Huntsville Hornet Football Players & Coaching Staff Belt Out "Lean on Me" Before Game

'Lean on Me' is the motto for our football team, and school district, for 2015-16.  

Coach Rodney Southern and staff know that at the heart of a team

 is its members ability to count on each other.  

Before each game, our pregame ritual ends with the team and coaching staff singing 

the Bill Withers classic, "Lean On Me." 

This video was recorded on October 30, 2015- the final home football game of the regular season.

Lean on Me.   #LOM

"Lean on Me" was written & performed by Bill Wither & published by Universal Music Publishing.  

We don't claim any rights to the song, and we suggest that you buy it.  You can do that by going here.

"Lean On Me"

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain

We all have sorrow

But if we are wise

We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride

If I have faith you need to borrow

For no one can fill those of your needs

That you won't let show

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand

We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand

We all need somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear

That you can't carry

I'm right up the road

I'll share your load

If you just call me (call me)

If you need a friend (call me) call me uh huh(call me) if you need a friend (call me)

If you ever need a friend (call me)

Call me (call me) call me (call me) call me

(Call me) call me (call me) if you need a friend

(Call me) call me (call me) call me (call me) call me (call me) call me (call me)

Copyright Bill Withers 1972 Universal Music Group

For the Love of Reading- National Book Foundation's Book Up is Here in Huntsville Because of a Hornet

Every week, a dedicated group of Huntsville ISD kids board a bus & travel from the Walker County Boys and Girls After School Program to the campus of Sam Houston State University for Book Up, a very special book group for kids.

What a beautiful picture!
Huntsville ISD kids & National Book Foundation BookUp members on the campus of Sam Houston State University

They are here with SHSU Professor and Huntsville Hornet Amanda Nowlin-O'Banion. They spend the afternoon on the fourth floor of a SHSU Academic building in a hi-tech conference room talking about...books!

Helllllllloooooo Sam Houston State!!

This week, the book was The Screaming Staircase, which is part of the Lockwood & Company series by Jonathan Stroud.

Awesome! It's the Screaming Staircase!!!

Taking turns reading aloud.

They read, discuss and create a project based on a theme presented in the book.  This week, after reading a passage, they created Instagram posts that the main character might post in the story. What would his "status" be?  What happens next?  They were also encouraged to include a hashtag (e.g. #getmeoutofhere!  #letsdothis  #spooky ).

Can someone say "#Yikes"?!

And when they leave for the day, they take the book with them- it's theirs to keep!

This is MY copy, thank-you-very-much!!

Get on the Bus!  Huntsville ISD provides the transportation for the program.

This opportunity is a rare one.  Huntsville is only one of only two communities outside of New York, the home of National Book Foundation, with BookUp sites (the other being Detroit).  And it's because of Huntsville High School alum Professor Nowlin-O'Banion.

Please do not disturb- meeting in progress!

No caption needed. :-)

Professor Nowlin-O'Banion is a prose writer who attended New York University. She enjoyed her time there, but later returned to Texas where she still writes and teaches at the University.

Professor Nowlin- O'Banion, and...

a Book Up member agree- take my picture so I can get to the fun part!!!

She brought this program to our schools, and is also responsible for an annual event that happens in the Spring.

It must remain clear to all that BookUp! is a strictly serious activity.

The National Book Foundation is a non-profit focussed on promoting reading and writing, and is most famous for presenting the National Book Awards.  Each year, the Foundation honors exemplary works in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry and Young People's Literature through one of the most prestigious writing awards in the world.  Past winners include William Faulkner, Alice Walker and Eudora Welty.

Thank you SHSU Mass Comm Small Group Communications, for helping out this week!

Later this month, Nowlin-O'Banion will travel to New York City where she will attend the awards ceremony celebrating the finalists and announcing the winners.  While there, she will begin preparations to bring three of those writers back to Huntsville.

There is nothing quite like opening a book and reading the first page!

That's because Sam Houston State University annually hosts an event called,  
The National Book Award at Sam Houston.  

Sam Houston State University is the home of 
National Book Awards at Sam Houston, coming in March 2016. 
This photo was taken by a BookUp! member on the bus to this week's meeting. 

Selected authors come to Huntsville for three days of readings, lectures and community events.  SHSU is continuing its invitation to Huntsville ISD to participate in the celebration, and we'll be hosting a Finalist in Young People's Literature at one of our schools in March 2016.

Allow me to explain my Instagram post...

Prof. Nowlin-O'Banion got help this week from SHSU undergraduates & Mass Communication (COMM 3383) students, as wells as Diane Balderas and Alissa Lamb of the Walker County Boys and Girls' Club.  And Huntsville ISD Transportation answered the call when they needed weekly transportation.  It's gratifying to see these various groups, local and national, all coming together to bring this reading program to our kids.  Oh and it's fun, too!!

People of Huntsville Book Up, Represent!

