It’s been a year of visiting stadiums to see either the Blackcats or Tigers face opponents in the UIL Texas Football Championship playoffs.
Generally most stadiums – at least in regular season – are easy to get press access.
I still call it press pass since that’s what it was called when I was a rookie newspaper reporter covering sports.
As Bay City and Tidehaven progressed in the playoffs this year, things got a little more complicated when the teams played at the larger 5A and 6A stadiums.
Iowa Colony’s Freedom Stadium was the real test this year.
As MaLinda and I approached the gate there, we explained we were the press.
By the latter stages of the playoffs, most stadiums require advance notice for admission.
We went through that for Freedom and the Athletic Director was more than helpful when we talked on the phone before the Tidehaven-East Bernard game Friday night.
When we cover any game we stress the need for a field pass rather than the press box – again from an earlier time.
As we entered and said we were with the media, one of the security people had to favor us with an insult.
You know, kind of like Congressmen at chamber luncheons here.
Anyway, MaLinda explained we cover the games for our readers.
Well, we got in and surveyed the field.
We were told we could only photograph from the end zone – all of that mind you – and up the 25-yard lines on the sidelines.
That’s not too distant from what’s expected everywhere, but inside the 25 was a little different, since a lot of action happens in the 25 to 25 zone on a football field.
MaLinda and I split up and went to opposite ends of the field.
Weather conditions Friday night were a little difficult, but standing in the low 60s with some wind tends to grow more challenging.
So at halftime, MaLinda and I decide to head to the Jeep and grab a heavier jacket for me.
Before we left for the parking lot, one employee asked if we were returning and we said we were.
Well, another lady told us that they would check our breath for alcohol.
That wasn’t something either of us ever did in the respective high schools and eras we were from.
Still, I have to remind myself that nothing compares to Beeville where I was escorted from the field from covering the game in 2024.
Blackcat Head Coach Robert Jones saw to it that I had a sideline pass made to cover Bay City on the road.
Some things turn out all right.
