JASPER — The most interesting conversation I had Friday night in Jasper wasn't with any of Cullman High's players, not with any of the coaches, not even with my counterparts from the Daily Mountain Eagle.

Actually, the most interesting conversation I had that night had nothing to do with me at all.

Seconds before the second half started, a member of the "chain gang" — that group of men and women who move the yardsticks all over the field — looked over in my direction. I could tell he wanted to talk.

"You from the paper in Cullman?"

"Yes sir."

"This is a good team," he said, referring to Cullman.

"Yes sir, they sure are."

"You can tell they're really disciplined and smart. They play really smart football."

And just for emphasis.

"This is a really good football team," he said again.

Granted, that was before the Bearcats let Walker back into the game, allowing the hosts to pull within a touchdown in the fourth quarter. But Mr. Chain Gang had already said all he needed to — which, by the way, also included special praise for Cullman quarterback Tyler Caldwell, whom he called "mature in the pocket."

Maybe it's not the most interesting exchange in the history of conversation, but it did enough to get me thinking. Which is better? Gathering praise from within your own ranks, or having it heaped upon you by one of your biggest rivals?

I'll take the second one every time. Especially from a bystander so wise.

Because, really, what better words to use to describe this Cullman team than "disciplined," "smart" and "mature." Before the game, anyone in the stadium could see that Walker's players were fired up. Making plenty of noise, the Vikings looked to be the team with more to prove.

But it turned out that Cullman's players, who seemed strangely quiet during their pregame warm-ups, were the team feeling a bit slighted. They just let their game say it instead.

What's more mature than that?