Back in the fall of 1995 - most of us are still alive - Lawrence High won the Class 6A state football championship. It was the Lions' eighth state title in 10 years.
And then the party was over. LHS hasn't won one since.
Nevertheless, for a decade, there wasn't an LHS student - my two daughters included - who didn't experience at least two state football championship seasons during the three years they were enrolled. Many knew nothing but 6A crowns.
At the same time, those LHS students also experienced standing-room only classrooms, hallways that often resembled the start of the Boston Marathon and a parking lot that was full by 7 a.m.
For several years, Lawrence High had approximately 500 more students than any other secondary school in Kansas. Why? In large part because the people of Lawrence feared they would destroy their perennial football powerhouse if they voted to construct a second high school.
Ultimately, however, the voters had no choice. The city was sprawling to the west, and Lawrence High had reached saturation and then some. A second high school had become a must. Free State opened in 1997.
Since then, fears that a second high school would dilute Lawrence High's tradition-rich program have come true.
In the eight years Lawrence has been a two-high school city, Lawrence High's football record has been 43-36 with three - egads - losing seasons. During the same period, Free State has posted a 34-43 record that has included four winning seasons and four losing seasons.
Taking it another step - and I hope I'm not boring you with numbers - the combined record of the two programs has been 77-79.
Pollyannas would call that parity. Others would call it mediocrity. One thing is certain: The city's two high school football teams have been plagued by inconsistency.
Free State, for example, went 7-3 in 1999 but 2-7 the following season. Then the Firebirds were 3-7 in 2001, but 7-3 the next season. Lawrence High was 3-6 in '99, then 6-4 in '00. The Lions were 7-3 in '03, and 5-6 last year.
Only once have Free State and Lawrence High had big autumns at the same time. That was in 2002, when the Lions were 8-3 and the Firebirds finished 7-3.
Ideally, Lawrence High and Free State would meet twice during the fall - once during the regular season and once in the 6A playoffs. Will that happen for the first time in 2005?
Probably not, but I wouldn't bet my sump pump on it.
Of the two, Lawrence High appears stronger. Lions' coach Dirk Wedd has the unusual luxury of a returning starter at quarterback in Brian Heere. The Lions also boast several speedy backs, a quality receiver in Brandon Lassiter and a rock at linebacker in Scott Penny.
Free State may be a year away.
Coach Bob Lisher has only eight seniors and has switched to a spread offense to take advantage of mercurial junior twins Ryan and Brian Murphy, his only offensive weapons. Lisher also has precious little depth.
On paper, neither Lawrence High nor Free State appears to have enough horses to challenge Sunflower League powers Olathe East, Olathe South and Shawnee Mission West, but it's only a nine-game season, and footballs still bounce crazily.
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