I used to hear the phrase "It will be over before you know it" more times than I could count during high school. The first two years I was able to blow it off, because let's be honest, high school was never going to end at that point. My junior year it began to seem more plausible that someday I would have to leave and would not be able to do some of the things that I really enjoyed. Senior year I knew that college was right around the corner and that it was time for the old hobbies and activities that I had become a part of to end.
Out of all the clubs, organizations, or athletics that I tried, none touched my life in the way that football did. My family and friends probably get tired of hearing the same stories from practices or games over and over, but I can't help to tell them. Football was more than just a sport that I played though; it shaped the man that I have become, and will continue to impact the way I live the rest of my life.
Some of you may have never played football, watched football, or thoroughly enjoyed it. There is nothing wrong with that. However, I am confident that a good portion of the people reading this article have played, known someone that played, or just enjoys the game. What I would like to do is reflect back on the eight years that I was fortunate to have with a game that I love, and share some of the many lessons that I learned.
1. Football, much like life, is almost never fair.
Even with rules and regulations to make the game fair, there is no real way to put two teams, or even two people for that matter, on a level. There will always be someone that is bigger, faster, stronger, smarter, or just plain better. Now, that is not to say the other person cannot be beaten, or that you are necessarily destined to fail. Instead of being discouraged or intimidated, you have to be inspired by the challenge. Whether it is football, a job interview, or just performing at your job to chase a promotion, in order to accomplish your goal, to do your job when others are counting on you, you have to overcome that uphill battle. Which brings me to my next point.
2. Inspiration can be found from just about anywhere.
While I did enjoy football as a game, the one thing that I remember most from it is the relationships and bonds that I made with my teammates and coaches. Now, I'll be the first person to admit that I didn't necessarily get along with every single player or even all of my coaches, but looking back on it, I was motivated just as much by those I disliked as those who I did get along with. There were some coaches that I felt overlooked me, so I would practice and play harder to gain their attention. There were teammates who would get on my nerves and aggravate me, so I would push myself to put them in their place. The fact remains, I owe a great deal of credit to my challengers for the improvement that I made as a player during those years.
3. Everything eventually comes to an end.
I still remember my last football game. It was the quarterfinals of the playoffs and it was cold to say the least. After four quarters of fighting, the clock ran out, and the scoreboard read 28-21. We had come up short. While the home team celebrated their advance to the semifinals, my teammates, coaches, all of our friends and families that traveled to see us lingered on the field. For me, football was over, just like that. I remember milking every last second in my pads and uniform. As I reflect on it, all the same emotions from that night hit me: disappointment, frustration, anger. Two years later though, I am able to also feel gratitude, humility, thankfulness and a longing to go back and do it all again. Time never stops, even when we desperately want it to. There is always a time to begin, a time to enjoy, and a time to move on, and that is as true for football as anything.
I wouldn't trade my years playing football for anything. While you may have had a different experience or perhaps no experience, it was a part of me that lives on past my days of playing. My teammates became some of my closest friends. For those of you that may be reading this, thank you for sharing those hot summer days, cold fall nights, aches and bruises and all of the hard earned wins, along with the hard to swallow losses. For the coaches that always believed in me and supported me, you have no idea how much you mean to me. There were times that your encouragement convinced me to keep playing and to keep pushing myself. You gave me someone other than my father (who is also an exceptional man) to look up to and admire. I cannot overstate how important that is to me. To the coaches that pushed me and at times made me believe you doubted me, thank you. At the time, I was unable to appreciate your role in my life. However, now I can see that you were preparing me for the harsh reality of the real world, and it has made all the difference.
I will be a Woodward Boomer for the rest of my life. I was born and raised in the same town for 19 years and have always felt like a part of a larger family. I have never experienced the kind of bond that I had with my team throughout high school. I miss the early morning workouts, long practices, headaches, ice baths, blisters and fatigue. I miss being a part of something larger than myself, something I love. I miss the guys that I had the privilege to play with and the men that I had coaching me.
As the fall approaches and two-a-days begin, I hope those of you who still have the opportunity to play take full advantage of it. Embrace the challenges, face them head on, and conquer them. Soak in the laughs after practice with your friends. Accept the fact that coaches may not be perfect, but they are always doing their best to prepare you. Take it from an old "has been," it will be over before you know it.
