CATASAUQUA, Pa. — After community outcry, Catasauqua Area School Board on Tuesday tabled a resolution to end the Rough Riders’ annual Thanksgiving Day football game against the Northampton Area Konkrete Kids.
The board said it will vote on whether to end the 101-year-old tradition at its next board meeting, May 6.
The topic first was discussed publicly at a special board meeting last week.
The district's administration and football coaching staff recommended ending the tradition over safety concerns, citing Northampton Area’s stronger players and football program.
School leaders must “recognize when change is necessary to protect the health and safety of our young people.”Catasauqua Area Schools Superintendent Christina Lutz-Doemling
Catasauqua Area Superintendent Christina Lutz-Doemling said there’s “disparities in school sizes, rosters, players and resources” that favor Northampton Area.
And while the administration respects the century-old tradition, school leaders must “recognize when change is necessary to protect the health and safety of our young people,” she said.
Those concerns were largely dismissed by students and residents at Tuesday’s meeting.
They supported continuing the tradition despite any potential safety risks — which they mostly said were not a concern.
The tension led to school directors delaying a decision on ending the tradition.
Vote tabled until May
“In making an informed decision, we need more time, we need more ideas, we need more community input,” school Director Lauren Cieslak said.
School Director Shawn McGinley said he wants to hear more input from the student body about possible alternatives if the game is canceled.
“It’s not my pep rally, it’s not my homecoming, it’s not my game – this is your game."Shawn McGinley, Catasauqua Area School Board Director
“It’s not my pep rally, it’s not my homecoming, it’s not my game — this is your game,” he told students gathered at Tuesday’s meeting.
McGinley said Catasauqua Area’s and Northampton Area’s administrations already met to discuss the Turkey Day game, but their school boards have not talked.
He suggested school directors from each board’s athletic committees have a discussion.
Ahead of Catasauqua Area’s Tuesday school board meeting, Northampton Area School Board President Kristin Soldridge told LehighValleyNews.com the call was up to the Rough Riders.
“We are all waiting to hear what Catty decides and will follow them in a decision,” Soldridge said in her message.
Football program disparities
Catasauqua Area’s Head Football Coach Joe Henrich stated the case for ending the Turkey Day matchup.
While tradition is powerful, it shouldn’t outweigh student safety, he said.
Henrich echoed the superintendent’s concerns about the disparities between Catasauqua Area and Northampton Area.
Catasauqua Area High School has 471 students enrolled and 232 boys in ninth through 11th grades. The school’s football team has a 2A classification from the PIAA.
Northampton Area High School has 1,926 students enrolled and 990 boys in ninth through 11th grades. The school’s football team has a 6A classification — the highest level — from the PIAA.
“This four-classification gap and large male enrollment difference creates significant challenges not only in terms of fair competition, but in player safety, depth and program development,” Henrich said.
“To the best of our knowledge, the Catty-Northampton football game is the only football game in the state of Pennsylvania that matches a 2A team against a 6A team.”
Of the past 30 Turkey Day games, Northampton Area has won all but seven.
Additionally, Northampton Area has 125 players on its high school football roster, compared with Catasauqua Area’s 40 players.
Henrich said many of the Rough Riders have to play offense and defense in most games, which increases fatigue and their chance of injuries.
Additionally, Northampton Area’s players are bigger and stronger, he said.
On average, Northampton Area’s top nine strongest players outweigh Catasauqua Area’s players by 43 pounds per person, Henrich said.
Northampton Area’s athletes also outpace Catasauqua Area’s on strength benchmarks by a combined average of 263 pounds per player.
Henrich said the disparity may be attributed to Northampton Area having more athletes who only play football and can train year 'round.
Larger programs also tend to have more resources, as well as specialized training and coaching, he said.
Despite his stance, some of Henrich’s own players disagreed with his take.
Students, residents support tradition
Chris Wellington, a junior Catasauqua Area halfback and linebacker, said injuries can happen in any game, and only a small number of Rough Riders have been injured on Turkey Day.
“Players on both sides have a mutual understanding that the game does not count,” Wellington said. “Neither team is going to play with the intent of hurting another player because all you win is bragging rights.”
When it comes to size and strength differences, Wellington said he believes in the power of the underdog.
“There’s so many stories about how size does not matter and they inspire people,” he said.
“There’s so many stories about how size does not matter and they inspire people."Chris Wellington, a junior Catasauqua Area halfback and linebacker
Wellington also said he spent last weekend collecting signatures from people in the community who support keeping the Turkey Day football game alive.
He and others got more than 1,300 petition signatures from people either in person or online who support the tradition.
“Taking away something with so much history just wouldn't sit right with this town,” Wellington said.
That was the sentiment expressed over and over again by nearly two dozen residents during Tuesday’s public comment.
Robert Zakos, one of those residents, said the Thanksgiving Day game is an important tradition for Catasauqua pride.
“I feel like we’re losing a lot of what makes us a community, and this is just one more chipping away at what it means to be from Catasauqua,” he said.
“This is akin to cancelling Thanksgiving itself.”
