It’s that time of year again. When a cool breeze and the scent of autumn stirs one’s soul to head back to a simpler and happier time. A time when lettermen jackets were cool, bonfires illuminated the midnight sky and taking that special someone to the dance was all you could think about. That is homecoming and it’s in full swing at Grantsville High School.

This is my ninth year of being “Back In Black” at Cowboy Stadium and I never seem to grow tired of it. In fact, GHS puts such dedication and hard work into its activities and traditions it makes other homecomings I’ve witnessed across the state look blasé. It’s not that other schools’ homecomings are terrible — they’re not — they just pale in comparison to Grantsville’s gala celebration.

At GHS this week each day has featured special dress and/or activities to go with the homecoming theme of “Black Out The Bears!” It’s a lot of fun for the kids and their families. Then you throw in the parade, pre-game tailgate dinner, queen contest, fireworks, the marching band, cheerleaders and Larietts and you have one action-packed, fun and colossal extravaganza on your hands.

My hat is off to Brody “Bubba” Palmer, Grantsville’s student body president and the other officers for making this homecoming week one of the best ever. Bubba’s e-mail notification system keeps all students at GHS apprised of what is going on at school on a daily basis. This new system called Club GHS is open to all students, faculty, volunteers and family members. You can sign up for the service by sending your e-mail to: clubghs@gmail.com, requesting to be put on the list.

But the biggest tradition at Grantsville’s homecoming is the game itself. Nothing has more riding on the line or deeper meaning than the game. It’s been a serious tradition for decades and especially since the beginning of the “Back In Black” theme inspired by AC/DC’s song title and music. Coach Kevin Butler surprised the 1991 Cowboy team after warm-ups with the new black uniforms and then unleashed them so adorned on the unsuspecting crowd and visiting team with a riotous entrance accompanied by “Back In Black” blaring over the loudspeakers. That is how traditions are born in Grantsville and the special Back In Black homecoming uniforms are still unique to Grantsville after being the first high school in Utah history to have them.

To all the players at Grantsville, and especially the seniors, homecoming’s meaning is deep and poignant. For many of the players, the success of the season rests on the outcome of the homecoming game. And for the class of 2009 this is particularly true. There are four games left this season and every one of them is pivotal for the Cowboys in Region 11 action. The Cowboys must win at least three of the four to get to a state playoff game and the first one on the list is Bear River.

The Bears lost a close game to Ben Lomond last Friday 17-16 and will be “growling” for a win in Grantsville. But the Cowboys are gunning for a win as well and spirits are high. If you don’t think this game is important just ask some of the seniors that are ignoring pain and nagging injuries to step on homecomings field of battle. Benji Cole and Ty Hamatake are just two that play with pain daily and feel honored because of it. With hair dyed black, the Cowboys understand what’s on the line and are ready to rise to the occasion.

The class of 1988 will be on hand supporting their Cowboys and celebrating their reunion at GHS. The school will also honor this year’s inductee into the GHS Hall of Fame, Don Wayne Nelson. Don Wayne is the legendary tennis coach that made GHS into a perennial powerhouse for both girls and boys tennis. No coach has directed more teams to Utah state championships than Don Wayne Nelson. A more devoted coach and teacher you will never find and he is truly an example of what being a GHS Cowboy is all about.

So get fired up fans, then strut into Cowboy Stadium wearing your best Back In Black apparel and cheer on your Cowboys. The Cowboys are gunning to Black Out The Bears this Friday night in Grantsville and I’d like to see you all there in support — from the sidelines of course.