection for pre-game warm ups, to the unity you showed before and after each game, WIN OR LOOSE, with your 'TOGETHER' rail road tie!

Have you ever noticed that there is always an empty feeling to drive by the stadium, or ANY stadium for that matter, once the season has ended and see an unlit stadium on a friday night? But we still stare, we still think, we still imagine and we still remember what it feels like to be in your cleats.

You know what happens once we drive past that un-lit stadium? We go home and look at the calendar and begin the countdown to the next football season, when the FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS burn again, the spell gets re-cast upon us, and we get to do it all over!

GO BULLDOGS, and THANK YOU AGAIN!

Sincerely,
Chip McClintock, my wife Sara and our three children!

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