I see that the Cameron Yeomen and the Rockdale Tigers had their annual "Battle of the Bell" football game last Friday night. Cameron won 65-28. The two towns first met on the gridiron back in 1911, when Rockdale won 11-0, but Cameron has dominated the series. What makes this rivalry unique is that it is the "Battle of the Bell." The bell in question is the trophy that has been awarded to the victor since 1954. The trophy had been a bell which previously was aboard steam locomotive # 3 of the Rockdale, Sandow and Southern railroad company, a small railroad that was formed in 1923 to service a lignite mine in Millerton (later Sandow), Texas. Incidentally, it's been a "Tale of Two Teams" best of times/worst of times scenario for Cameron and Rockdale this year, on account of Cameron is undefeated at 6-0 while Rockdale has yet to win a game. Of course, optimism beats fully in the hearts of all true sports fans, even when their team isn't doing well. So, to the Rockdale fans, all I can offer is hope: there's always next year --- and there always is. Don't you love these Texas high school rivalry games?