On Monday, Sept. 8, after the New Trier High School football team beat Waubonsie Valley High School in a 24-14 victory, a student in my Bridge Builder advisery asked me, “So, did we end up winning the game?” This question is an all too common occurrence during football season, when Trevians pack the stands for only the first half of the game. Dressed to the nines in all white, gold, or country gear depending on the theme, the student section is filled for the first 24 minutes, with seniors standing up against the fence in the front, and the underclassmen sitting high up in the bleachers or by the tables outside of the stadium. 

Every Friday night during home football games, a feeling of excitement and anticipation lingers in the air as the time runs down on the second quarter. The cheerleading and dance team take the field and students cheer and applaud for the performers as they tumble and turn. Like clockwork, every time after the music winds down and the dance team runs off the field shaking their pom poms, the mass exodus of students begins. The bleachers, which were once packed, become desolate, with the remaining students in the stands mainly composed of seniors, with the occasional sophomore or junior straggler.

This experience has defined my last four years of high school. Whether I was walking to Dairy Queen after the game freshman year or driving to get food with my friends junior year, I have never been one to stay past halftime. And it is not just me—this is the culture at New Trier, until this year. As a senior and Green Team Captain, I’m determined to change this practice.

With a 2-0 start to the season, there is no better time to be a Trevian football fan, especially considering the recent seasons that have been riddled with tough losses and losing records. During the home opener, I heard a student remark, “It’s actually fun when we are winning.” While I do not disagree—it is OK to be a fair-weather fan—this sentiment bothered me. Maybe it is because I’m an athlete and understand the pain and frustration that comes with failing despite your best efforts; however, I think the games are fun because the students make them fun, not because of the number on the scoreboard. Students should come to the game and stay to have fun, support their peers, and express school spirit. Winning is ideally a part of that experience, but it should not be a necessary component to draw crowds and hold their attention. 

I have three more home football games I can attend in my high school career—one of which marks my final homecoming as a Trevian, and another that honors the seniors on the football team for senior night. As I experience these lasts and look back on all of the Friday nights I left early, I feel saddened that I cannot get that time back. Did I seriously think getting food would be more memorable? Or worse, sitting on my phone at home?

During the game against Waubonsie Valley, some of the other Green Team Captains went into the stands periodically to pass out confetti cannons, teach people cheers, and encourage more people to participate. We can end this culture of apathy in the stands by throwing away insecurities and ego and embracing the all-American experience that is Friday night high school football. There is nothing embarrassing about shouting out with hundreds of other students to support your team. Standing there in silence, on the other hand, is embarrassing. Watch the game, have fun, and join in cheers led by the Green Team Captains and other seniors. 

While many members of the class of 2026 will go on to attend colleges with successful football teams and big game day culture, for some students New Trier football could mark the last time they watch their favorite team fight it out under the bright lights. These students should not have their minds filled with memories of deserted bleachers and silent crowds; images of singing kids, confetti cannons, and smiles should be the first thing they think of. If all grades actively work against the status quo and fight to stay for the entire game, cheering the whole time, we can change the culture at New Trier and create a long-lasting impact on what it means to be a Trevian football fan. 

It’s a simple solution: everyone should stay for all four quarters of the game. Though we had a better retention rate at the Waubonsie Valley game compared to other games in recent years, this is just a starting point. While I yelled at my friends to stay the whole time and jokingly shamed the students who left early, the fight in me will only grow as the season progresses and my remaining minutes in the stadium dwindle. I hope younger Trevians and seniors alike recognize the core memories we are missing out on as a student body by perpetuating this culture of early departure. This year, let’s just go to Dairy Queen on Saturdays instead.