By Earl Vaughan Jr.
I know there are a lot of people who aren’t big fans of Facebook these days, but one feature I regularly enjoy is the daily memories it shares with me.
At some point, a notification will pop up on my timeline telling me I’ve got random memories with an assortment of people and places from previous years of postings.
This week, as we continue to deal with the challenges of COVID-19, I was struck by some the reminders that the Facebook algorithms and formulas chose for me.
Last year on my page, Gray’s Creek athletic director Troy Lindsey was encouraging students to sign up for a chartered bus to the Bears’ state football playoff game at Wilmington New Hanover. The host Wildcats won, 47-21, and the Bears are still waiting for a chance to play again because of the pandemic.
On the Friday Night Lights Facebook page, there was the iconic image that showed Odessa Permian teammates Mike Winchell, Brian Chavez and Ivory Christian walking onto the field holding hands. The caption read, “Today, we’re giving thanks for the game.”
Moving on, I found a picture of the 1983 4-A NCHSAA football playoff bracket on a post from 2015, noting that until that year, it had been the final time a Terry Sanford football team made it to the Thanksgiving week of the state playoffs.
All high school football folks know playing on Thanksgiving week has long been a clear indicator you’ve had a great season.
My memories ended with a bit of humor I shared with my followers, repeating an old Thanksgiving joke, that if you can’t be thankful for anything else during this season, be thankful you aren’t a turkey.
As we continue to deal with the challenges of this pandemic, I’m reminded of a lot of things I’m thankful for in this season of the year.
I’m thankful I’m reunited with former co-workers Tony Chavonne, Kim Hasty, Bill Kirby Jr. and John Jones as I get to tell the stories of high school athletes and their coaches in my new role with CityView magazine.
I’m thankful for teachers and coaches like my friend Joe Grates at Cape Fear, who took a moment on Twitter recently to share this meaningful post.
“Today I put the brakes on schoolwork and took the time to ask my students how they were doing and if they were okay,’’ he wrote. “They’re struggling to cope with school, work, care for siblings, anxiety, depression, helplessness and chaos. They NEED our compassion.’’
I’m thankful for athletes in swimming, cross country and volleyball, who are currently dealing with an assortment of COVID-19 protocols as they finally get to return to competition.
I’m thankful for all the other athletes, largely at area private schools, that met the challenge and competed in fall sports and are getting ready to move into the winter season.
I am both thankful for and continue to pray for the huge number of athletes and coaches who missed their season in the fall and are still waiting for the chance to resume competition.
I ask you to be as optimistic as you can, to keep observing all the COVID-19 restrictions, as difficult as they may be to deal with, as we all fight to beat this deadly disease and get back to normal as quickly as possible.
Let’s hope this time next year, the virus will be a Facebook memory that we have long ago chosen to forget.
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
VOLLEYBALL
Dec. 1
Westover at E.E. Smith
Gray’s Creek at Terry Sanford
South View at Pine Forest
Douglas Byrd at Cape Fear
Jack Britt at Hoke County
Seventy-First at Purnell Swett
Dec. 3
Cape Fear at Westover
Overhills at Gray’s Creek
E.E. Smith at South View
Pinecrest at Jack Britt
Richmond Senior at Seventy-First
CROSS COUNTRY
Nov. 30
Pinecrest, Scotland, Hoke County, Seventy-First at Southern Pines Elk’s Lodge
Richmond Senior, Lumberton, Purnell Swett, Jack Britt at Richmond Senior
BASKETBALL
Nov. 27
BOYS
New Life Christian at Freedom Christian
Nov. 28
BOYS
Grace Christian at Freedom Christian
Nov. 30
BOYS
Northwood Temple at Berean Baptist
GIRLS
Northwood Temple at Berean Baptist
Dec. 1
BOYS
HA Prep Academy at Freedom Christian
Thomas Academy at Village Christian
Trinity Christian at Mount Zion Christian
GIRLS
Trinity Christian at Mount Zion Christian
Dec. 2
BOYS
Fayetteville Academy at Rocky Mount Academy
GIRLS
Fayetteville Academy at Rocky Mount Academy
Dec. 3
BOYS
Northwood Temple at Trinity Academy
Raleigh Home School at Trinity Christian
GIRLS
Northwood Temple at Trinity Academy
Fayetteville Christian at Scotland Christian
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS
BASKETBALL
Nov. 20
BOYS
Cannon 89, Freedom Christian 59
New Life Christian 70, Village Christian 52
GIRLS
Village Christian 53, New Life Christian 14
Nov. 21
BOYS
Carmel Christian 93, Northwood Temple 61
Concord Academy 72, Trinity Christian 48
Nov. 21
BOYS
Victory Christian 61, Northwood 59
GIRLS
Trinity Christian 62, Davidson Day 59
Nov. 23
BOYS
Faith Christian 67, Fayetteville Academy 38
Nov. 24
BOYS
Trinity Christian 67, Village Christian 26
GIRLS
Trinity Christian 72, Village Christian 34
VOLLEYBALL
Nov. 23
