| Copyright (c) 2007 Good News Publications | | | | coaches talk to the team and let the players talk |
| I want to explain one of the greatest life lessons | | | | about the game. This was the last night of the |
| you will probably ever hear. It was brought home | | | | season and the last night for the seniors, so the |
| to me again last Friday night in an unusual way. | | | | head coach let all the seniors talk. There was no |
| For 16 years I coached High School Football in | | | | finger pointing, there were no regrets, each one, |
| Eastern Virginia. That's the 757 area code of | | | | to a man, talked about how much he loved the |
| Virginia. If you know anything about College | | | | game and how much he loved his teammates and |
| Football, you will recognize that area code as one | | | | coaches. Tears flowing, hearts open, and these |
| of the most talented areas in the country. | | | | young men saw the game bigger than win/loss, |
| But our school was small in number, in fact for | | | | bigger than points on the board, bigger than the |
| the past 16 years we had to apply for an | | | | final team record. |
| exception to the rule in order to play AA football | | | | At one point during the game, the team we were |
| because we were a single A sized school. This | | | | playing broke through the line of scrimmage and |
| meant we never had the numbers (most of our | | | | took off on a 60 yard run to the end zone. We |
| varsity teams never had over 25 players, so our | | | | were already down by 30 points, but the middle |
| kids had to go both ways all season). We rarely | | | | linebacker chased this player down and tackled |
| had outstanding talent and if we did it was one or | | | | him on the 4 yard line. Two plays later the team |
| two players every five years or so. This means | | | | scored anyway. But for that one moment, our |
| we were always out-numbered, the players rarely | | | | player had the heart not to let his teammates |
| got a rest, a lot of them played hurt and to top it | | | | down, not to let himself down and gave |
| all, we played in a District where a team went to | | | | everything he had to stop that man before he |
| the State playoffs every year. | | | | scored. He had been playing both ways the whole |
| So how is it with so many disadvantages, we | | | | game, but his team and the pride in himself came |
| sent players on to college football at every level | | | | first. |
| almost every year�including both of my | | | | No one would have blamed him if he only tried |
| sons? Not only did we send them, but our players | | | | half-heartedly to stop him, we were already down |
| were successful. The old coaching staff and I got | | | | 30 points, but that's not what we teach! |
| together after the game and counted up 9 | | | | After the huddle at the end of the game when |
| Championship Rings that our former players had | | | | we broke up, several of the seniors were hugging |
| won at the college level from Division III all the | | | | each other and crying. They were not crying |
| way to a National Championship in Division 1AA | | | | because they lost; they were not crying because |
| and an Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in | | | | they had a bad game or a bad season. The |
| Division IA, with our former player being named | | | | reason they were crying was summed up in one |
| ACC Player of the Year. | | | | player's sobbing outburst�"It's over!" |
| How could such a small school with an | | | | He and the others were crying because they |
| unimpressive win/loss record have such | | | | would never again put on a uniform; never again |
| successful players? Because we coached these | | | | walk on the field as a player, never again be a |
| young men to love the game, give all they had all | | | | member of a team on the field pulling for a united |
| the time and never, never waste an opportunity | | | | goal�it was over. |
| when it is given to you. | | | | I have seen seniors in the past go down to the |
| I was reminded of this last Friday night when I | | | | end zone and just sit down as everyone left the |
| saw the team play once again. We were playing | | | | field. They just sat there gazing at the field |
| the cross town team who had already won the | | | | reliving every moment they could. The stands |
| District Championship with a 9-0 record and we | | | | were empty, the field was empty but they just |
| were their last game. | | | | sat their not wanting to leave. |
| Once again we were outnumbered, outsized and | | | | Of course they will go on to other things in life |
| outplayed. By half time we were down 37 to | | | | and hopefully carry this passion with them. But |
| nothing. The game finally ended 44 to 0. Our | | | | the life lesson that is so important to learn here is |
| school was in a down cycle to say the least. With | | | | that we never allow time to pass us by, never |
| a miserable 3-7 record and only 21 players on the | | | | take an opportunity for granted, before you |
| team you would think that a 44-0 loss on your | | | | know it, that window is closed and "It's over!" |
| last game would be so hurtful you would want to | | | | Live with passion. Love what you are doing or find |
| just leave and go home. | | | | something else to do. You only get one shot at |
| But after each game, down on the field the | | | | life, make the most of if before�it's over. |