‘The Boys of Fall’ a great anthem for those who play for all the right reasons

By Doug Halberstadt
Sports Columnist

Spending numerous hours in the car on road trips can often be tedious. I usually bring along some of my favorite music to listen to and scan the radio around the major towns along the way.

I took one of those road trips last weekend. It just so happened this trip coincided with opening night for high school football in almost every town in the Midwest and the South. Both regions of our country where high school football is a major Friday-night tradition.

Almost every single time I would hit the scan button on the radio, one certain song seemed, to keep popping up. It’s called “The Boys of Fall” by country artist Kenny Chesney.

If you are a country music fan, you’ve probably already heard this song. Even if you don’t like country music but have an appreciation for the purity of high school sports, I recommend a listen. This song does a perfect job of capturing the essence of playing “for the love of the game.”

The Boys of Fall

by Kenny Chesney

When I feel that chill, smell that fresh cut grass

I’m back in my helmet, cleats and shoulder pads

Standing in the huddle listening to the call

Fans going crazy for the boys of fall

They didn’t let just anybody in that club

Took every ounce of heart and sweat and blood

To get to wear those game day jerseys down the hall

Kings of the school, man, we’re the boys of fall

(Chorus:) Well it’s turn and face the Stars and Stripes

It’s fighting back them butterflies

It’s call it in the air, all right yes, sir, we want the ball

And it’s knocking heads and talking trash

It’s slinging mud and dirt and grass

It’s I got your number, I got your back when your back’s against the wall

You mess with one man you got us all

The boys of fall

In little towns like mine that’s all they got

Newspaper clippings fill the coffee shops

The old men will always think they know it all

Young girls will dream about the boys of fall

(Chorus:)Well it’s turn and face the Stars and Stripes

It’s fighting back them butterflies

It’s call it in the air, all right yes, sir, we want the ball

And it’s knocking heads and talking trash

It’s slinging mud and dirt and grass

It’s I got your number, I got your back when your back’s against the wall

You mess with one man you got us all.

I’m guessing some high school football teams across the country either already, or will be playing, this song prior to taking the field on Friday nights this season. It’s a great anthem and tribute to thousands of kids that play the game for all the right reasons.

Doug Halberstadt can be reached via e-mail at Dougster61@aol.com.

From the Sept. 1-7, 2010 issue