# You think football is big in Texas? They ain't got nuthin' on Snohomish, WA! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 20, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989 "2006-12-20T23:30:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/1 "2006-12-20T23:30:44Z")
> [@](#): > > [Seattle Post-Intelligencer](http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/296584_cannon20.html?source=mypi) > The cannon shot that ripped into Brett Karch’s leg, causing a gaping combat-style wound, has also torn a hole in his hometown community of Snohomish. > > Karch, whose leg was nearly amputated and who faces more than a year of physical rehabilitation with an uncertain outcome, has been the target of physical threats because of fears his injury will jeopardize the community’s tradition of firing the ceremonial cannon before each high school football game and after touchdowns. > > For more than 30 years, the blast of the cherry-red cannon has ignited the roars of fans whenever the home team scored in this football-proud town. With its tree-lined streets, gingerbread-trimmed Victorian houses and hills crested with historic churches, the town is devoted to its traditions, including its beloved cannon, which students in the school’s metal shop built after a previous cannon gave out in the mid-1980s. > > But the shot that nearly took off Brett Karch’s leg now leaves the fate of that tradition in the air, and that has upset some in the community. > > According to Karch’s medical records, security guards notified police after Karch received disturbing phone calls and visits from parents and students, some of whom threatened to “break his other leg” or worse, if he didn’t keep quiet about the accident. Hospital staff had to move him to a secure room where they monitored visitors. > > Callers and visitors told Karch they would “make sure his other leg got blown off,” and that “there would be retaliation” if the family cooperated in an investigation that could end the cannon tradition, said Mary Bissel, Karch’s mother. “That’s when I kind of got a little upset,” Karch said. > > The threats also included mention the family would be “banned from the town,” Bissell said. She’s been warned not to talk to a lawyer, or reporters. I say let them have their cannon–but don’t let those idiot students _make_ the damn thing again! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/2 "2006-12-20T23:59:22Z")
I read about this. Filthy shits! The poor kid derserves sympathy, he gets threats! ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/3 "2006-12-21T00:21:42Z")
They’re making a movie about it titled _Friday Night Lack of Priorities_. ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/4 "2006-12-21T00:28:13Z")
As a member of a marching who travels to all away football games, let me say that I HATE THOSE F’ING CANNONS!! We don’t have one, and whenever we go to an away game, other schools set those things off (in one stadium it pointed right at us!) and scare the living daylights out of us! Not to mention that since we always get put in the non-preferential stands, we end up choking on the smoke they produce. That being said, this kid is getting crap treatment for something that isn’t his fault and that sucks. It would also suck if their tradition disappeared, but that’s no reason to threaten the guy! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/5 "2006-12-21T00:45:46Z")
If they really insist on some military ambience for thier intramural sports, couldn’t they use bayonets? _They’re_ quiet. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/6 "2006-12-21T01:04:53Z")
You made the mistake of going head to head with Texas on this one. You should know by now that everything is bigger in Texas. Texas A&M had another tradition of building a gigantic bonfire for its Homecoming football game.[In 1999, the bonfire pile collapsed while it was being built killing 12 students and injuring 27 others.](http://bonfire.tamu.edu/) There were similar threats for people not to make a big deal about it and keep the tradition going. They started the tradition back in 2002. It looks to me like Washington needs to see a few more ceremonial casualties before it can compete for the title. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/7 "2006-12-21T01:27:20Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] You made the mistake of going head to head with Texas on this one. You should know by now that everything is bigger in Texas. Texas A&M had another tradition of building a gigantic bonfire for its Homecoming football game.[In 1999, the bonfire pile collapsed while it was being built killing 12 students and injuring 27 others.](http://bonfire.tamu.edu/) There were similar threats for people not to make a big deal about it and keep the tradition going. They started the tradition back in 2002. [/QUOTE] **Shagnasty** Could you check the California Lottery website results for December 23, 2006, and email me the winning numbers? My email is in my profile. I’ll be checking my inbox on December 21, 2006 at about 10:00 a.m., PST. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/8 "2006-12-21T01:34:31Z")
