On the Tuesday of Homecoming week, Sept. 27, the Newport football team hosted a bonfire beside the football field that highlighted the team’s theme for the year and their plans moving forward. This hails the return of the event, which hasn’t been held at the school in many years.
Various members of the community were involved in the event. Heller’s and Tractor Supply donated the wooden pallets to fuel the fire, and many others provided food and raised funds. With the help of donations, the Band Boosters gave out complimentary hot dogs and hot chocolate. Coach Todd Rothermel detailed how many people wanted the event to return to ignite school spirit and how many people participated in setting it up. “Lots of great things happen when community members come together,” said Rothermel.
Before the fire began, Kurt Howell, the announcer at Newport football games, went over the loudspeaker and explained the team’s new motto, ‘Burn the Ships,’ a sentiment that has been both printed on the doorframe of the high school gym entrance and pressed into the hearts of the players.
Howell detailed the origin of the phrase, dating it back to 1519 when Hernán Cortés scuttled the ships his men came over on and lit them on fire. The point Cortes was making was clear and has made a deep impression on history: ‘There is no turning back.’
With help from members of the Newport Fire Company, the bonfire began beside the far end of the home bleachers. Pallets upon pallets were burnt.
As the fire reached its peak, Coach Todd Rothermel stood on the hillside and gave a speech about the team’s adoption of the phrase. The inspiration for Rothermel to use the line came from the song “Burn the Ships,” by King and Country. The song instructs its listeners to “Burn the ships, cut the ties, send a flare into the night, say a prayer, turn the tide, dry your tears and wave goodbye.”
Rothermel remarked, “Every day of life can be a challenge, not just in sports. It’s no secret football has struggled in recent years to win football games, but as the song says, ‘We can step into a new day, rise up from the dust and walk away.’”
After the speech, a giant cardboard ship replica donated by art teacher Mrs. Barlup was thrown on the fire to fully symbolize the purpose of the event.
The bonfire marks a turnaround for a team that is in its third consecutive losing season. By ‘burning the ships,’ the team and the coaches intend to put loss behind them and fully commit to the success of the team, no matter the cost. Whether or not this changes the course of the team going forward, the goal is clear: they will give it their all, and they will not look back.
