Regardless of the sport, every athlete experiences a wide variety of feelings while playing their sport. As all athletes typically are, I was greatly impacted from playing sports throughout my entire childhood, as well as during high school. I played football. Whether or not you too played football doesn't quite matter as much, as I'm sure you took away the very same things I did while I was an athlete.
1. The Game Itself
I started playing flag football when I was in 3rd grade. Ever since my days playing in the outfield of a softball field, I loved the game of football. I played all throughout my youth, and all throughout high school. Playing high school football was the furthest I'd get and I knew that, but that didn't stop me from enjoying every bit of it. I've always loved the game, and I always will.
2. The Rivalries
High school football rivalries are more than just two teams battling it out on the turf. It's way more than that. A rivalry is personal. A rivalry is about which community cares more. A rivalry is about which school is better and which town is superior. Breaking a thirteen year losing streak against a rival typically calls for celebration.
3. The Coaches
As the kid that I was in high school, all I was trying to do was figure out my place. Whether it was in the classroom, on the field, or elsewhere, I was always looking for guidance. My high school football coaches were there for me in a way different than my teachers or friends. My coaches were there to shape me as a player, as well as an individual.
4. The Friday Night Lights
The atmosphere at my hometown football field was like no other. The band’s music echoed across the field, filling the ears of all who stepped onto the clean cut grass. Fans for both teams swarmed into the bleachers from the parking lot. The smell of the hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill was always a nice addition during pregame, as the aroma traveled across the stadium. It was the lights, though, that made the scene so remarkable. Those Friday night lights gleamed brightly across all one hundred yards. Kickoff would be among us shortly.
5. The Offseason
Playing high school football for my school called for tough off-season. It was with these tough off-seasons that prepared us for success during the actual season. 6 AM lifts, passing leagues in other towns, and other competitions were stressful, but they helped bring the team together as one.
6. The Practices
Similar to life itself, the game of football is filled with "highs" and lows." It is those very "lows" that make the "highs" so extraordinary. No one ever likes practice, but it's necessary if, as a team, you want to be successful. Whether it was 95 degrees and humid, or 20 degrees with snowfall, that practice field was occupied.
7. The Locker Room
Before games and practices, the atmosphere of the locker room was always serious. Music would be blaring, adrenaline would be rushing, and the smell of sweat and filth roamed amongst us all. After those games and practices, granted we played well, the atmosphere was energizing. Celebrating wins with teammates was nothing short of a great time.
8. The Fans
Coming from a small town, I was blessed to have experienced what it's like to see a town come together and support a single goal. The bleachers at Mike Vanacore Field were never empty on a Friday Night. Knowing that an entire community was there to support us was one of the best feelings in the world.
9. The Brotherhood
I made my very best friends playing high school football. I'm grateful for having been able to become so close with so many different kids on past teams. As all sports do, high school football brought together my teammates and I, and it truly unified us as brothers.