What a bunch of douchebags. Wow, my spell checker knows how to spell “douchebags”. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/9 "2006-12-21T01:41:23Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] **Shagnasty** Could you check… [/QUOTE] Maybe some traditions are timeless. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/10 "2006-12-21T02:04:41Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Maybe some traditions are timeless. 😃 [/QUOTE] Could be, but I’m not one to pass up an opportunity just because it _seems_ outlandish. At least, not one with such a big potential benefit. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/11 "2006-12-21T03:45:10Z")
I think they should ban football at the school permanently, and plow the field up to plant dandelions - as a symbol of something more important than high school football - just to show everyone that death or serious injury threats over or about a fucking _football game_ are beyond stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/12 "2006-12-21T05:19:17Z")
Well, that cannon was blown apart, wasn’t it? Seems to me the tradition resolved itself. The safest approach, if one _must_ fire off a cannon, is to get a nearby army artillery unit to set up a field gun and fire a blank round. They’re trained professionals with well-maintained equipment (none of this once-a-year crap). If people would learn to think rationally about stuff like this, the world would be a better place. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/13 "2006-12-21T06:55:28Z")
The OP is confused. Football is big in Texas, cannon firing not so much. It’s a sad state story for sure, but in Texas we’d just say, “Fuck the cannon then, just snap the damn ball”. Steven ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/14 "2006-12-21T13:59:28Z")
[QUOTE=Una Persson] I think they should ban football at the school permanently, and plow the field up to plant dandelions - as a symbol of something more important than high school football - just to show everyone that death or serious injury threats over or about a fucking _football game_ are beyond stupid. [/QUOTE] Ah, but you misunderstand. They’re not threatening this kid because he has so far failed to end football, they’re threatening him because he has so far failed to end the use of explosives in crowded areas. I really hope that those calls can be traced, and every one of those dumbasses is arrested and jailed. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/15 "2006-12-21T16:19:01Z")
[QUOTE=Don’t fight the hypothetical] The OP is confused. Football is big in Texas, cannon firing not so much. [/QUOTE] I’ll buy that. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/16 "2006-12-21T17:34:40Z")
On second thought… [QUOTE=Shagnasty] You made the mistake of going head to head with Texas on this one. You should know by now that everything is bigger in Texas. Texas A&M had another tradition of building a gigantic bonfire for its Homecoming football game.[In 1999, the bonfire pile collapsed while it was being built killing 12 students and injuring 27 others.](http://bonfire.tamu.edu/) There were similar threats for people not to make a big deal about it and keep the tradition going. [/QUOTE] I note that was in November–not exactly a time of year associated with “good will toward men” and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/17 "2006-12-21T18:18:19Z")
[QUOTE=Don’t fight the hypothetical] The OP is confused. Football is big in Texas, cannon firing not so much. It’s a sad state story for sure, but in Texas we’d just say, “Fuck the cannon then, just snap the damn ball”. Steven [/QUOTE] At football games in Texas, they say “I wish some of those boys from Western Pennsylvania would come down here and show us how to play football.” ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/18 "2006-12-21T19:34:26Z")
[QUOTE=Hentor the Barbarian] At football games in Texas, they say “I wish some of those boys from Western Pennsylvania would come down here and show us how to play football.” [/QUOTE] IME they shout insults and curses at opposing fans and stare at them menacingly while waving around 5 foot tall **axe handles** :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Leviosaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Leviosaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leviosaurus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/19 "2006-12-21T20:22:09Z")
I nearly pitted this, but opted instead to put a post on the Seattle PI site. Quick items to keep in mind: - The cannon was built by a high school metal shop class. - It has been in continuous use for thirty years without replacement, and it is fired at the beginning of each home game, and after every home team touchdown - They x-rayed it earlier this year and discovered a stress fracture in the cannon. They chose to continue using it anyway I keep trying to think of a closing statement which encapsulates how stupid the school administration is, but it’s honestly beyond words. I’m not a weapons expert, but doesn’t this violate about every best practice for weapon use in existence? Forget the cannon - it’s the school administrators who are too dangerous to have in proximity to the students. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989/20 "2006-12-21T21:11:23Z")
[QUOTE=Leviosaurus] Forget the cannon - it’s the school administrators who are too dangerous to have in proximity to the students. [/QUOTE] Yeah, they should be fired, too–preferably out of a cannon. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-football-is-big-in-texas-they-aint-got-nuthin-on-snohomish-wa/384989.md?page=2)