Football on Saturday 'not as fun'

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - For the first time in years, Norfolk high school football teams hit the field on a Saturday and fans react to the decision to move the games after a student's death.

Norfolk Schools Superintendent Dr. Samuel King made the change after a Norfolk teen was killed walking home from a game last week. Lake Taylor senior, David White, 19, was shot and killed on Goff Street Friday night. The suspect is 15 years old.

Fans say they understand why the superintendent felt the need to move varsity football games to Saturdays. And while they say the games feel "safer," they also say the atmosphere just isn't the same.

"Our games are usually extremely packed, but for Saturday, it's like the exact opposite," said Terri Douglas, a student, who plays in the Lake Taylor High School band.

Neither team's band was on the field at the Titans' matchup with Maury High School Saturday. Douglas says the Lake Taylor band was not busy, but decided it wasn't worth going to the game.

Only Maury had cheerleaders. And, in the stands, there were more empty seats than full. Those seats were occupied by parents and small children. High school students were hard to come by.

Security was stricter than usual. Police officers stood at the ready. Safety, not winning, was the number one concern.

"I think it was a really good decision for the safety matter," said Douglas. "But, then again, I feel like maybe our homecoming should be a on Friday night because this kind of ruins everything."

Daylight seemed to attract a quieter crowd. But the loyal few, the parents of the players, say they, too, were a little disappointed.

"I really don't like the change, because I like to come out to games on Friday nights, because it's fun," said Tina Bagwell, a parent of a Lake Taylor player.

Fun or not, this is the way the games will be. Until further notice, the schedule says Saturday.

"It's a real bad day," said one student.

This move to weekend games is not permanent. School officials are evaluating the situation thoroughly before making a decision about next season.

The shooting victim, David White, was laid to rest Saturday morning.

Norfolk schools made a similar schedule change back in 2008, also due to safety concerns. The games were moved back to Fridays in 2009.