Tonight. Ambridge, PA. Tigers. Rams. Let’s go Tigers.

North Allegheny and Pine-Richland will face off in Round Two of the WPIAL Playoffs. A recent controversy between NA and PR came about at the end of the final game of the season at Newman Stadium, which was also Senior Night, an annual NA tradition that involves recognition of the senior members of the Football Team, Marching Band,  Auxiliaries, and Cheerleading Team and a special post-game performance by the Band.  

The game was highly anticipated and covered by the media, as NA versus PR has become the new Class 6A rivalry. The Tigers rose to the occasion and gave the Rams their first real game of the season. It was a hard fought game with NA remaining in striking distance throughout the first three quarters. Ultimately, the Tigers were defeated by the Rams, 48-28, with the Rams capping off an undefeated season.  At the conclusion of the game, the Tigers returned to the locker room, while the Rams celebrated their season with a team huddle, team photos, interviews, and much celebratory rejoicing. After the Rams spent a good 10-15 minutes on the field while the Marching Band patiently waited for them to yield the turf, the Band finally took the field.  

While the Band was performing their Senior Night post-game show, members of the Rams charged the field like a horde of Barbarians, sprinting through the ranks of the musicians and auxiliaries, who were in formation. They were led by their all-star quarterback Phil Jurkovec, who was waving a PR flag which he boldly and dramatically planted Iwo Jima-style in the middle of the tiger paw on the 50-yard-line, like a wannabe war hero who vanquished his foes.

This was done as his teammates ran around the field continuing the celebration. As Don McLean sang in “American Pie,” “The marching band refused to yield” amidst this chaos.

There have also been rumors of some PR football players stomping on the Dance Team’s and Majorette’s accessories and making sexually explicit remarks to the female members of the Band and Auxiliaries. Naturally, there has been much outrage from the parents and members of the Band.  

To further compound this drama, a mere five days after the game, Phil Jurkovec was prevented from attending the WPIAL Field Hockey Championship hosted by North Allegheny. Jurkovec was there to watch his girlfriend and classmates play as PR met NA in the title game. Several other Ram football players were allowed to enter the stadium to watch the game, but their purported leader Jurkovec was barred from entering.  

Now, Pine-Richland supporters may say this is wrong, but if our quarterback had been so disrespectful on Pine-Richland’s field, would they not also be justified in refusing him entrance to PR facilities?

As a senior member of the Marching Band, I can say I am appalled by the lack of respect shown by certain members of the PR Football Team. While they earned the right to celebrate their undefeated season, their antics were far too excessive and unsportsmanlike. It is also rumored that some of their coaches and some of their parents stood on the sidelines and cheered on this childish misbehavior. If the situation were reversed, one would hope that the Tigers would display better self-control and celebrate their victory like gentlemen.

Tonight, PR’s band and NA’s band have planned to perform the national anthem together on the field in an act of solidarity. Will the PR Football Team show the same level or repentance and respect and make amends for their actions?