Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey
Indiana is known for its high school basketball game with fieldhouses and gyms among the biggest on the planet. Crowds of over 7,000 are the norm, but the state also proves it could attract similar crowds for its high school football games during the school year.
The Mudsock Game is the football game between the Fishers High School Tigers and the Hamilton Southeastern Royals. The rivalry game between the two schools in Fishers, Indiana, has been an annual event since the 2007-08 school year when Fishers High School began operations. The heated contest brings out an atmosphere like any other in the Indianapolis area.
The Mudsock Award was created as a traveling all-sports trophy for the 19 combined varsity sports; it’s awarded to the high school that wins the most games throughout the year. Each team wins a plaque if they win against the opposing school. A blue “H” or a red “F” is attached to the trophy to commemorate each winning year.
VIP Seating with food, tables, and extra bleachers are brought in for the big game, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey.
This year’s game took place at HSE. Special VIP sections with catered food, bleachers, and tables were set up behind the goalpost at $75 a ticket. Additional bleachers were also brought in for the game, attracting crowds between 8,000 to 10,000. It is quite the spectacle for a high school football game in September.
As day turned into night, the evening cooled off slightly with the colors of Fishers red and HSE blue on each side of the gridiron. Banners, smoke machines, and students with painted faces were seen and heard, along with alumni who packed the aluminum bleachers to watch a thrilling game between the in-town rivals.
The atmosphere was better than some college football and minor league baseball games I visited this past year. The concession areas were filled with fans waiting in line and students enjoying the last days of summer. The two schools have an enrollment of over 7,000, and it felt as if the entire student body was in the stadium tonight.
The student section swings their cell phone flashlights back and forth after each touchdown. Fishers blow off red smoke after a Tiger’s score. The two sides go back and forth with chants and friendly banter that rival the college football game between nearby DePauw and Wabash in the Monon Bell contest.
However, where does the Mudsock name originate from? It is such a peculiar name and one that would make an excellent name for a summer collegiate baseball team if the city ever builds a ballpark to complement the new area it will have for minor league hockey, indoor football, and professional volleyball, but what is a mudsock?
Fishers was founded as a town in 1872, but due to the swampy nature of the soil that covered people’s socks, the community acquired the nickname “Mudsock.” This is one of the theories behind the nickname, but the town would make national headlines less than a decade later on November 19, 1881.
The name comes from an infamous brawl in 1881. The 24-hour raucous made national headlines and became known as the “Battle of Mudsock”. Fishers was a lawless town at the time and there were two rival saloons, one owned by Hampton West and the other by the Farrell brothers. Each establishment had its loyal followers.
At 4 pm on a Saturday, a group of men walked into West’s saloon and got into an argument with another group playing pool. A gentleman by the name of George McCoy tossed his hat at the face of Adam Lynn, resulting in Lynn knocking him out. McCoy was quickly thrown out of the bar and everyone continued drinking and getting riled up.
The Fishers Student section shows their pride during the game, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey.
An hour later, McCoy returned with reinforcements and the fisticuffs broke out again. Benjamin Fouch brought brass knuckles to the fight and everything from knives, beer faucets, and pool balls were used that soon traveled to the Farrell brothers saloon across the railroad tracks.
After a night’s rest, fighting started again at 10 AM at West’s saloon, but a few folks brought in guns to chase away attackers. The sheriff and his posse soon came to break up the mele and restore order. In the end, Fouch was dead, 32 other people were injured, one of the saloons burned to the ground, and another one closed for good.
However, the 'Mud Sock’ name was not taken too kindly by the residents, and to shed its rough reputation, a newspaper article in 1907 announced that it was not an appropriate name.
Hamilton Southeastern shows off their colors and support for the Royals, Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey.
Fast forward over a century later, and the Mudsock name lives on between the two high schools in town. This year’s contest was won thrillingly by Fishers, 37-35. The Royals led 27-7 at halftime before staging a 3rd quarter rally. After the game, the Fishers's student section stormed the field to surround their football heroes.
The students and fans cheered on long after the game underneath the dark skies. Red fireworks went off in the distance, and HSE players walked back to their locker rooms. It was another battle, but one that was settled on the football field. There will be more Mudsock games from now until spring, but tonight, this was the place to be for Friday Night Football in Indiana.
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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com
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