H. G. Bissingers "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, A Dream", traces the rich history of high school football in a small West Texas town, specifically the 1988 Permian Panthers from Odessa, Texas. In Chapter 2 in this particular case, titled "The Watermelon Feed". Bissinger uses real life situations mixed with symbolism, imagery, and tone to show the how the citizens of Odessa put this high school football team on a pedestal. People worship sports teams to extensive levels that can be looked at as a crutch to face life's harsh realities. The citizens of Odessa live vicariously through this football team in order to escape the harsh variables of life thrown at them.

The 1988 Permian Panthers football team was something special; specifically this year due to the State Championship title they earned. Since the 1959 founding of the team, they have never slumped under a .500 winning percentage, and missed out on the playoffs a mere five times. They are five time State Champions, two time National Champions, and six time state finalists. With the amount of success that this team has had in the past, it is fitting for the town to worship them as they do. 1988 is a special year due to the fact that the economic situation is poor; the residents of this town fall back on their team to regain motivation and keep the morale high.

 

In this specific chapter, The Watermelon Feed is a preseason celebration in which the players walk through the cafeteria and are introduced to the fans. "The faithful sat on the little stools of orange and blue.." (Bissiger 317) initiates the chapter and paints the image of these townies looking up to this team almost as if it were a religion. Hundreds of people come to this celebration yearly in order to meet their saviors and obtain a sense of readiness for the upcoming season. With this celebration beginning with a prayer, the religious aspect of the worship of this team is intensified. The players walk through the split center of the isle, which connects to the Crossing of the Red Sea. The players as a whole, can represent Moses who are leading the Isrealites, who represent the residents of Odessa; whereas these residents look to these players to get them through difficult times, represented by the parted water.

Economically, we can see the impact that the team has on the town itself. "The fans clutched in their hands the 1988 Permian football yearbook, published annually by the booster club to help generate funds for the program. It ran 224 pages, had 513 individual advertisements, and raised $20,000." (Bissinger 318) Looking at the revenue raised from a simple yearbook is mind-boggling, considering the amount of time and effort is minimal compared to the amount of dollars raised solely for the football players themselves. Every business in Odessa craved a portion of the yearbook to show support and also to help boost sales. Businesses use this yearbook to their advantage knowing the amount of respect that these residents have for these players along with their companies. The 1988 economy was penurious, and the actions taken by these residents show how the town uses this team as a crutch to stand up while everything is crumbling.

When Perot was appointed to lead the committee on educational reform, he took heavy fire after stating that Permian fans were "football crazy"(Bissinger 320); also commenting about the $5.6 million dollar stadium built in 1982. "The stadium included a sunken artificial-surface field eighteen feet below ground level, a two-story press box with VIP seating for school board members..."(Bissinger 320) With a stadium of this caliber, it is evident that this was excessive for a high school team. It was also apparent that school board members were rewarded with VIP seating for approving any beneficial materialistic objects that will improve the football team. The stadium can represent a safe-haven for the residents of Odessa to escape the harsh realities of life, as well as the economical problems at the given time. People were willing to come together and deposit $5.6 million dollars to create this seemingly "heavenly" football field in a period of economic downfall.

Along with economic support came support from members of the school. "Directly in front of them, dressed in white jerseys and forming a little protective phalanx, were the Pepettes, a select group of senior girls who made up the school spirit squad. The Pepettes supported all teams, but it was the football team they supported most. The number on the white jersey each girl wore corresponded with the player that she had been assigned to for the football season. With that assignment came various time-honored responsibilities."Bissinger (322) These young girls were seemingly forced into playing the role of a servant to the football players to keep them happy. The town supported this, and encouraged it due to the beneficial aspects of it. Today, this could be viewed at as gender equality; as it expands the notion of the masculine football player belittling everyone and everything around him. With the Pepettes responsibilities ranging from making inexpensive signs around school, to making expensive signs each players lawn, this could be considered be taxing on the young girls. One Pepette in particular who is unnamed broke down in tears, due to sleep deprivation while making a sign for a player. Many of these things went unappreciated by the players because they had to focus on football, the glue holding the fragile residents of Odessa together as one.

 

The most dedicated sports fans can argue that Odessa, Texas is a rare breed in relation to high school football support. The reality is that people look to sports as a safe-haven for the harsh realities that we are faced with daily. By leaning on players, the residents give themselves a second chance at the day. Using these players as a clutch raises morale with the score of a goal, a touchdown, a home-run, and titles to the town as one. Embedding into this lifestyle brings a second chance at life simply by watching a team win on television, or loosing your voice in a stadium with a positive and electric atmosphere.

