The football games are a total thrill to attend. The student section is hype, the band is blasting the essential tunes and the football players are captivated in the game as they take on the opposing team. Everyone can mutually agree that football season is one of the best times of the year, but there is one factor that takes away from the mood: The heat.
Over the past few years, it has only gotten hotter and hotter. Due to climate change, Texas has faced record breaking heat waves and temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. At football games, people will often complain about the heat and they’ll stay in the shade outside the stands. It gets to the point where it is almost unbearable. For student trainer Anthony Cabrera, the hot weather is nothing new.
“During the summer it was really hot; I would be working outside and there would be weeks where it’d be over 100 degrees,” Cabrera said.
Cabrera said the heat can often dictate the mood of the game.
“You definitely see the heat take a toll on the people that are watching the game along with the football players,” Cabrera said. “You want to stay cool because the heat aggravates a lot of people, it’s uncomfortable.”
Cabrera said that while drinking water is by far the most efficient way to stay cool, people can also use cold towels and ice water.
“I make sure to drink plenty of water, but I also recognize that not just any water will do it, so definitely cold water is a big help,” Cabrera said. “Getting cold towels or just ice in general is very useful because you can put them on your wrists and the back of your neck.”
The scorching heat can have a huge impact on people’s mentality. Spectators will feel sluggish and have a lack of energy, but it is the football players who have one of the toughest jobs of working through the heat. Varsity Football player Philip Okechuku said he battles the mental fatigue that comes with the heat.
“From a player’s point of view, you’ll be a little more sluggish and you play slower, but the more you don’t think about it and act like it doesn’t bother you, the better you’ll feel and play,” Okechuku said, “You really just have to power through the heat, but eventually you’ll get used to it,” Okechuku said.
If it becomes too hot and people are not properly taking care of themselves, they become at-risk for heat exhaustion and stroke. As a member of the Cy Woods band, dealing with the heat is something Ronan Boudreaux often deals with.
“I’ve personally never passed out or gotten sick, but I have seen tons of people drop like flies because of the heat,” Boudreaux said.
If too many people are neglecting the dangers of the heat, the game could go south very quickly. Overexertion will take the enjoyment away, but most importantly, it is vital that everyone stays safe.
“It’s seriously important to not overexert yourself and always drink water. Dehydration is real and your body will just shut down if you aren’t hydrating,” Boudreaux said.
