Friday Night Lights are back!
But instead of football players on the field, teachers will line the school’s parking lot and instead of fans in the stands, community members will be allowed to cheer from their cars.
Oakwood High School is joining a national movement to provide hope to its community while residents are ordered to stay at home as COVID-19 uncertainty continues to loom.
Oakwood’s Friday Night Lights, which will run from 8 to 9 p.m. on Fridays until the end of the school year, was organized by Athletic Director John Odle and Football Coach Al Craig.
“Our Principal, Mr. (Tim) Lee said it best. ‘We hope to shine a light on our community,’” Odle said.
“The school in a small community is a beacon for the future of the community. We want to honor all our students and specifically the Spring Sports athletes and the Seniors who are preparing to graduate.
“OHS wants to show that our school spirit and culture is still alive and well during these difficult times. We hope that this event lifts the spirits of our students who are working hard to finish the year strong and provide hope to our community that have been staying home to fight this virus.”
Cars will enter the west entrance and drive behind the school by the football field and out the east end of the school parking lot. No stopping or getting out of cars will be allowed.
Although the evening is forecasted to be chilly, teachers will be positioned at the football field, six-feet apart with masks and gloves, honoring the social distancing rules, while they hold signs showing school spirit. Some senior banners will be hung on the fence and the Oakwood Ambulance will be parked by the football field with their lights going to welcome the students driving through.
“We will have the scoreboard on with 2020 for the time and the score showing the number of students – 307,” Odle said. “Also, the play clock will be stopped at 20.”
Odle said as long as everyone follows the rules and everyone involved is safe, the event will be held every Friday night.
“We will not have an event that puts our students, teachers, and community at risk,” Odle said.
Craig said the event is a way for the community to remember that the Comets community is all in this together.
“I started it last week as a way to reach out to everyone,” he said. “I wanted it to be a light or a glimmer of hope that we will all get through this together. Friday night is a way for the students to see their teachers and to go to a place of comfort and normalcy to get away from the craziness in the world right now.”
