IT'S JUST A GAME: HARMLESS PREDICTION TURNS INTO NIGHTMARE

Next time, I'll find a different way to inspire my old football team.

When I was in high school, I thought I knew everything.

Granted, I still tend to think this way, but my alma mater of St. Vincent High School in Perryville taught me a couple of lessons last Friday night.

Lesson No. 1: Don't pick against the Indians when hated-rival Valle of Ste. Genevieve is on the schedule.

Lesson No. 2: If you do happen to pick against SV, don't be foolish enough to put it in print and then go cover the game.

You'd be surprised at all the different ways a person can show their displeasure with what I thought was a harmless Media Grid Pick. I haven't had so much venom directed my way since I umpired Little League baseball.

"Traitor" was a popular choice among the faithful at the game. Others merely gave me these pathetic looks mixed in with the phrase "I can't believe you picked Valle" or "How could you pick against your own school?"

I knew I was in trouble when I went to a fund-raising spaghetti dinner at the high school with my mom before the game.

There I was, patiently waiting for my plateful of pasta and garlic bread, when I spotted a former teacher of mine.

I waved a friendly hello, but could already see the disappointment and pity in her face I remembered seeing all too often while I was a student of hers.

"You didn't really pick Valle?" she questioned, rhetorically.

"Just trying to pump up the team," I told her enthusiastically, remembering the excuse my colleague Marty had told me to use before sending me to my death in Perryville.

She didn't fall for it. Neither did a female student standing next to her. She seemed nice enough until she opened her mouth.

"What side you gonna sit on at the game?" she snarled. Her gruff voice was a bit frightening. That's when the depth of what I'd done finally set in.

I had turned into the enemy. I was a Valle Warrior with a St. Vincent Alumni T-shirt on. I knew I wouldn't be safe the rest of the night.

As my mom and I ate, I looked nervously around the cafeteria. These friendly student-workers periodically came to our table and offered refills on our drinks, but I wouldn't hear of it. Sure they looked sweet and innocent, but they too, likely knew I picked against the Indians. Lord knows what they were trying to serve me.

Despite the fact I paid for her spaghetti dinner, mom knew I was dangerous company and dropped me to go trick-or-treating with her grandchildren.

All alone, I cautiously walked out to the football field and staked out a spot in the press box.

From there, I watched as the St. Vincent football team proved me wrong with a 14-3 win over the state-ranked Warriors. An unbelievable accomplishment considering St. Vincent lost nearly every starter on offense and defense from last year's playoff team.

I'd like to think I played a major part in the Indians' win Friday by "pumping up the team" with my terrible prediction.

But I realize I didn't have a thing to do with it. Coach Paul Sauer and the rest of his coaching staff had the Indians ready for the game of their lives, and the players responded with the same.

It was a heck of a victory and I feel fortunate that I was able to survive the experience.

Considering my storied academic career at good ol' SV, several of my former teachers should be happy to hear I actually learned my lesson for once.

Chaffee doesn't have a chance Friday night. I'm picking St. Vincent in the Grid Picks!

Rus Baer is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.