Potato Bowl harkens back to Valley of old

There’s no question athletic events aren’t as well-attended as they once were — here and all over the nation. Television, now computers, keep people closer to home. High school sports were once gathering spots for communities whether the adults had a family member in the game or not.

So it’s always refreshing when the Palmer and Wasilla football teams tangle each fall in the Potato Bowl.

This will be the 31st game. Not exactly Army-Navy, but a rivalry unmatched anywhere else in the state.

Two small towns, 10 miles apart, meet tonight in Wasilla to settle the decades-long dispute: Who’s best?

The rivalry is such that the two schools can’t even agree on what the record is over the years.

Wasilla says they’ve won nine times and lost 21. Palmer says it’s worse than that, claiming Wasilla has only won eight times and the Moose have prevailed 22 times.

The disagreement comes from some 1984 confusion, according to a Palmer alum and participant in Potato Bowls past. He says in ‘84 the two teams met twice and split the games. Naturally, Wasilla says the game they won was the Potato Bowl. Palmer, on the other hand, considers that game a glorified scrimmage and the game they won was, in fact, the Potato Bowl.

Needless to say, as the former combatants get older and crankier, that dispute isn’t likely to be cleared up anytime soon.

Another aspect that isn’t likely to change: There will be a crowd. And it will be loud. The bands will play. And it will be fun to gather on a Friday night and remember why schools have sports. The students need extra curricular activities to be well-rounded as they move into adulthood.

There’s nothing like an old rivalry to bring out the best.

Despite the won-loss record disagreement, Palmer obviously has held the advantage over the years and looks to be the favorite this week.

But, as the sports editor here said, “It’s been a squirrelly season…”

And, as the old saying goes about rivalries, “You can throw out the record books on this one.”

Get ready family and fans. Wear your red. Wear your blue.

Keep it clean boys. Play hard. Play smart and fast. And when you break for the end zone, don’t look back. You’ll have plenty of time for that when you’re old and cranky.

For the rest of us: Be there, or be square.