Football Season is Back
Bobby Leach, SW Sports Nest
Published 08/22/2010
- 9:08 a.m. CST
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I spent the past week visiting prep football practices all over the area as teams prepare for the start of football season next week. The universal feeling I experienced after visiting with coaching staffs and players at several schools was undoubtedly optimism. As athletes battled through some very warm conditions and coaches showed early signs of horse throats last week it was obvious that they were all motivated regardless of the thermometer reading. It’s football, it’s August and it’s an expected challenge for anyone daring enough to put on pads that test their physical and intellectual skills. Some will say, football above all other sports requires a team of up to 78 players or more to work in unison in order to achieve any real success. It’s no wonder so many apply lessons learned in football to many other circumstances in life.
The game isn’t just about the players that suit up and grab their spot on the sideline. The game reaches far deeper than one may expect or wish to acknowledge. Friday night football games include extremely gifted musicians that form marching bands which entertain the crowd in attendance. Speaking of the crowd which can number ten thousand or more at a single game, when they become restless or when their team needs the crowd to act as a 12th player on the field, the cheerleaders take center stage and get the fans to participate it celebratory or critical game situations.
I’m not finished. Every high school football game is a social event that typically brings attracts student’s, administrator’s, alumni and parents which can for one moment in time bring together a normally wide generational gap focused on a common goal. How many other events can move such mountains?
I have been covering high school football for many years and although I would like to think of my writings as my art to be shared, I am not always admired when I write something less than flattering. I was reminded of such an instance last week when visiting the coach of Joliet West during one of his practices. Last season I referred to his team as a “flag football” squad and let’s just say it was not received well by the coach or his players. Without going into great detail, I wish to apologize publically to the coach, players and fans of Joliet football. While I meant the words in a comedic sense, I should not have piled on during a tough season and for that specific comment, I am truly sorry for writing it. Now with that out of the way, I say to Joliet West and all the football teams in our area; have a great season and remember that while a scoreboard may tell who won the game, it does not tell you who the winners are. There is only One who can in my mind and He is not of this place.
The game isn’t just about the players that suit up and grab their spot on the sideline. The game reaches far deeper than one may expect or wish to acknowledge. Friday night football games include extremely gifted musicians that form marching bands which entertain the crowd in attendance. Speaking of the crowd which can number ten thousand or more at a single game, when they become restless or when their team needs the crowd to act as a 12th player on the field, the cheerleaders take center stage and get the fans to participate it celebratory or critical game situations.
I’m not finished. Every high school football game is a social event that typically brings attracts student’s, administrator’s, alumni and parents which can for one moment in time bring together a normally wide generational gap focused on a common goal. How many other events can move such mountains?
I have been covering high school football for many years and although I would like to think of my writings as my art to be shared, I am not always admired when I write something less than flattering. I was reminded of such an instance last week when visiting the coach of Joliet West during one of his practices. Last season I referred to his team as a “flag football” squad and let’s just say it was not received well by the coach or his players. Without going into great detail, I wish to apologize publically to the coach, players and fans of Joliet football. While I meant the words in a comedic sense, I should not have piled on during a tough season and for that specific comment, I am truly sorry for writing it. Now with that out of the way, I say to Joliet West and all the football teams in our area; have a great season and remember that while a scoreboard may tell who won the game, it does not tell you who the winners are. There is only One who can in my mind and He is not of this place.
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