Jake: Remember the Titans — my fix for 2 schools that just canceled football

I didn’t play football in high school, but I loved watching it. Nothing in prep sports burns as brightly as those Friday night lights. So it hurt to see two South King County schools abruptly cancel their football seasons.

The Todd Beamer Titans in Federal Way and the Hazen Highlanders in Renton made the call, and honestly, I get it. It’s about player safety. Both are 4A schools, and you’d typically want at least 60 players on the roster. The big powerhouses might dress 100. These two had less than half that, which means kids playing both ways, and that’s where injuries happen.

Todd Beamer’s Coach, Rodney Murray, told KOMO News they aren’t viewing it as a negative, just doing what’s right for the health and safety of their kids. Fair enough.

But think about the seniors who spent their whole youth building toward varsity football, only to have it taken away. That’s devastating.

I have a solution. It’s not very realistic, and it’s a long shot. But long shots are what sports are all about.

My fix: Remember the Titans!

Yes, the movie. It came out in 2000 when I was in high school, and it was an instant classic. It’s based on a true story (with plenty of Hollywood liberties) about schools merging in Virginia in the early 70s to form the T.C. Williams football powerhouse.

Desegregation, two distinct cultures, one black school and one white school, finding common ground on the football field. Denzel Washington coaches the team to glory. I can still hear that soundtrack. It’s one of my favorite movies of the sports genre.

So why can’t Todd Beamer and Hazen do the same thing today?

Yes, the schools are about 24 miles apart as the crow flies. That’s an obstacle. But what’s a sports story without obstacles? Let them meet in the middle. And hey, “Meet in the Middle” would be a great title track of the soundtrack when this lands a movie deal.

Even if Hollywood never calls, think about what these kids would learn: never quit, even when defeat looks certain. They’d make friendships for life, and a combined team would instantly become the feel-good story everyone in the region roots for.

We’d have to work on a name. “Titans” would be perfect, maybe a little too perfect. So let’s go neutral, something that honors both schools but isn’t afraid to be bold. Something that shouts from the hills that this team isn’t going to be beat.

Meet the Highland Titans

Think of what it will mean to these kids, all but relegated to the sidelines of history, and suddenly finding they get one last chance to continue the fight.

To reference another one of my favorite movie characters, William Wallace:

“Dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom?”

Give these Highland Titans a chance!

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