18 Years Ago this week.

[LakeCtyNewt]

Today is certainly a tough day for many reasons. But one moment in my 22 years of covering HS football that I won’t ever forget came after 9/11.

I went to Bishop Mac to cover their game vs. COM.

It seemed like a normal night, pregame was the same all that chatter etc.

Then prior to kick, both teams instead of running into the field walked onto the field in a very quiet and orderly fashion.

The stadium was packed by you could hear a pin drop. Both teams lined up at their respective 45 yard lines.

What was just a few seconds seemed like an hour - but no one cared. And let me tell you, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.

The announcer read the Lord’s Prayer and it was the loudest I had ever heard it.

Then both teams met at the 50. It wasn’t a hand shake, it was genuine compassion.

Somehow those kids and coaches played that night. And if not for just a few hours, it took some of the pain away from the events of earlier in the week.

I interviewed Coach Z after the game. He was candid as always and said this. “this was far more than a football game tonight.” “No one lost here today. There was genuine raw emotion and amazing respect for each other.”

I remember many of the games I covered for this or that reason. This game I won’t ever forget.

May we all never forget.

 

[Bowie50]

Today is certainly a tough day for many reasons. But one moment in my 22 years of covering HS football that I won’t ever forget came after 9/11.

I went to Bishop Mac to cover their game vs. COM.

It seemed like a normal night, pregame was the same all that chatter etc.

Then prior to kick, both teams instead of running into the field walked onto the field in a very quiet and orderly fashion.

The stadium was packed by you could hear a pin drop. Both teams lined up at their respective 45 yard lines.

What was just a few seconds seemed like an hour - but no one cared. And let me tell you, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.

The announcer read the Lord’s Prayer and it was the loudest I had ever heard it.

Then both teams met at the 50. It wasn’t a hand shake, it was genuine compassion.

Somehow those kids and coaches played that night. And if not for just a few hours, it took some of the pain away from the events of earlier in the week.

I interviewed Coach Z after the game. He was candid as always and said this. “this was far more than a football game tonight.” “No one lost here today. There was genuine raw emotion and amazing respect for each other.”

I remember many of the games I covered for this or that reason. This game I won’t ever forget.

May we all never forget.

Great story. You are a good writer, Newt. Thank you for sharing.

 

[LakeCtyNewt]

Great story. You are a good writer, Newt. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks Bowie. I know as a writer you have to keep your emotions in check. On this night that just wasn’t possible.

 

[Oddy]

My son played in that game, I was there.

 

[woody6]

It is not too late to fly the American colors at your home today, if you have forgotten.

 

[go dogz]

Today is certainly a tough day for many reasons. But one moment in my 22 years of covering HS football that I won’t ever forget came after 9/11.

I went to Bishop Mac to cover their game vs. COM.

It seemed like a normal night, pregame was the same all that chatter etc.

Then prior to kick, both teams instead of running into the field walked onto the field in a very quiet and orderly fashion.

The stadium was packed by you could hear a pin drop. Both teams lined up at their respective 45 yard lines.

What was just a few seconds seemed like an hour - but no one cared. And let me tell you, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.

The announcer read the Lord’s Prayer and it was the loudest I had ever heard it.

Then both teams met at the 50. It wasn’t a hand shake, it was genuine compassion.

Somehow those kids and coaches played that night. And if not for just a few hours, it took some of the pain away from the events of earlier in the week.

I interviewed Coach Z after the game. He was candid as always and said this. “this was far more than a football game tonight.” “No one lost here today. There was genuine raw emotion and amazing respect for each other.”

I remember many of the games I covered for this or that reason. This game I won’t ever forget.

May we all never forget.

what I remember most. is the fact that week, the skies were silent(that day especially) and the remainder of the week only aircraft you heard in the skies were the fighter aircraft(jets high in the skies and helicopters) and NO flights around the city. city was on high alert still in no fly zone around the sears tower and john hancock building. and the exchanges were on high alert. and the somber feeling in the pit of your stomach. cant remember if they cancelled our olor games and I remember everything would have been like the first games as we started the weekend after labor day, they had the weigh -ins the weekend prior. weird. but remember the dogz game v oakforest, took my boys to the game and watch them wreck of like 35-0. they were on a terror that year. till they got spanked by pc 40-0 in final. damn long time ago, was that still back in the sica days.

