The first football game of the season is always a special one to me. I grew up in a family whose schedule revolved around football: Yorkville youth and high school during the week, Notre Dame on Saturdays and the Green Bay Packers on Sundays. I walked into LHS today and found the hallways filled with maroon and gold in anticipation and support of tonight's game against Dee-Mack. For the first time in my four years as a coach at LHS, I feel like I'm part of the Panther family. There's something really special about football season in a small town. It's more than just a game... it's a feeling, a family, and it's a tradition.
In honor of tonight's game, I played Kenny Chesney's music video, "Boys of Fall." The video serves as a great reminder that tonight is about more than just football.
You Tube: Kenny Chesney- "Boys of Fall"
"So many people live vicariously through you... I would give anything tonight to jump into one of those uniforms with you."
"My father never saw me play. Play for your father tonight!"
"Football lessons you learn as kids continue to apply to the rest of your life."
I left a slip of paper on everyone's desk today. The top of the paper said, "I've learned..." Here are their responses:
I'VE LEARNED...
"...to make the best of you're life while you are young. Be yourself, love one another, don't let anyone get you down." Age 16
"...to make sure you stick to your word and do what you say you will." Age 17
"...that time goes by faster than you know it. The older you get, the faster it goes, so appreciate the important parts of life." Age 17
"...to never give up on anything. Push through and you'll succeed." Age 16
"Don't allow anyone to outwork you." Age 16
"... that it gets better. You might be in a really down part of your life, but it will get better if you stay positive. Don't quit on yourself." Age 16
"...not to procrastinate!" Age 17
"...to stay close to my teammates when it's hard...to trust in them and believe that we can do it!" Age 16
"...that you may not think highly of yourself, but there is always some little kid looking up to you thinking, 'I want to be just like her.'" Age 16
"...to just have fun and believe in yourself so you can become who you really want to be, yourself!" Age 16
"...that if you believe in what you KNOW and TRUST then nobody can knock you down." Age 18
"...that you can't succeed if you don't fail. Failure will rise you up higher than you could predict." Age 16
In honor of my #1 college team...the Notre Dame Fighting Irish:
PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY!!
GO PANTHERS!
In honor of tonight's game, I played Kenny Chesney's music video, "Boys of Fall." The video serves as a great reminder that tonight is about more than just football.
You Tube: Kenny Chesney- "Boys of Fall"
"So many people live vicariously through you... I would give anything tonight to jump into one of those uniforms with you."
"My father never saw me play. Play for your father tonight!"
"Football lessons you learn as kids continue to apply to the rest of your life."
I left a slip of paper on everyone's desk today. The top of the paper said, "I've learned..." Here are their responses:
I'VE LEARNED...
"...to make the best of you're life while you are young. Be yourself, love one another, don't let anyone get you down." Age 16
"...to make sure you stick to your word and do what you say you will." Age 17
"...that time goes by faster than you know it. The older you get, the faster it goes, so appreciate the important parts of life." Age 17
"...to never give up on anything. Push through and you'll succeed." Age 16
"Don't allow anyone to outwork you." Age 16
"... that it gets better. You might be in a really down part of your life, but it will get better if you stay positive. Don't quit on yourself." Age 16
"...not to procrastinate!" Age 17
"...to stay close to my teammates when it's hard...to trust in them and believe that we can do it!" Age 16
"...that you may not think highly of yourself, but there is always some little kid looking up to you thinking, 'I want to be just like her.'" Age 16
"...to just have fun and believe in yourself so you can become who you really want to be, yourself!" Age 16
"...that if you believe in what you KNOW and TRUST then nobody can knock you down." Age 18
"...that you can't succeed if you don't fail. Failure will rise you up higher than you could predict." Age 16
In honor of my #1 college team...the Notre Dame Fighting Irish:
PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY!!
GO PANTHERS!