Tonight is the end of an era in some ways, yet it promises some exciting opportunities for the immediate and long-term future. Friday night is the return of Jackrabbit Football. The Jackrabbits are in a new district this year, which results in some new drives for away games and some new visitors to City Bank Stadium over the next 10 weeks. In addition to the Jackrabbits, District 15-4A consists of familiar faces from Terrell, Poteet, and West Mesquite. The new faces for Jackrabbit fans are Lancaster Red Oak and Mabank. In addition to getting away from a district loaded with traditional and upcoming powerhouse programs, the inclusion of a 4th playoff team from each district greatly increases the playoff prospects for Forney this year.

Tonight’s game features a new face at quarterback, a new offensive coordinator, several other new position coaches and many new faces on both sides of the ball (Heck, FISD has a new Communications Director and a new Athletic Director this year as well). Of course, the brightest spot is the return of RB Peter Smith. Smith was the most consistent offensive performer on last year’s team and is back to prove his numbers from last year were just a beginning. In 2007, Smith made All-District and easily lead the Jackrabbit Offense in rushing yards and touchdowns. It is an easy prediction to have him repeat these feats. The one stat Smith really wants to add is a Playoff Appearance, and hopefully some marks in the playoff win column. It has been a long and difficult adjustment to 4-A football for Forney after many years of dominating at the 3A level. Many supporters, as well as this particular reporter/broadcaster, are looking to see the Jackrabbits return to the playoffs and begin that long road of proving to everyone they can win consistently at this new level.

Getting back to the opening point of this being the end of an era, tonight’s game is the last season opener for all of Forney to be behind just one high school. North Forney will physically open next year, although they have already taken the field as a freshman team in earlier action. The opening of Forney North, mascot to be decided next week by students zoned to attend Forney North, holds much promise for the entire community, but it also marks the end of that small-town, one high school era cherished by so many. It is said by many the only constant in this world is change. Forney has certainly experienced that over the last several years and has many more ahead. While it is exciting in many ways, many folks have a lot of excitement for this last run at nostalgia. Another cliché used often is along the lines of the more things change, the more they stay the same. Let’s hope that is the theme of Jackrabbit Football this year as the staying of the same should lead the Jackrabbits back to the Texas High School Football Playoffs.

Lastly, a little shameless self-promotion is in order and I want to thank Josh here at TwentyPeacefulMinutes.com for allowing me this leeway. Sportsgram is entering our second year of broadcasting Jackrabbit Athletics with the season opener tonight. Tonight’s game will be broadcast live over the internet at www.sportsgram.net (direct link to the broadcast) with a returning staff from last year of Nate White bringing you play-by-play, myself on the Color Commentary microphone and the incomparable Kyle Robinson working the stats behind the scenes. If you find yourself in City Bank Stadium, don’t forget your portable radio and listen to us live over the airwaves at 92.9 on the FM dial.

A full archive of the game will be available in 24 hours at the Sportsgram website, in case you are busy and need to listen at a later date. The rest of the season is a little up in the air due to a lack of broadcast sponsors. If you enjoy listening to our presentation, please help us get the word out and encourage business owners to contact me directly at gonzo@sportsgram.net to setup some incredibly affordable advertising.

GO JACKRABBITS!!!!!!!

Update: Sportsgram is excited to announce that tonight’s broadcast will include an interview with the new FISD Athletic Director, Eli Melton.

In addition to being a big supporter of Forney athletics and the color commentator for the FHS football game broadcasts on Sportsgram, Gonzo is also a regular on the Forney discussion forums. If you can’t make tonight’s game, join us in the Forney discussion forum here on 20PM to chat about the game in the ShoutBox while listening to it live on Sportsgram!

Welcome to Twenty Peaceful Minutes (20PM) - a community website for Forney, Texas. In addition to this blog, 20PM is home to the Forney discussion forums, which you may reach by clicking the Forney discussion forum link or going to http://20pm.net/forums; also, considering signing up for email or newsreader (RSS feed) notifications of new posts to the 20PM blog!