It was a move to counter controversy. Howard High School quick to point out that those involved in gun play at their school, are not with the school.
"Most of them aren't even students that are causing the violence at the school. They just see an opportunity to go to a place where they know there's going to be a lot of people and they cause problems at those places," says Sgt. Todd Royval with the Chattanooga Police Department.
"We have a lot of good kids in the school system. You've got other folks from the neighborhood that you know probably be involved with gangs or what not. To me I still think we have a lot of good kids around here," adds Howard fan Reginald Beechem.
Instead of playing their game against Tyner Friday night, Howard got permission from the school district to play on Saturday afternoon, turning from controversy to community in the process.
"The parents who you see here today is showing that. They are showing the people that we are not afraid to bring our children out to event, especially sports events that young people enjoy and the family as a whole can enjoy," says George Ricks of the Hamilton County School Board.
"This school has been traditionally the hub of the community for so long and then when I look around and see these community folks who are normally not coming out at night who are here today. It's just been a great thing for us. To have these folks out here today with children with young people it just seems like this may be something that we do a lot more is have Saturday afternoon games," adds Howard Principal Dr. Paul Smith.
Seeing the community come together as a family could spur more games like this in the future.
"I think a lot of private school plays some games on Saturday's, so I don't see why public education can't do the same thing. I'm not saying cut out the Friday games, but let's look at the four or five Saturday games through the year," says Ricks.
Smith says they may look at moving more of the big rivalry games to Saturday afternoons.
