Thanksgiving is a time of feasting, family, and being thankful for all we are blessed with. The prepping and cooking is a tedious process but it is worth it when it comes time to eat. A massive spread of turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, casseroles, and pies…Pies…PIES !!! Who can resist the delicious pies. But as many across the state were sliding their turkeys in the oven, the Mansfield Tigers football team was suiting up for their second annual Thanksgiving practice. With only eight teams left in the 3A Arkansas State Playoffs, the Tigers are very thankful to still be able to be playing at this point in the year. But just as the meal preppers for a Thanksgiving meal, they know that there is work to be done before they can feast on the Dumas Bobcats on Friday, November 29th.
The Tigers started off their normal practice routine bright and early at 7:00 am. Working through a stretching lineup and then hitting the weight room for a heart-pumping workout may not seem like a thankful type of morning for most, but again, the Tigers know that the work has to be done. Once all of the sweat had poured out from the players, it was time for a shock to the system as the team then moved out to the game field for a sub-freezing run-through. While the crowd that gathered to watch Mansfield’s Thanksgiving practice wasn’t a massive Friday night crowd, a good number of spectators braved the cold to catch a glimpse of this special occasion. The Tigers went through a standard non-contact perfect practice and looked quite sharp in their movements and plays. It wasn’t a big practice nor something to write home about but just having the opportunity to do what 40 other 3A teams across the state can’t do is still something the Tigers are extremely thankful for.
Even once practice had wrapped up, there were still things left on the table to do. Of course, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without food. So, the team headed over to the concession area where a group of volunteers from the community had prepared a nice hot breakfast for the players. Breakfast burritos, orange juice, and other drinks were a hearty treat for the team after working through a cold holiday practice. This was a way for the community to show their appreciation to the program’s players and coaches for their hard work to bring Mansfield football back into the spotlight of Arkansas football. Last season’s Thanksgiving practice was a first for the program and some could’ve seen that as a ridiculous ploy to hype up a decent year. But being able to have such an event for two consecutive years shows that Mansfield Tigers football isn’t merely a one-and-done Cinderella team, no, the Mansfield Tigers are looking more and more like the legit program that will continue to bring pride to the town of Mansfield. The Tigers will stuff themselves today with turkey, ham, stuffing, and rolls but as for dessert, well, they’ll have to wait until tomorrow for a shot at more sweet success.
