WARNING: 12th Man Fever Highly Contagious

 There is something highly contagious spreading through the Middletown Middie community. It is 12^th man fever! So, who is the 12^th man? As you may know, there are only 11 players from each team on the field at a time. The 12^th man is the teammate who helps the team in ways that the players on the field cannot do for themselves. It is the fan! The Middie fans are playing a huge role in supporting their team this year, encouraging the players and cheering them on for a win. 12th man T-shirts, signs, and the enthusiastic spirit of the 12^thman can be seen and felt everywhere on a Friday night during a Middies football game.In the MHS section of the stands, the 12^th man is like a sea of purple and white enthusiasm carrying the Middie players on to victory and giving the rival team an unwelcoming feeling. The cheering fans create a strong competitive vibe for the team, making the players excited and helping them get their adrenaline pumping for the big game.

The term “12^th man” originated back in 1922 when Texas A&M was playing Centre College. A&M was on their way to defeating a team that was defending the national champion in the first post-season game. Unfortunately, A&M had so many players injured in the first half of the game that Coach D. X. Bible was worried there would not be enough team members to finish the last half. In his panic, he called out to the stands to a former football player E. King Gill, who left the team to play basketball. He willingly agreed and ran out to the sidelines, ready to go in if another player became injured.

A&M came out on top in the end, and Gill was the only man still standing on the sidelines. Gill later said, “I wish I could say that I went in and ran for the winning touchdown, but I did not. I simply stood by in case my team needed me.” Though he never actually got to play, his eager attitude to help out the team was the beginning of the 12^th man concept which has carried on for decades since.

Mark Kerns, the Middletown High School teacher who leads the 12^th man program, said “there’s a feeling fans experience every football Friday night that you can’t get anywhere else. When the team wins, it’s like you win, too. You’re part of the team.” He believes that the 12^th man is a huge part of the football team and wants to see everyone around him in the purple 12^th man shirt that represents the Middletown football team. The T-shirts are available to purchase on the link below, and some coaches have agreed to give a portion of the T-shirt sale’s profits to the American Cancer Society.

The Middies have started their season off with a 3 and 0 winning streak. First with a close win against Huber Heights 32-31, a 29-21 win over Troy and the latest game played was another win with a score of 21-14 against Winton Woods. With this good-luck streak, the Middies have an optimistic outlook for the rest of the season! Be sure to catch the Middies next game and get in on the 12^th man action when they go up against the Oak Hills Highlanders in Cincinnati. You can support the Middies at Barnitz Stadium at any of their upcoming home games as well.

•  To purchase a 12th man T-shirt, click here!

http://api.prepsportswear.com/product/us/New_York/Middletown/Middletown-High-School-Middies/Hanes-Men-s-T-Shirt.aspx?productid=53&schoolid=47263&utm_source=vn&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=&utm_term=Middie+Football%2c289&utm_content=

Sources: http:www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/12th-man-t-shirts-ready-for-high-school-football-fans-1245071.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_man_(football)

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