Reasons Why #12 - Pirate Pride

Last week in a cafetorium decorated with blue and gold balloons hundreds gathered at Crystal River High School. Friday night lights, you ask? Kind of, but something a little bigger than the rivalry on the field happened this particular October night. Last week Pirate Stadium was officially renamed after our long time Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Earl Bramlett which in the hearts of true Pirates has always been its name – but now it’s official.
Let me make it clear that in no way would I have ever considered myself an athlete during my years at CRHS. I was far too busy driving Dr. Ladkani nuts, being sent to Coach Whitehead’s office for dress code violations, and attempting to run the school through Student Government. However, I would doubt there was not a student who walked through the halls whose school life was not affected by Coach Bramlett.
As iconic as Mickey Mouse is to Disney World, Coach Bramlett was to CRHS over the course of the past 3 decades. I witnessed his leadership and his effect on students who came in as young punk freshman and left as seniors with sports scholarships to colleges across the nation. He had a charisma for the school and its athletic program that could be seen even from a distance.
As I stood there in the cafetorium, surrounded by past teachers, classmates, and alumni I was completely struck with the fact of how amazing our school was and genuinely blessed my life has been because of CRHS. Coach Bramlett didn’t stand alone, there were so many of my teachers who had that true passion for teaching and it showed. We had a group of the most amazing teachers and administrators that all loved this community and imparted little pieces of themselves in each of us.
Of course I’m prejudiced, but CRHS was a huge part of my youth and just another thing on the list of reasons why I’m so in love with this community. It’s the people like Coach Bramlett who made going to school enjoyable, getting involved attainable, and growing as a person possible. If it takes a village to raise a child, I couldn’t be more blessed to have had CRHS in my village.