The thrill is back

It is heartening to see high school fall sports return, and the fans and food right along with it.

In a glaringly obvious case of you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone, it looks like supporters of teenage student-athletes understand the value of applauding in person now that fans are welcomed back.

Once limited to paltry numbers due to the pandemic, football stands were fuller than they had been since 2019.

You remember 2019, right? People shook hands, physically commuted to work and “zoom” mostly referred to traveling quickly.

I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Coaches and players, as much as they say they block out crowd noise when concentrating, loved getting the atmosphere back.

“Having the fans, the teammates, having your parents and family – it’s awesome. It’s a great experience,” Port Washington wide receiver and defensive back Patrick Lippe said.

Grafton coach Jim Norris said his visiting-side stands were more packed than those of Milwaukee Lutheran.

“Our fan base travels really well,” he said.

Not masking up was another pleasure, especially on a muggy evening, and not just for the players.

“Talking to the refs throughout the game — they were happy to be back and not wearing masks,” Norris said.

Cedar Grove-Belgium coach Dan Schreurs said his home crowd was “a lot louder than the crickets we heard last year.”

Ozaukee coach Cole Large said students and alumni turned out in Fredonia.

“They supported us really well. It was good to good to see the energy in the stands,” he said.

I’m guessing booster clubs who rely on concession stand profits are also bristling with bliss after a year of feeling like a stock broker in late 1987.

If they start selling industrial-sized mosquito repellent, their teams will be able to afford new uniforms next year. In every sport. And for the band.

While not every team achieved that proverbial thrill of victory, nobody felt the agony of defeat quite as regrettably as that poor skier from the 1970s’ opening of ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” who may very well have enjoyed the privileges of handicapped parking for a while.

For you millennials, this is a YouTube teachable moment.

Port Washington held Cedarburg to zero completed passes, but struggled just a smidge in run defense to the tune of 400-plus yards, as you have just read on page A7.

But the Pirates weren’t without a few highlights. While twice carrying the ball for solid gains, quarterback Nate Uselding lowered his shoulder and flattened a couple of Bulldogs. It wasn’t entirely reminiscent of Houston Oilers’ running back Earl Campbell (millennials — YouTube again), but one was pancaked so bad he could have been served with maple syrup. (I understand the stuff from the Fredonia and Farmington area is pretty tasty.)

Uselding appreciated the “oohs” from the sizeable fan base that made the 10-mile trip.

“I like it, hearing the crowd,” Uselding said.

Linebacker J.D. Brahm had another highlight. After coming out of the game in the third quarter and putting a big bag of ice on his neck — ouch — he re-entered and made a slick diving stab on a Bulldog back for a one-yard loss on third and four.

I do miss one thing about last year.

Pandemic parking.

It was fantastic.

I could arrive a few minutes before a game and still snag a prime or second-tier spot.

I gratefully swap it, however, for stacked stands, and will slog my way through seemingly acres of automobiles.

Let’s keep the fan support going.