No doubt about the team this fan will be 'rootin' for'

By Melissa Murphy/ MMurphy@TheReporter.com
Article Launched: 11/14/2008 01:04:52 AM PST

"Who ya rootin' for?"

It's a simple question, but Herman Marfil, has added his own flare to it.

His voice can be heard above the crowd of hundreds of Bulldog football fans at Vacaville High School, yelling, "Who ya rootin' for?" The crowd, without missing a beat yells back, "Vaca Hiiiiiiiigh School."

He also can be seen wearing his American flag bandana and a Vacaville High School letterman's jacket. "If I don't wear the bandana, people don't know who I am," he said. He even sports a honorary football Section Championship ring that was given to him two years ago. On one side it has the initials WYRF for his trademark yell.

Marfil started the cheer's tradition when he graduated from Vacaville High School in 1957 and has kept it going since. "Everybody wants to yell," said Marfil, adding that he leads the cheer five to six times at each game. "I'm trying to get everyone pumped up."

A true fan, Marfil has attended just about every home and away game supporting the Bulldogs and plans to be on hand tonight for yet another Black and Blue Bowl, as Vacaville and Will C. Wood high schools square off on the gridiron at Tom Zunino Field. But there was a time last year, when it wasn't certain Marfil would make it to any future games. Last year he was diagnosed with leukemia and could barely walk or even talk.

"Last year at this time, people thought I wasn't going to make it," he said. "I was in the hospital too many times and I missed several games."

As per doctor's orders, Marfil was asked to stay away from crowds because of his weak immune system. However, that didn't sit well with him.

"I came in a wheelchair," he said recalling the first game last season. "The kids wanted me here for the opening game. I was on the field just like every time before. Sometimes I think if I don't go, nobody else can do it."

Marfil said at that time he was shocked to see how much the players and the fans supported him.

"After their warm up, each player came to me and either gave me a great big hug or a handshake," he said. "I couldn't help but cry. My heart was just uplifted. It was overwhelming."

Marfil said he still has the get well cards he was given.

Today, Marfil's cancer is in remission.

"I'm great. No, I'm wonderful now," he said. "I wasn't ready to call it quits."

The origin of the familiar crowd-boosting cheer he leads at each game had meager beginnings.

Marfil explained that while the Bulldogs had an away game in Vallejo, the Vacaville High School cheerleaders actually cheered for the wrong team. Instead of yelling, "defense" the group was yelling for the offense when the opposing team had the ball.

"That's when I had to ask, who are you rooting for?" he said. "It stuck."

Now 68 years old, Marfil said he's not going to stop anytime soon.

"When I was younger I used to run back and forth (in the stands)," he said. "I'm on the field now, I guess you'd say I'm part of the woodwork or part of the lawn."