What lessons were learned from 10 recognition banquets?

There's just so much chicken a person can eat.

I know. I speak from experience.

I spent some serious time in 2007-08 traveling the chicken circuit.

It was Daily Herald banquet time, those congratulatory events that bring together all-area players, players of the week, coaches and parents -- and in some cases grandparents, brothers and sisters and even AAU coaches.

For the most part, the attendance at our 10 recognition banquets for football and basketball in 2007-08 was outstanding.

The Daily Herald wants these banquets to become a feel-good experience for everyone as we all close the books on another season.

I enjoy watching everyone gather after the banquets end. That's the time for pictures and just friendly conversation for the players, parents and coaches.

Rivals no more. They're all on the same team at these banquets.

I think everyone had a good time for football and basketball, and the captains' sincere speeches, as always, brought each banquet to a fitting conclusion.

I look forward to those speeches, and the young men and women never disappoint me. I know it's not easy to stand up there and speak.

Yes, some of the captains become very emotional in their talks, and, yes, I get a little choked up myself just listening to them.

That's the positive part of our banquets.

The negative part always involves the no-shows.

There were some players and coaches missing in action this time both in December and March, and I always am disappointed by that.

Maybe they don't like chicken.

There were very legitimate reasons in some cases (illness primarily), but I wasn't happy when I heard a few of the other excuses.

We started these banquets in 1987 and have added other circulation zones through the years. It's not some big surprise that we hold these events every year, and they always fall on a Sunday or a Monday at basically the same time in December and March.

I understand that it's probably difficult for some schools to find a date for their own awards nights, but I would hope the athletic directors or coaches would check with us first to see if there are any conflicts.

Actually, if schools can avoid Sunday and Monday for awards banquets in December and March, there will never be any problems.

We do publicize the dates of our banquets well in advance and run them every week in Sports Extra for several months.

Despite that advance promotion, we again went head to head with some school banquets this time in football and basketball, forcing the honored athletes and their parents and coaches to make a difficult decision.

In a couple of cases, the athletes came to our banquet first, we moved up their place on the program and then presented their awards early so they could hustle over to their school function.

There also were groups that went to their school awards night first and then came to our banquet.

As far as competing with a varsity event on the day or night of our banquet, I also understand how that may create some problems. We've had girls show up in softball uniforms in the past to receive their awards.

However, there are many events during any sports season. There's only one recognition banquet for these young men and women.

I would hope the coaches would take that into consideration and let their athletes attend the banquets. They don't have to be there for the chicken, but it would be nice to give them their moment in the spotlight in front of the audience when the awards are passed out.

One of my biggest concerns is when the athlete shows up and the coach doesn't.

Again, there may be a good reason, but it's an insult to the young athlete if the coach just forgets or has a flimsy excuse for not sharing in the evening with the young man or woman.

One of our all-area captains mentioned the absence of the coach during the acceptance speech. That athlete obviously was disappointed.

With all this as background, I know I can't realistically expect 100 percent attendance at each of these 10 football and basketball banquets. There are just too many conflicts in our busy world.

I'll cut everybody some slack.

I would be happy with 99 percent.