 

[Anon1754760634]

I was working my first job (yes besides this little website) downtown for a little company called JP Morgan Chase and I was involved with the CBOT and the Merc...I was part of a conference call earlier that morning with a colleague from a company called Cantor Fitzgerald...anyways in the middle of the call someone on the other end of the phone say's "something is going on in the building and the fire alarms are going off...we need to go but as soon as we get back can we pick up this call?"

Sure no problem.

Half hour later turns out they worked in one of the towers...and all the reports on the TV was about a airliner/plane hitting the building...and later that morning they all perished. Suddenly all of the markets in NY closed and so did the Chicago markets. Downtown Chicago at 10:30AM felt more like 4:30PM rush since just about everyone closed up shop. Fortunately I drove in that day..yet I remember thousands stranded because of a limited amount of trains..I texted Scott Slocum and told him how strange and errie downtown was and he put me live on the air. Very strange feeling no planes in the sky and everyone needless to say was a bit on edge. We hard a lot of rumors that the Sears Tower was one of the targets and I was working directly across the street in the AT&T center.

Came back home picked up my kids at school and watched the coverage for hours just stunned.

I also remember how proud I was for IHSA football that Friday night...and talked at length about how IHSA football is a community event all over the state and how we all needed to reconnect as a community after that fateful day. In some way high school Friday Night football I feel played a role in trying to get us back to some sort of normal. And I think anyone at, playing or working at those first games felt the sheer emotion of the night and how everyone pretty much felt the same way.

 

[McCaravan]

I always remember that High School was the only show in town that weekend with NCAA and NFL canceling their games. I went to Br. Rice to watch them play Mount Carmel....as a Veteran I had high emotions that week...I saw all the flags, all the patriotism, our neighborhood bonding together, the two Catholic League Rivals hand in hand for the prayer....and then they played football and everyone was happy....I watched my Caravan win, but the QB for Rice gave a gutsy performance, his name was Chris Pazan....I was working a shooting case this summer and was taking down the Officers names and one of them said “Chris Pazan” sure enough it was him...didn’t say anything to him about the game but of the hundreds of high school games I’ve watched, that’s one I won’t forget, not because it was that great of a game, but because it made a lot of people smile and happy for a couple hours that Friday night.

 

[LakeCtyNewt]

I always remember that High School was the only show in town that weekend with NCAA and NFL canceling their games. I went to Br. Rice to watch them play Mount Carmel....as a Veteran I had high emotions that week...I saw all the flags, all the patriotism, our neighborhood bonding together, the two Catholic League Rivals hand in hand for the prayer....and then they played football and everyone was happy....I watched my Caravan win, but the QB for Rice gave a gutsy performance, his name was Chris Pazan....I was working a shooting case this summer and was taking down the Officers names and one of them said “Chris Pazan” sure enough it was him...didn’t say anything to him about the game but of the hundreds of high school games I’ve watched, that’s one I won’t forget, not because it was that great of a game, but because it made a lot of people smile and happy for a couple hours that Friday night.

Great stuff. I can’t imagine behind a vet at that time and the next old amount of emotions that would go with it.

 

[Nape]

I was working my first job (yes besides this little website) downtown for a little company called JP Morgan Chase and I was involved with the CBOT and the Merc...I was part of a conference call earlier that morning with a colleague from a company called Cantor Fitzgerald...anyways in the middle of the call someone on the other end of the phone say's "something is going on in the building and the fire alarms are going off...we need to go but as soon as we get back can we pick up this call?"

Sure no problem.

Half hour later turns out they worked in one of the towers...and all the reports on the TV was about a airliner/plane hitting the building...and later that morning they all perished. Suddenly all of the markets in NY closed and so did the Chicago markets. Downtown Chicago at 10:30AM felt more like 4:30PM rush since just about everyone closed up shop. Fortunately I drove in that day..yet I remember thousands stranded because of a limited amount of trains..I texted Scott Slocum and told him how strange and errie downtown was and he put me live on the air. Very strange feeling no planes in the sky and everyone needless to say was a bit on edge. We hard a lot of rumors that the Sears Tower was one of the targets and I was working directly across the street in the AT&T center.

