10 days after hurricane, football offers a welcome escape
PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Castor Gay knew his life had changed the moment he watched his back fence disappear into the howling wind and water started pouring from his ceiling. Mike Maddox sensed the same thing when he packed into a tiny pantry closet with his mom, brother and five dogs while his house shook.
Hurricane Michael delivered quite a punch when it hit the teenagers who make up the Mosley High Dolphins football team.
But just 10 days later, under the bright sunshine at Tommy Oliver Stadium in downtown Panama City, a small return to regular life had already begun. Gay was back in his bright orange, white and green jersey while doing his job on the offensive line protecting Maddox, who was once again a quarterback.
For a few hours, football was important again.
And the Dolphins were ready to punch back against the Pensacola Tigers.
“We ain’t got to hit nobody in the mouth in a couple weeks,” Mosley coach Jeremy Brown said as his voice rose to a crescendo during an emotional pregame speech. “We ain’t been able to practice because we ain’t got no field because all our fields have nails and roof tacks all over them. But there ain’t none of them out there on this field today.” “Hit them in the mouth!” In many ways, it was almost shocking to see football being played in the midst of such widespread devastation. From the higher seats of the stadium, the effect on Panama City was evident, with debris, utility crews and snapped pine trees as far as the eye could see.
There was a FEMA trailer in the parking lot and during game timeouts, officials talked about citywide news like electricity, water and gas issues to an estimated 1,500 fans in attendance. But for the most part, it was a joyful gathering where everyone forgot their worries. Fans, football players, cheerleaders and band members from several area schools were at the game.
“Man, this is great,” said Nate Starr, the lead game official whose home in Callaway was heavily damaged during the storm. “It gets the community together. We’re all family now.”
Frank McCall, who has two sons on the Mosley team, acknowledged that when he first heard about Saturday’s game, he thought it was crazy. But after realizing admission and food would be free and it would provide an escape for the community, he changed his mind.
“Sports are always the one thing, that regardless of race or religion, always brings people together,” McCall said.