All three of you screwed up!
In this case, I am referring to the city of Bothell, Northshore School District, and Bothell High School.
It has now been more than a month since the Cougars won the 4A State Football Championship and, unless I missed it (which I know I didn’t), there was no public recognition of their place in the history of the city of Bothell.
For the first time, the “Blue Train” won a football championship and no bothell celebration was held. This city, that school, has waited generations to call themselves ‘Number One in the State’ in that sport and all three pretty much let it go unnoticed. This isn’t a yearly occurrence, to the state title, like Skyline and Bellevue (3A) have had over the last decade or so, but their first championship.
This should have been their plan one or two Saturdays after that Dec. 6 game in the Tacoma Dome:
• Block off Main Street, along with some of the side roads, for an hour or so.
• Use the same route as the city does for the two plus hour Fourth of July parades.
• Start at the Post office, the Cougar Band leads the way.
• Behind them, a banner that reads “2014 4A State Football Champion – Bothell Cougars” being held by the Mayor, Superintendent, and the Principle.
• Next in line: Coach Tom and his staff. The captains and their teammates follow. Past the Ranch, and a left hand turn into Pop Keeney Stadium, with another banner at the entrance proclaiming something like “Bothell is so very proud of everyone of you!”
This, no doubt, would probably be the final time all of these young adults would be together on their home turf. A nice touch indeed.
After thirty minutes or so, [when] everyone gets seated in the older part of Pop Keeney, each one of Coach Tom’s Assistants and all their players get recognized over the PA system.
Keep this one thought in mind: For some of these men, and a young lady, this might be the most important moment of their life. Some may never get married, have children, or travel. Their football ‘careers’ will go no farther than this level. But, on this day, like their school, they are at the very top of the hill, looking down upon their city as number one in the State of Washington.
I believe that every member of that team, starter and non-starter alike, would remember this year and this day, if it had been thoughtfully planned out correctly.
To give the Mayor and the City Council just a ‘little credit’, on Jan. 8, he did read a proclamation in the school’s gym. I was in attendance. At that time, I thought, “That’s it, that’s all?” for what they accomplished. Long hours, year after year commitment, pain, injuries and the like. For all of that, and more, they get a letter read to them. Surely, Mr. Mayor, Superintendent, and Principal, you could have – should have – done a lot more. Shame on you!
To end this letter, as I began it: All three of you screwed up!
Michael Groves, Kenmore
