Community Behind the Team

This year Midland Dow had another great football season. We know all about that, but how did the community rally behind the team. Local fan and alumni of the school, Nick Aldrich had some input on how the season went and how the community rallied behind the team.

Q: How do you think the team did in terms of giving back to the community?
A: Well, the team did all they could for the community. Midland is a town with two high schools, so it is important to give back to the community. Dow wants more fans than Midland High and they can achieve that by giving back to those fans.

Q: When you went to the school, what was the expectations of the football team on-the-field and off?
A: As a senior at Midland Dow two years ago, the football team carried themselves with a certain sense of pride. On-the-field they acted like no one could beat them. I knew some of the guys on the team and they would always tell stories about there pregame rituals. "It is all about being confident," they would tell me. Off-the-field, the team acted like they were on top of the world. The football team is usually the team that all students rally around and our team knew this. So, they made sure to be humble and stay within themselves.

Q: Have you noticed any difference between the team from two years ago to the team now?
A: Not really, I feel like the traditions of the past have been passed down from year to year. So, for the team to change that much would be very strange. Plus, I haven't had the chance to be around this team as much as I was my senior year.

Q: During the season, did the community seem to travel with the team?
A: I believe that friends and family of the team traveled very well throughout the season. I know I made it to a couple away games, but that was just because they were those close away games.

Q: How was the support from the community at the home games?
A: What else is there to do on a Friday night in a high school football town? Go to the football game. The community shows a lot of support at the home games. Family, friends, and the community all show there support when our team is under the lights.

Q: At every game there are sponsors that show up to show their support for the team. How well do you think the companies around the community showed their support for the team?
A: That is tough to say. I know that certain companies are always there to show support, like the local car dealership, Garber Chevrolet. But other companies come and go. The players used to get pizza after the game from Little Caesars, but I am not sure if they do that anymore.

Q: Did Homecoming make the community rally more around the team?
A: Homecoming is always a great time of the football year. Midland has a lot of people to draw from, and a lot of alumni. Homecoming offers them a chance to come back and relive the glory days, so to speak. I saw a lot of former players from my senior year at Homecoming this year. It was really a great thing to see.

Q: I know there is a little bit of an in-town rivalry in Midland. When Midland High plays Dow, how does the community act?
A: Well, it is nothing like the Michigan vs. Michigan State game, but there is still a lot at stake. It is pretty cool to see the two schools kind of come together to cheer on the teams. We all know that some people want a certain team to win, but the Midland community knows that it is just all good fun.