(NOTE TO READERS – As 2025 approaches, the SBJ is featuring some of our favorite content from this year. This John James Marshall column originally ran in the Journal on Nov. 11. More favorites will follow before New Year’s Day. Enjoy!)

When I appointed myself as Czar of the Sports World a few weeks ago, I didn’t truly understand how deep the issues were. There have been some nagging observations of my own from this year, so it’s time to dive back in to the deep end of the pool.

High school football, step in to the batter’s box. (I can mix metaphors with the best of them.)

There are two things at play here and they may not be popular, but it’s all for betterment of the game.

Let’s start with the one that bugs me the most and the one I would change so fast it would make your tuba spin. It has to do with high school bands and the lack of etiquette thereof.

I’m all for bands and I realize they bring a certain flavor to the game. But they’ve been operating without guard rails for too long now and, more importantly, can be a detriment to the game.

And don’t think I don’t recognize the gamesmanship that’s sometimes at play here.

Why the LHSAA hasn’t legislated some kind of protocol for when bands play during a game is beyond me. Particularly when they strike up “Seven Nation Army” during the middle of a crucial drive.

Here’s the deal: Bands should not – let me repeat that, NOT – be allowed to play during live action. During time outs, have at it. After a change of possession, of course! But not during the actual game for a number of reasons.

The main one, of course, is because it makes it difficult for the teams on the field to call signals and relay important information. What gets me is that if the P.A. guy plays canned music during the pace of play, the referee will stop the game and shut that down immediately. But somehow, they look the other way when a band cranks out “Crazy Train” on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

Difference?

And those of you band people who think you are pulling a fast one, I want you to know that I’m on to you. Listen carefully and see how many bands will play only when the opposing team is on offense. When their team is on offense, it’s like a library over there. I admire the ingenuity, but that’s going a little too far.

One more thing that bugs me about high school bands. Have you noticed how few of them perform at halftime these days? They’ll stay up in the stands and play until their lips bleed during the game, but when it truly is the time to perform and be appreciated during halftime, many of them are nowhere to be found.

OK, next thing: High school chain gangs.

I may not know an oboe from French horn when it comes to the innerworkings of a band, but I do know about chain gangs. I have stood on the sidelines keeping stats for many a game and I have seen quite a few interesting things.

There are some decorum issues that I’ll leave alone for now (I’ve seen two incidents on chain gang guys getting tossed by the refs) but more and more I’ve noticed something that referees need to pay attention to.

Obviously, the chain gang guys are usually pretty invested in their school. Some will even go so far as to have Official Chain Gang uniforms (which I absolutely love), but stand by them long enough and you’ll realize that many of them are paying more attention to the game than the chains.

However, there’s a little detail that gets overlooked and can have an impact on the game. In almost every game I’ve covered on the sideline, I notice that the chains are rarely stretched all the way once 1st-and-10 is established. Not by much and I don’t think it’s being done intentionally, but it’s pretty obvious when you look down and the chain has some obvious slack in it.

Why does this matter? Here’s why: if the referee tries to eyeball whether it’s a first down or not, a foot of slack in the chain – or even a few inches — and can the difference in a first down or fourth down.

If the referee calls for a measurement – which is rarely done these days – that won’t be a problem because he will stretch it like there is no tomorrow. But when it’s done with the eyeball test and you only have to get 29 ½ feet for a first down instead of 30, that changes the game.

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com