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US Sen. John Cornyn
While the game of football may have originated on a cold Autumn day in 1869 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, nobody does Friday Night Lights quite like the State of Texas. It’s in our roots. You can ask anyone from Brownsville to Canadian or El Paso to Port Neches, and they’ll tell you that high school football is more than just a game to Texans. It is a way of life – a tradition and identity that is woven into the fabric of communities throughout the Lone Star State.
For Texans, fall is more than just a change in seasons. It signals the return of Friday night football games. Each week, everyone looks forward to watching their team take the field with their town’s name proudly emblazoned across their jerseys. When Friday finally comes, parents rush home to pack coolers, get the kids ready, and head to their high school’s stadium. Communities come together to watch the opposing teams compete, in hopes that one day, they may see their hometown heroes move on to the big leagues of college or even professional football.
The foundation of this tradition dates back to the late 19th century, when the sport was first introduced to Texas. High schools in Dallas and Houston created unofficial teams, and over time, the game spread across the entire state. The matchups were unregulated until the University Interscholastic League (UIL) was created in 1910. The UIL’s original goal was to promote better school curricula but it soon became the governing body of high school football. According to the Texas Almanac, the UIL created an organized structure for teams in 1920 due to the growing popularity of gatherings on the gridiron.
The UIL placed schools into divisions based on the number of students attending a school, which dictated the titles they could achieve. Initially, smaller schools could only receive regional titles, but larger schools could receive state titles. In 1948, the UIL introduced City, AA, and A divisions. Many adjustments have been made over the years, but the divisions are still based on enrollment and range from 1A to 6A, with Texas’ exponential population growth requiring subdivisions to be added within the 2A-5A divisions. Today, champions are named by division, allowing schools of all sizes to shine. Private and preparatory schools have their own separate conferences, allowing everyone to take advantage of the camaraderie, physical activity, and personal development opportunities the sport provides young Texans.
Throughout the 21st century, Texas high school football programs have consistently found themselves topping the rankings amongst schools across the nation. These programs have inspired dozens of multimillion dollar high school football stadiums and produced some of the greatest football players of all time, but despite all of the glitz and glamour, the heart of the game lies within the communities, the schools, the coaches, and the players who leave it all out on the field in pursuit of victory.
At the center of all the achievements is an opportunity to teach these young Texans valuable life lessons like the importance of teamwork and discipline, on top of instilling in them a passion for the sport. In cities and towns across Texas, there is a love for the game and the friendly rivalries that have formed over decades and generations of competition. Though football wasn’t started in Texas, it has become one of the cornerstones of Texas culture, both within our state and on the silver screen. From the tailgates to the late-night practices to the Friday night games under the lights, there’s nothing quite like Texas football.
This season, I hope you take pride in this game that brings neighbors across the Lone Star State together – wear the face paint, attend a pep rally, and cheer your team on to victory. In a time of so much division, football can be a common denominator among Texans of all ages, whether you play in the games, sit in the stands, or feed hungry friends and family at your tailgate. Though our world is ever-changing, in all corners of our great state, our values will never change. To Texans, it will always be faith, family, and football. Texas Forever.
Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Judiciary, Intelligence, Foreign Relations, and Budget Committees.