Moms picking up their kids after work-- "What did you do today?"
Shhhhh please- I'm reading!

Thank you for the ride, Victor, and we will see you next week!

A Huntsville Tradition Renewed Every Fall: Huntsville Hornets' Friday Night Lights is Back!

This past Friday night, Huntsville ISD's beloved fall tradition was renewed once again.  

School is back in session, and it's Football Season!  

Let's Do This!
(photo courtesy of Chloe Weich & The Hive Online-
see their coverage & photos of the game and Friday's Pep Rally by
going here: www.huntsvillehive.com  )

Our Huntsville Hornets won convincingly against Coldspring- Oakhurst (COCISD), by the score 

56-12.  Now if you are looking for a play by play recap, you would be better served heading over to The Huntsville Item's coverage or catching Kooter and Leroy on KSAM, 101.7. 

A tradition renewed every fall...

But if you are in the mood to check out some of the action OFF the field, including some of the families, friends and fun from Friday then you've come to the right place!  

Some ladies of the Grenadier Guard helping each other get things 'just right' before the game.

You are witnessing history here- this little guy, a third generation Hornet Fan,
 is attending his first Huntsville High School football game!

Feel the Power!

Let us off so we can play!
These band members are ready for the first game of the season!

On the sidelines:  no one said it would be easy.

The  Huntsville Hornet Military Marching Band.

Welcome to the Hornet Experience!
These Huntsville ISD teachers hung out with the team and coaching staff all night, beginning with the game night meal.   They enjoyed watching the game from the best seat in the house- the sidelines! 

Date Night!  Mance Park's Lateel Richardson and her husband Roderick enjoy each others company, and the game!

OK you can take our picture-just be cool about it, alright?!

Employee of the Month and Assistant to the Superintendent Sherry Odom
was there rooting for the Hornets with her husband Doug and daughter, Maggie.
(You see how Doug is focussed on the game??)

A few rows away, fellow Employee of the Month Mike Wallace, our District's Technology Systems Administrator enjoys the game with his wife, Angela (of Huntsville Elementary) and family, aka "The Wallace Bunch"

The Football Team kept the Flagmen running all night!

We saw this a lot on Friday- friends reuniting and having fun-
and it didn't matter if they had seen each other last week or last year- it was just good to see them again!
Here Huntsville Elementary's Freda Shaw is with Patrick Antwi the President of the Huntsville ISD Board of Trustees.

They might be new to the district, but they were in the spirit like they've been here for years-
Huntsville High School's Dean of Instruction Karen Murdoch and Assistant Principal Demeka Simmons.

It's a Friday during football season, and they're having fun with friends at the game.

The Huntsville Hornet Military Marching Band performs during halftime- it was superb!

A Proud Coach:  Mrs. Dana Lenorman watching the Grenadier Guard perform to Katy Perry's "Dark Horse."

Coldspring- Oakhurst vs Huntsville
It's a classy tradition- The cheer teams visit each other sides and cheer for their opponents.

Another Huntsville Touchdown!
(Photo Courtesy of Chloe Weich and the Huntsville Hive Online.
See more great photos at www.huntsvillehive.com )

Date Night Continued! Huntsville High School's Jack and Sammi Herrington.

Getting pumped up!

The GG's all lined up in first position.

Buzzy high fives the fans!

Let us chill here for a moment!
If it's Third Quarter, then it means that the band may get a break before it's "back to work" in the Fourth.

Third Quarter Sustenance!

The Nicks Chicks!  Huntsville Elementary's Principal
Koren Nicks with daughter Makinzie of Samuel Walker Houston.

Huntsville High's Marlene Sapien- Najera looks friendly,
but don't try you try to sit where you aren't supposed to sit!

After the game, tired, but not too tired to sign the school song!

And Another Date Night!  This one with Quentin and Brenita Jordan.
(Mrs. Jordan works at Mance Park Middle School.)

It feels good to be back!

After the game and the team is feeling pretty good!

All eyes on him.  Coach Southern has a quick post game meeting on the field.
See you at 9:00 a.m. sharp tomorrow!

What a beautiful new scoreboard @ Bowers Stadium!

These guys are ready to go!

The Dukes are Hornet Buddies!

These police officers are part of our Hornet Family!

Wow- and this was just in practice during warm ups!

Impromptu Portrait of the Cheer Team & Buzzy after warmups

I got Buzzy's autograph!

The backbone of a successful band is the...BAND BOOSTERS! :-)

Lean On Me

Here are most of the trainers- the two missing were working in the locker room!

The Huntsville Hornet Military Marching Band is entering the stadium.

Huntsville High School's Tom Farr and his kids- let's take the picture so we can get in there!

Wave the Flag of Huntsville High!

The Huntsville Hive Online was there...

...as well as photographers from The Huntsville High School Yearbook staff.

And of course The Hive daily announcements!!

Coach Southern watches the action.

See you on Friday!