As fall approaches, I sit back and am preparing for it in an unfamiliar way. It’s not by starting football practice, getting hyped up and anticipating the upcoming season, it’s getting ready for college. For me living in a small town, attending a small school with about 80 kids graduating with me, sports were everything to me, especially football. Some people may see this as just a game, but for the 25 brothers on the team and 4 coaches it was more than “just a game.” Sure wearing jerseys to school feels great, but it’s more than that as well.
From everyday in the summer leading up to two-a-days beginning every third week in August, to pre-game and then finally game day, there is a certain feeling in the air. One that is near impossible to duplicate. Most people do not realize and are unable to experience the dedication, time, and effort it takes to make the magic happen on Friday nights. When you spend countless hours lifting, hitting, conditioning, and practicing with the same group of guys day after day, you get a sense of togetherness and create a bond that no one can break. You feel prideful as you come together as one and are labeled “The Pembroke Dragons.” You all play for one school, and aim for one goal you all created together the first day of practice, essentially becoming “11 as 1.” Only people who play football know what it’s like to strap up pads everyday, and have those pre-practice meetings, talking and joking with teammates until the coaches emerge from the coaches room to get on the board to go over plays and the practice plan. It’s the little things like that that make football, football. All the behind the scenes things.
Football is more than scoring touchdowns and making tackles. It’s about being mentally and physically tough, discipline, and sacrifice. Questions are raised, can you answer? If there is a hard count, will you jump? If there is a bad call, how will you respond? Will you throw a fit or shake it off and make a great play? My coach’s favorite, “Are you hurt or injured? There’s a difference.” Football builds character. Sure people give out big hits, but if a player receives a big hit is a player of character, he will jump right up, hurt or not, and run back to the huddle. Football teaches you to do anything to win, as I’ve taken on blocks coming from middle linebackers that some days I still feel. Diving into piles to bring down the ball carrier, blocking instead of scoring, etc. It teaches you to give it your all. After every game, I wanted to be able to tell myself I gave it my all every single play. I was pushed and pushed every single day to get better, and when I was pushed, I succeeded.
Coach L set the bar high for me my first day of practice Senior year. He told me that my position switched from running back to wide receiver, in which I was in complete shock. He then looked me dead in the eyes and said, “We moved you for a reason, you have potential to be one of the best in the GR, don’t get lazy on us, I have high expectations for you.” Coach L put me on the spot, and I didn’t want to disappoint him or my team. Even know the first day I was eager, but yet a little annoyed I still did the best I could. Football gave me yet another lesson, you can always learn something new, and don't be afraid to try it.
It builds trust. There is not a feeling greater when you can trust someone. It secures a bond. You win games when a team trusts. You have to work for trust. You have to trust your line to make blocks and hold them. A quarterback has to trust his wide receiver to make the cut at the right time and be at the spot where you’re throwing the ball. When you have trust, it builds a team up, gives you confidence, and loyalty. Football teaches you how to do so.
What I want people to take away from this is that, football is a whole heck of a lot more than just a guy throwing a football and someone tackling another person. For players, do not take it for granted. I have only been done for a year and I miss it like crazy. You hear it over and over and I’ll tell you again, do not, I repeat DO NOT take it for granted. It will come and go by quickly, and before you know it, you’ll be standing outside the fences on Friday nights cheering on the next generation of players. For everyone, I still get goosebumps and my throat clenches when I think about Fridays. The school day has tension, after school we ate and got prepared. There was and is no better feeling than walking out of the tunnel down to the field, and then walking out to midfield hand in hand with other captains as the game was about to begin. It’s a feeling I miss tremendously. Don’t take it for granted. And for people who never played, it’s the lessons behind the game that makes it unbearable the day we have to give it up. It teaches us dedication, teamwork, pride, selflessness, understanding, and mental and physical toughness. It allows you to form friendships that last forever. It creates memories that will always be fresh in mind. So, enjoy running gassers and wind sprints the first few weeks of practice in the terribly hot August afternoons, take time to smell the roses, even if it is coach tearin’ you a new one during a halftime talk. It’s the little things like that that make football what it is, and made it a game that I fell in love with at 6-years-old.
