[Crowds cheering for sport. Credit to Pixabay]

The annual high school football season kicks off with excitement as players across the nation prepare for another thrilling year.

As the summer fades into fall, the largest athletic event of the year begins: Friday night football.

This season, powerhouse teams like Vandegrift, Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, and Stony Point return to the field, poised to vanquish their opponents just as they did last season, while other schools battle to protect their reputations.

Yet, what truly sets these Friday night games apart is that while the players bring the game, it’s the fans who bring the energy.

“Friday night lights’” is the term used by students in the student section to raise the vibes and draw attention to their side of the stadium.

Every week, students rally around a different theme - whether it’s camo, elderly, Barbie, or animals - expressing their school spirit through their attire and physical appearance, all while cheering for their home team.

Some students even go crazy and take off their shirts and put paint on them, usually mottos for their school or mascot colors written vividly on their naked torsos.

The tradition of the student section dates back as early as 1869, during the first-ever American Football game.

Over the years, it has earned its place as the most invigorating part of the game, injecting energy with loud cheers and coordinated movements.

Clearly, it’s the most visible and noticeable part of the audience section during sports games.

Throughout the game, the student section performs a number of different group actions, from using props to performing dances, gestures, and chants.

Some of these traditions are passed down over generations, while others are completely spontaneous.

The purpose is both: to energize the home team and crowd and to frustrate the visiting team.

Often, the student section’s hype is enough to give fuel and the motivation needed to the football players playing on the field, and can make the difference between victory and defeat.

Some of the most well-known Texas football teams like Allen High school, The Woodlands High school, Coppell High school, and Westlake High school boast the most dynamic student sections, often filled with hundreds of students packed row to row.

This may suggest a correlation between larger, more spirited student sections and higher win rates for high school and college teams.

The student section follows one simple rule: “Be loud, or go sit with your mom.”

This tradition, passed down year after year, emphasizes that anyone in the stands must bring the energy, or give up their spot to someone who will.

Friday night lights are about more than just the game; they build school spirit, unify students, and deepen the connection between fans and the football team.

Although it's not the main event, the student section can prove to be just as important as the game itself, continuing a tradition that has captured the hearts of high school and college students for generations.