OUR VIEW: CCHS, EVHS begin a new ‘friendly rivalry’

Staff Editorial
Published: August 25, 2008

» SUMMARY: If Friday night’s scrimmage is any indication, both Culpeper County High School and Eastern View High School will have a healthy supply of supporters

Last Friday night an estimated 5,000 fans filled the seats of the Eastern View Cyclone’s stadium for the inaugural game between the new cross-town rivals.

Not since the glory days of Culpeper’s 1999 state championship in football has the town seen such an outpouring of support for its local gridiron heroes. And if Friday is any indication, the support seems to be split right down the middle.

That was evident as folks like Vicky Rossi sported shirts that had Eastern View on the front and Culpeper on the back. Both sections of the bleachers were packed full of fans with cowbells and money jugs, cheering on their children, family and friends. Some in the community worry that a rivalry could be detrimental, but the first meeting between the Cyclones and the Blue Devils didn’t indicate any problems at all.

Both teams showed respect to each other, and so did the fans. It wasn’t just a polite cheer emanating from Eastern View’s bleachers when Culpeper took the field, it was a low roar.

The community should take pride in the fact that we now have two teams to root for, and follow the lead of such businesses as Virginia Community Bank in promoting a friendly and healthy rivalry.

The bank and the two schools’ idea of promoting a “Community Cup” to be given to the school with the most points from head-to-head competition was genius, and it only shows that by adding a new school there is going to be a plethora of new ways to promote the community and the athletic programs at CCHS and EVHS.