Came back home picked up my kids at school and watched the coverage for hours just stunned.

I also remember how proud I was for IHSA football that Friday night...and talked at length about how IHSA football is a community event all over the state and how we all needed to reconnect as a community after that fateful day. In some way high school Friday Night football I feel played a role in trying to get us back to some sort of normal. And I think anyone at, playing or working at those first games felt the sheer emotion of the night and how everyone pretty much felt the same way.

I had a similar experience, Edgy.

I was a trader at the CME but that morning I was over at the CBOE doing some work with a new trading system. We were on the 30th floor early before I had to get over to the CME. We saw CNBC show the first plane had hit and the SP500 futs has dropped a little bit rebounded. Then the second plane hit. Futs went nuts as did everyone in our trading room. Our windows faced S and everyone was freaking out because of that southern exposure. We went down the stairs and made a bee line for Union Station. It was sorta scary as we all heard that planes were heading to the Sears Tower. We had to go right by it.

I called my partner, who was working at home in Oak Park. He said he would come down and pick me up right by Lou Mitchell’s. We scrambled over there and around Union Station, which was massive mayhem.

While I was waiting at Lou’s for my ride we heard the South Tower fell. The feeling we all had was shock, fear, and wanting to get home to our families.

While I didn’t personally know anyone who perished that day I came to learn that many people who I knew had friends there. I also had pals in the interest rate complex at the CME and CBOT who were financially ruined by the moves that day. More than one couldn’t handle that and ended things on their terms. It’s a day and experience that will be with me until the day I die.

 

[Corey90]

Today is certainly a tough day for many reasons. But one moment in my 22 years of covering HS football that I won’t ever forget came after 9/11.

I went to Bishop Mac to cover their game vs. COM.

It seemed like a normal night, pregame was the same all that chatter etc.

Then prior to kick, both teams instead of running into the field walked onto the field in a very quiet and orderly fashion.

The stadium was packed by you could hear a pin drop. Both teams lined up at their respective 45 yard lines.

What was just a few seconds seemed like an hour - but no one cared. And let me tell you, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.

The announcer read the Lord’s Prayer and it was the loudest I had ever heard it.

Then both teams met at the 50. It wasn’t a hand shake, it was genuine compassion.

Somehow those kids and coaches played that night. And if not for just a few hours, it took some of the pain away from the events of earlier in the week.

I interviewed Coach Z after the game. He was candid as always and said this. “this was far more than a football game tonight.” “No one lost here today. There was genuine raw emotion and amazing respect for each other.”

I remember many of the games I covered for this or that reason. This game I won’t ever forget.

May we all never forget.

Great story Newt.
I think the entire country was in shock that day. To this day it is still hard to believe what happened. This is a day I don’t think any true American will ever forget 9/11.

 

[eireog]

I was heading over the bridge on Addison headed east between California and Western. High school football fans will recognize that bridge as the DMZ between Gordon and Lane. It was a beautiful morning, the kind of morning that you drive along with the windows down and the tunes playing. Somewhere on that bridge I heard on the Loop or whatever station I was listening to that a plane hit one of the twin towers. I’m not sure if it was my own speculation or something I heard on the radio but my minds eye pictured a small Cessna hitting one of the towers. I didn’t pay much attention and scanned the dial for music in place of news.

I got to my job site and between news that I heard on the radio and what my crew was talking about , I realized things were worse than I pictured. My crew went to work as we always do. I’ve worked construction my entire adult life. We don’t sit around talking all day. We start working at the moment we are on the clock and only stop for breaks or lunch. That day was no different until reports started coming in that this thing was way beyond anything we could have imagined hours earlier. At some point the foreman said that we were done for the day.

I was working at Irving and Damen. There’s a firehouse at Damen and Grace less than 2 blocks from where I was working. I knew guys working that house and walked over to see if I could hear and see more of what was now a major news event. What happened in that firehouse is something I’ll never forget.

