On paper, Thomas Fris sounds fairly non-descript. He is a 47-year-old math teacher at Bethlehem Central High School.
But his effect on the student body is incredible and permeates beyond the classroom when he leads his band.
It isn’t a rock and roll or ska band. Fris leads a pep band named The Hooligans.
What are The Hooligans? said Fris. `Well, most people know the reference from the European soccer fans who are often characterized as those who tend to get drunk, and be loud, and get into brawls, and run onto the field, and knock over referees, and that kind of craziness.`
The Hooligans started in the summer of 2006 when a group of 10-12 seniors formed the band to support their friends on the varsity boys soccer team.
`I knew nothing about any of this until the first day of school, when I was approached by some kids,` said Fris. `The initial question that they posed was, ‘Mr. Fris, what are you doing at 4 o’clock this afternnon?’`
That initial question posed by 2007 graduates Pat Venter and Paul Cafiero would lead to the emergence of the Hooligans.
`Now I knew nothing of pep bands besides that they were meant for football games,` Fris said. `I’m thinking, ‘What are these kids up to?’`
Much to his amazement, Fris’ early skepticism proved to be baseless. Not only had the young men been practicing heavily, but they had checked the official Section 2 Athletics Rules.
`It is legitimate to have a pep band at any high school athletic event, but you need a teacher supervisor,` said Fris. `That’s where I come in.`
But why did Venter and Cafiero choose him? `I don’t know anything about music except being a fan. I can’t read music, I’ve never had any formal training, I can’t play an instrument, but music has always been a huge part of my life,` said Fris. `You add being a fun loving guy together with this band that’s when I knew this was a match made in heaven.`
From Fris’ premiere at the first soccer game, the fan base began to grow.
`Not only are you watching great soccer, but now you got this great pep band with me goofily conducting along, so kids really started to come out,` said Fris.
It didn’t hurt that the 2006 Bethlehem boys soccer team was exceptional. After winning the Suburban Council title, Bethlehem took the Section II, Class AA championship and reached the state final four and the hooligans went every step of the way with them.
`We probably took well over 100 kids out there,` Fris spoke of Bethlehem’s trip to a regional playoff game in Syracuse. `It was essentially a home game for them, but as it turned out, we had a significantly higher number of fans than they did.`
When Bethlehem lost in the state semifinals, the Hooligans didn’t have anywhere to continue playing at first. `After that season, it was almost as if there was a void. Both the kids and I were saying, ‘It can’t be over,’` said Fris.
As it turned out, the Hooligans were in demand to play at other Bethlehem sporting events including hockey, basketball and even tennis.
`We developed a reputation,` said Fris. `Area schools knew about us, local media started paying attention. The more attention we got, the bigger it grew.`
While fun, leading the Hooligans has proven to be exhausting for Fris.
`People from the booster clubs started calling us saying ‘can you play this event, can you play that event?’` said Fris. `It felt like we were playing constantly, and at some point I was asking myself, ‘How do I teach math and still keep this going?’`
So, why does he keep this going? The fact is, Fris does what he does because it’s fun.
`The Hooligans are totally student run and independent from the school, so I don’t have any official position,` he said. `Everybody knows it’s my gig, but it’s not like I have a job as an assistant coach or something.`
Not only has his experience with the Hooligans been fun, but Fris said it has helped Bethlehem athletics.
`I think this has really regenerated some of the school spirit around sports that may have been waning a little bit. I know not every kid is into it but it became something to rally around ` for the fans, the band and me,` he said. `It doesn’t hurt when your teams are real good. People love a winner, but when you set a winner to some funny music it’s a blast.`
And in the process, the Hooligans are redefining the word the band uses as its name.
`At first, there was controversy around that name, with the drunkenness and the fighting,` said Fris. `We are 180 degrees away from that. For a couple hours a week, nobody’s getting drunk or fighting. It’s good, clean American fun.`
Fris isn’t planning on leaving the Hooligans to focus on math. `All I want is more than 24 hours in a day. That’s all I need. I love it and I couldn’t walk away from this even if I wanted to,` he said.“