Before the Shamokin at Selinsgrove Preview, Something for Seth and Alex

This week the Shamokin Indians travel across the river and of course road construction to take on the Selinsgrove Seals.  This past off season, outstanding Seal fullback Seth Lauver and his prom date Alex Mullen were injured in a car accident on their way home from the Selinsgrove High prom.

A fund has been established for the Seth and Alex and so far has raised $40,000 to date.  This fund is being split between the two families.  Seth has returned home and is in wheelchair paralyzed from the waist.  Alex Mullen as of this writing is still in a rehabilitation facility in Philadelphia.

For those of you involved in the Lower Anthracite Teener League in the late 1970's, Seth's father Chuck was an outstanding pitcher on Sunbury Braves teener team.

Click the link to the Seth and Alex Fund to see how you can make a contribution by attending Friday's game. There is a raffle to be drawn on October 1st. Wristbands are available and contributions can be made by mail.

Here is Lauver in his last game:

Dan Foor Address Indian Faithful at Hillside Coaches Picnic.

The Hillside Coaches held their annual preseason picnic for the Shamokin Area High School Football Team.  It gives a chance for parent and players to mingle with coaches before the start of double sessions.  The big news so far in the Indian camp for 2010 is the end of their freshman football team.  Once consider the gold standard of freshman football, the team has been in decline in recent years.  At one time the freshman team went a full decade without getting beat. Times have changed.

Most of the schools in the Heartland Conference and previous the Anthracite League, have not had many numbers in the freshman ranks.  Over the years, if I heard one fan I heard a thousand say "wait until this team are seniors."  What most schools were doing were playing able bodied freshman on junior varsity and varsity Leaving other freshman and 8th graders to fill the ranks.

Over the years, the freshman team became it's own entity.  It was independent of the varsity and did not run the same scheme that was being run on the next level.  That was insane!!!!

Foor also talked about getting back some community pride in the program and some school pride.  He was disappointed with only one pep rally last season.  I say brink back the cannon!!!!!

Also new for 2010 is a reshuffling of the schedule as Shamokin moves up to AAA.  Mifflinburg and Jersey Shore start the season, Southern moves to Week 3 and Mount Carmel move back to Week 10 after 29 years.

In Week 2, the 1975 Shamokin Eastern Conference Champions will be honored in the pregame.  The Indians beat the Dunmore Bucks at Kemp Memorial 33-20.

In the post, I included a video of the last touchdown I seen last year and asked that you continue to pray for the improving health of Seth Lauver.

In nice moment Black Diamond Network's Phil Manney read the lyrics to Kenny Chesney's Boys of Fall.  For most of the audience were glad Phil didn't sing them but here they are as we get ready for 2010:

The Boys of Fall Lyrics

When I feel that chill, smell that fresh cut grass/
I'm back in my helmet, cleats and shoulder pads/
Standing in the huddle listening to the call/
Fans going crazy for the boys of fall/
They didn't let just anybody in that club/
Took every ounce of heart and sweat and blood/
To get to wear those game day jerseys down the hall/
Kings of the school man, we're the boys of fall/

(Chorus:)
Well it's turn and face the Stars and Stripes/
It's fighting back them butterflies/
It's call it in the air, alright yes sir we want the ball/
And it's knocking heads and talking trash/
It's slinging mud and dirt and grass/
It's I got your number, I got your back when your back's against the wall/
You mess with one man you got us all/
The boys of fall/

In little towns like mine that's all they got/
Newspaper clippings fill the coffee shops/
The old men will always think they know it all/
Young girls will dream about the boys of fall/

(Chorus:)
Well it's turn and face the Stars and Stripes/
It's fighting back them butterflies/
It's call it in the air, alright yes sir we want the ball/
And it's knocking heads and talking trash/
It's slinging mud and dirt and grass/
It's I got your number, I got your back when your back's against the wall/
You mess with one man you got us all/

(Chorus:)
Well it's turn and face the Stars and Stripes/
It's fighting back them butterflies/
It's call it in the air, alright yes sir we want the ball/
And it's knocking heads and talking trash/
It's slinging mud and dirt and grass/
It's I got your number, I got your back when your back's against the wall/
You mess with one man you got us all/
The boys of fall/

We're the boys of fall

We're the boys of fall

Lauver's Conditions Improves

Seth Lauver's condition has been upgraded from critical to serious according to the Daily-Item. Alex Mullen who was a passenger in the Lauver vehicle remains in critical condition.

Please keep both your prayers.

A Prayer for Seth

Seth Lauver who scored the winning touchdown for Selinsgrove in the state title game against Manheim Central was injured in a car accident and is listed in critical condition according to the Daily-Item.

A passenger in the vehicle, Alexandra Mullen, remains in critical condition also.

Please keep both families in your prayers at this difficult time.

Here is a video of Lauver carrying the Seals to immortality.