Source: Williamson Herald Sports
First, there were just the football teams competing under the Friday night lights. Then, the bands and cheerleaders joined in. But now, the battle of the student sections have completed the scene.
Students have long sat together to support their teams, but over the last decade or so, Williamson County Schools have upped the ante with fully-organized student sections that don't just show up and raise the roof, they plan and coordinate attacks with military precision.
They get to the stadium early. They are loud, painted, focused, intense and determined.
Friday night, two of the very best will face off when Franklin, the county's oldest school, hosts Nolensville, the "baby" of the bunch.
Franklin's group is known simply as "The Flagship," a nod to the county's original secondary school and its relatively new Admirals mascot. The Flagship has been decades in the making.
"Throughout the years, Franklin has found ways to make Friday night football fun," said Caleb Anderson, one of the section leaders for group and a star baseball player at the school. "It is something Franklin is famous for.
"We are known to have big crowds in our section. People get there early to get good seats. We have music, chants … We just have a good time supporting our team and school."
Social media is a major tool for all local sections and The Flagship stands near the top with more than 82,000 followers on TikTok.
The development of strongly organized groups can be traced back to the start of WCS GameDay, an ESPN-inspired pre-game show hosted at select events by Williamson County Athletic Director Darrin Joines, former AD Jeremy Qualls – who envisioned the show – and local radio personality Tate Mathews.
College campuses have nothing on the local high schools for rabid intensity at the events. And no one is safe from being the object of attention, though it is usually in good taste. The Flagship cemented their legacy prior to the Centennial game three weeks ago, flashing a sign that said simply, "One-yard short, Dyson."
Brutal.
"If you live in Tennessee, you know Titans history," Anderson said. "It just happens that Kevin Dyson is the principal at Centennial.
"It was just a little jab, but not meant to be disrespectful."
Anderson, along with Jackson Knots and Reese St. John, have kept the Admiral faithful roaring all year, despite a difficult 0-8 season. All three say the record doesn't matter.
"We are going to support our team and school no matter what," Anderson said. "We've got two games left a great chance to win them both. The section just loves to be a part of it."
Friday night The Flagship will meet its youngest sibling, the Nolo Section, when Nolensville comes calling, and Big Brother will find Little Brother is not so little anymore, according to Nolo Section leader Rylan Smith.
Especially considering none of The Flagship members where even born in 2000 when the Tennessee Titans came up inches short of a Super Bowl title with current Centennial principal Dr. Kevin Dyson famously reaching for the end zone.
"We're a new school, but we've grown so much," Smith said. "This is the first year we've filled up the designated student section, so everyone rushes to get a spot in the stands. There is so much passion to be in the section and support the school."
Smith, along with fellow seniors Jackson Horne, twins Abigail and Sydney Glisson, Bo Twerdahl, Deakin Wimmer and Charles Winfrey, drive the section thanks to help from other students, teachers, administrators, parents and the community as a whole.
"At Nolensville, it's every sport," Smith said. "Football, soccer, basketball, softball – no matter who is playing, you have the community behind you all the time. Everyone is so invested."
A softball player herself, Smith says the support of the Nolo Section is a special kind of backing.
"We do this because just creating this supportive environment naturally brings extra adrenaline to the team that's playing," she said. "As an athlete, playing when there are so many people supporting you, it's a different type of adrenaline rush.
"I really believe it's been a driver to the football team being 8-0."
Head football coach Paul Derrick agrees.
"I think they are phenomenal," the Knights coach said. "They bring the energy every week. Our kids just feed off their energy."
As every student section leader will admit, there is a lot of work involved.
"It's like being a party planner for the student section," Smith said. "Every week we'll get with our principals, sponsors, other student council leaders and we'll be ordering paint and food for tailgates; we'll have everything mapped out."
At the WCS GameDay show in Week 8's unbeaten showdown against Page, Smith said the Nolo Section Leaders were at the school at 7 a.m. for preparation and didn't leave until 11 p.m.
"We wouldn't trade it for anything," she added. "It's a lot of fun."
As in every section, there is a pecking order: seniors get the choice spots in front, juniors behind them, with sophomores further up and freshmen at the top of the grandstands. Section leaders travel through the group to make sure everyone stays engaged.
Both sides are expected to be exceedingly engaged Friday night battling from across the field of play.
"This Friday is going to be a battle between the student sections," said Smith. "Franklin's student section is insane from what I've seen – they have such a great social media presence and they are so good. I think it's about passion for the community and these two are going to come together and it's going to be an amazing environment."
"We know Franklin has a great student section and I think they know we do, too," Smith continued. "We'll both be trying to turn it up a notch."