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.
"Man was not meant to be isolated. We live in community."
According to a report from The Associated Press, the movement that spread via social media with the hashtag #BeTheLight originated in a Texas Panhandle town when Dumas High School principal Brett Beesley came up with the idea and football coach Aaron Dunnam flipped the switch on March 24, the first full week the Lone Star State's schools were closed.
The Texas school turning on the lights each weeknight is meant to encourage all students in the district, not just seniors or athletes. Beesley said an hour of stadium light operation adds $25 to the power bill.
"I didn't think the taxpayer would mind too much if it meant giving our kids some hope," he said.
Athletes are often told to always play their best because they never know when they will be doing so for the last time. For many area athletes, that lesson is being taught in painful fashion, with the GHSA having canceled the remainder of its spring sports seasons and the TSSAA aware it might have to make the same decision.
Potter isn't giving up yet.
"I hope everyone understands not to put high school athletics in the same category as college and the pros. There are ways we can do athletics in high school and keep our crowds down," Potter said. "These kids have a togetherness that was taken away from them and unfinished chapters. I pray there is a way for them to be back around their classmates, teachers and coaches once again."
On a hill above East Hamilton's football field, students watched as the night sky grew darker with the towering lights shining down on an empty stadium. Although football season is still four months away, even that could be affected unless the coronavirus threat decreases.
Parents, coaches, teachers and other authority figures are doing their best to provide an optimistic look at the current situation.
"Sporting events have brought our community together and will continue to," East Hamilton football coach Grant Reynolds said. "Every day we are encouraging our kids to stay positive and control what they can. Be The Light is positive for our community and all schools. It shows people we want to help change things. We want to show that things can be and will be better. We are all in this together."
Notre Dame football coach Charles Fant has found some upside to the down time.
"Sports really means a lot to so many people," Fant said. "But sometimes until something gets taken away, you don't realize how important some other things are. Over the last month I have connected with my family so much more. We ordered a bunch of board games from Target and are learning how to play them all. We have gone on walks we had never done before and are trying to take the most out of this situation."
When the games, the crowds and the noise eventually return to stadiums, the sense of community might be even stronger. Until then, the lights shining above are intended to show no one is in the dark alone.
"Sometimes we don't really appreciate what we've got until we lose it," Soddy-Daisy principal and wrestling legend Steve Henry said. "We miss sports and seeing those kids enjoy their time out there. We wanted to show them our respect and give them this tribute."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.