Friday Night LightsIs high school football a sport, or is it more than that to some people? Recent newspaper headlines include stories such as coaches abusing student-athletes; fathers of athletes murdering crippling cheerleading coaches and contestants to ensure their daughters made the cheerleading team. In Odessa, Texas, high school football is a major contributor to small-town Texas society. Every Friday night, 50,000 people fill the stadium to watch high school students risk their lives to win a football game. HG Bissinger is writing a novel called Friday Night Lights, about a year in 1988 where high school players prepare for and play on the high school team, and what impact they have on a small Texas town. The novel begins with pre-season football in the heat. of a summer in Texas. Players and coaches train more than 4 hours a day in 100 degree weather. The media affects every player who claims a state championship and college recruiters every practice. A star player named Boobie Miles is in the spotlight and expected to attend and earn a scholarship to a major state university. The community can't wait for the season to begin to see the greatest team in Texas history continue the winning tradition of the Permian Panthers. In one of the first games, Boobie Miles suffered a serious injury and would likely play again. Coach Gary Gaines, the head coach, has prepared almost every game setup for Boobie and will have ...