When the bright lights of a high school stadium or ballfield are turned on for a game, it often means unforgettable memories are about to be made for both the athletes competing and the community members gathered to watch them.
Friday night, though, there was no crunch of pads, no whistles blown, no sounds of bat hitting ball or ball smacking glove, no cheers from the stands as lights shined down on playing fields in the Chattanooga area and beyond. Instead, with the simple flip of a switch, high schools provided a beacon of hope during a dark time.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced campuses around the country to shut down – some for the remainder of the school year – possibly taking away what some might have understandably taken for granted: final spring sports seasons, senior proms, walking the stage for graduation. Many area schools joined a national movement to recognize the class of 2020 by turning on stadium lights Friday night at 8:20 p.m. – that’s 20:20 military time – for 20 minutes, with some incorporating scoreboard displays or other visual elements into the tributes.
The intention is to provide a reminder there are brighter days ahead even during the current crisis.
“This time is really tough on the seniors,” said McCallie football coach Ralph Potter, whose Blue Tornado won the TSSAA Division II-AAA state title last fall. “We want them to know people are thinking about them and praying for us to get back out under the lights as soon as we can.