Fans become must-see TV at AT&T Stadium

Everyone wants 15 minutes of fame, but five seconds at AT&T Stadium isn’t bad.

Thousands of high school football fans are rotating through the stadium for UIL state championship games this weekend, and many end up seeing themselves on the 60-yard-long video screen.

Call it must-see TV for fans.

“It’s cool because everybody sees you,” said Hannah Richmond, a student at Newton High School, which lost to Waskom, 41-22, Thursday in the Class 3A Division II championship game.

During timeouts and possession changes in the games, which continue through Saturday, the cameras turn toward fans to let them put their best face forward.

It’s a perfect opportunity to show off killer — or goofy — dance moves or simply wave, smile and nudge the person next to you. Most do just that.

A few get embarrassed: Seeing yourself on a 72-foot-tall screen could make almost anyone sheepish.

For many, the appeal lies in the popular desire to be on TV. When you add the gargantuan size of the screen, it’s even better.

“It was awesome to be on the big Cowboys TV,” said Kaleab Fisher, 11, a fan of Mason High School. “I felt like I was Emmitt Smith or Troy Aikman.”

Kaleab and cousin Paige Fisher, 10, waved posters, danced and jumped their way onto the giant screen three times during the first half of Mason’s game against the Canadian Wildcats. Canadian won the Class 2A Division I title, 34-7.

Waving signs, being loud and getting decked out in your school colors significantly increase your odds of being seen. Being a kid helps, too, but the larger the crowd, the tougher it is.

“I’ve been trying to get their attention all game,” said Vernecia Collins, 11, a fan of the West Orange-Stark Mustangs. “It looks fun, and I want to celebrate my team.”

West Orange-Stark lost to Gilmer, 35-25, in the Class 4A Division II championship game Friday afternoon.

Fans who are less interested in getting larger-than-life face time still find it entertaining. Players and coaches sometimes glance at the big board as well.

And who can blame them? It’s big. It’s bold.

“Whenever you’re not watching the game, your head shoots up there,” fan Matt McCarty said. “It’s definitely entertaining to watch people’s reactions.”

During timeouts, the screen also shows pictures that fans posted on social media while at the stadium using hashtags such as #txhsfb and #uilstate.

Chad Hetrick, a Canadian High School fan, compared seeing yourself on the screen to a giant selfie.

“I don’t think it’s anything different than posting on Facebook and getting ‘likes,’” Hetrick said.

This story was originally published December 19, 2014 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Fans become must-see TV at AT&T Stadium."