First I called my brother and brother in law. Both of them travelled regularly between Chicago and New York, this is before the day of cell phones. I called them from a pay phone across from the firehouse. After calling them and their spouses and knowing they weren’t in New York I focused on the TV coverage of what was happening in NYC. As I sat in that firehouse with a group of fireman on duty , the first tower fell. I didn’t realize what was happening on that screen. A fireman said “we just lost a ton of firefighters”. It actually took me a while to figure it out. When I did figure it out I never felt worse for a group of people than I did at that moment. God Bless all those that lost lives and loves that day. I for one will never forget.

 

[go dogz]

I was heading over the bridge on Addison headed east between California and Western. High school football fans will recognize that bridge as the DMZ between Gordon and Lane. It was a beautiful morning, the kind of morning that you drive along with the windows down and the tunes playing. Somewhere on that bridge I heard on the Loop or whatever station I was listening to that a plane hit one of the twin towers. I’m not sure if it was my own speculation or something I heard on the radio but my minds eye pictured a small Cessna hitting one of the towers. I didn’t pay much attention and scanned the dial for music in place of news.

I got to my job site and between news that I heard on the radio and what my crew was talking about , I realized things were worse than I pictured. My crew went to work as we always do. I’ve worked construction my entire adult life. We don’t sit around talking all day. We start working at the moment we are on the clock and only stop for breaks or lunch. That day was no different until reports started coming in that this thing was way beyond anything we could have imagined hours earlier. At some point the foreman said that we were done for the day.

I was working at Irving and Damen. There’s a firehouse at Damen and Grace less than 2 blocks from where I was working. I knew guys working that house and walked over to see if I could hear and see more of what was now a major news event. What happened in that firehouse is something I’ll never forget.

First I called my brother and brother in law. Both of them travelled regularly between Chicago and New York, this is before the day of cell phones. I called them from a pay phone across from the firehouse. After calling them and their spouses and knowing they weren’t in New York I focused on the TV coverage of what was happening in NYC. As I sat in that firehouse with a group of fireman on duty , the first tower fell. I didn’t realize what was happening on that screen. A fireman said “we just lost a ton of firefighters”. It actually took me a while to figure it out. When I did figure it out I never felt worse for a group of people than I did at that moment. God Bless all those that lost lives and loves that day. I for one will never forget.

we lost a lot of good hearted americans that day. and it is sickening to watch and listen to these socialist, wanting to take god, country and family away from all of us.
and the gall of these socialist candidates last nite is truly heartbreaking.
and still not 1 American flag hanging during any of these debates.
Elizabeth Warren says that it's best not to use the military against terrorists Warren suggests that they just need jobs. These comments come one day after the 9/11 anniversary; thousands of Americans were murdered by Islamic terrorists.

the men and women in the armed forces and first responders around this great nation are second to none. always willing to put their lives on the line for complete strangers. the true Americans in this country are all willing to help a brother out when in need. that is what so great about this country, you love god, you love country, and you love your neighbor. amen.

 

[Blue Ruin]

I am reading a new book: "The Last Plane in the Sky," by Garrett Graff. It's an oral history--a minute-by-minute account of the events of that day by those who were there, both those who survived and those who didn't. It is immediate, gut-wrenching, and completely absorbing. It is as sad and beautiful as a firefighter's funeral.

 

[ESCC fan]

we lost a lot of good hearted americans that day. and it is sickening to watch and listen to these socialist, wanting to take god, country and family away from all of us.
and the gall of these socialist candidates last nite is truly heartbreaking.
and still not 1 American flag hanging during any of these debates.
Elizabeth Warren says that it's best not to use the military against terrorists Warren suggests that they just need jobs. These comments come one day after the 9/11 anniversary; thousands of Americans were murdered by Islamic terrorists.

the men and women in the armed forces and first responders around this great nation are second to none. always willing to put their lives on the line for complete strangers. the true Americans in this country are all willing to help a brother out when in need. that is what so great about this country, you love god, you love country, and you love your neighbor. amen.

Let's not ruin a nice post with this BS.