Treasure the Moments of Tonight's Football Games

Tonight parents, friends and general sports fans will dress warm and go to a local high school football stadium to watch their kids or grandkids or just kids they know cheer or play football. For some of these kids, it's the last the game of their high school career. For some parents, it's the last time they will sit in the stands and watch their kids play.

When the final horn sounds, win or lose, some parents may just sit in the stands and take it in. Their minds will go back to the first time their child cheered for a game or put their uniform and played football. They will think, "Man, the years have flown by." And they do.

As the past 12 years of memories from their child playing or cheering fill their minds, the eyes of some parents will fill with tears. Some will cry unapologetically. Others will try to hide their tears. Some may keep the program as a reminder of the last game their child played.

I've been there ... I remember about this time last year, my youngest, Sarah Alice, cheered for her last game. The whole game I sat in the stands thinking, "This is it." I watched the cheers a little more than normal. I watched her facial expressions. Every now and then her eyes would meet mine and she would smile ... knowing what I was thinking. She knew Daddy was crying. This was his baby girl's last game.

So, parents, enjoy the night. Yeah, you are going to cry. You are going reminisce. You are supposed to. These are special times. Good luck to every kid cheering or playing tonight, and ... everyone is a winner regardless of the score on the scoreboard.