Courtesy photo The 1981-82 Escanaba Eskymos champions.

ESCANABA — Old chants still echo across the bay “U.P. power, U.P. power” and “second to none in ’81” as well as “where the hell is Escanaba?”

These are old football battle cries!

These cheers and phrases are hometown pride verbalized. School spirit and local pride are not strangers to the U.P. and Delta County.

Many of us fondly recall the Eskymo football team that made it to the playoffs in 1979-80. A downstate-person made an offhand remark saying, “where the hell is Escanaba?” We have been trying to show them ever since.

In the school year of 1981-82, the Escanaba Eskymos became the state champions after a victory in the Silver Dome. Can anyone ever forget that ride back across the Mackinac Bridge with well-wishers honking and cheering as the team and fan buses passed by?

From St. Ignace to Gladstone, cars lined the side roads with signs of congratulations. From Wells to Escanaba, headlights flashed, car horns honked and a hero’s welcome awaited the team.

Yoopers are a proud people.

Hometown spirit is shared with neighbors. We tip our hats and we remember the schools, the teams and the years like the Mid-Pen girls basketball team, Gladstone’s winning softball and baseball teams and the Powers North Central boys’ basketball team.

Once again, it’s time to get all fired up, even in this cool, gray November world of ours. It is time to paint the town orange and black!

The Escanaba Eskymos have made it to the state semifinals. They will be traveling to Traverse City to play Grand Rapids Catholic Central on Saturday.

Folks have been comparing the “Escanaba atmosphere” from the early 1980’s to now. Back then almost every home or business had some orange and black showing (school colors). The Esky fight song and cheering and fan buses up-staged even deer season!

Times have changed. Yes, we may be a little more robotic and impersonal these days — with are computers, cell phones and devices — but if everyone tweets, Facebooks and emails “go, go Eskymos” how great that would be!

Football does not have to be your favorite thing to get into the spirit of this upcoming game. It’s not just about athletics. It is about dedication and a sense of accomplishment.

Big thanks go out to the players who practiced since last summer in the heat, sometimes twice a day, kept up with school work, homework, and played in the cold. To the coaches, teachers, and athletic department who work so hard to make this all happen.

To the moms and dads with many rides to practice, stinky uniforms, and encouraging words over the years, thank you. Escanaba has something to cheer about. This football team has provided entertainment and outings for many citizens.

Like all of the moms, I pray for no injuries and I pray for a lot of good old-fashioned U.P power!

Hometown spirit — let’s hear it! We are proud of you. Let’s win!

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Karen (Rose) Wils is a lifelong north Escanaba resident. Her folksy columns appear weekly in Lifestyles.