-YLC EAGLES motto
Aren't people supposed to live and die by mottos? Well, today, I suppose we died by it, however, we didn't even try to live by it. How will we ever live by our motto if we don't even try.
As we load the bus to go to the game, there was a constant chant from the team. "Who we are? EAGLES! What we gunna do? FLY HIGH!" This went on over and over for about 30 minutes. As a coach, listening to the boys cheering each other up and getting pumped for the game is exactly what you want to see. Today could turn out to be a good day. Why do these boys fool me with EVERYTHING??? Of COURSE it wasn't going to turn out. I had seen them practice so I knew there was no chance of a win, especially knowing we were playing the champs from last year. But I went in with a big heart, hoping there was a way to pull out a win.
The boys run ahead to the field to maximize their time of warm-ups before starting. As I walk the half-mile to the field, it gives them about 10 minutes before I get there to stretch. However, when I get there, all that is stretching is their jaws. Of course they are yelling at each other, not even close to getting in proper lines. Everyday we ask for three men in front, with people lined up behind them. Each day we get closer and closer, but when you are still trying to start with 6 lines, it makes you want to scream. So we did just that. Lots of it!
After a pitiful warmup, we finally got the team in a huddle and talked a bit before the game. The only thing we won was the coin toss, and still about messed up that call. Good thing the coaches were there to confer with, otherwise, we would have won the coin toss and kicked off. Something NOT in our game plan.
As the game started, our first play ended up in an interception. Not our first possession and series of downs, not close to our first, but the first time we snapped the ball, we gave it right to the other team. Therefore, we did lose the coin toss. This is how the whole game went. That is, until, miraculously, we completed a 78-yard pass to my center and student, Mr. Jude. He made it to the (we will say around the) 2-yard line. Then, the other team caught him and got his flag, saving the touchdown. Do you think we scored? Absolutely not! Do you think we threw the next ball for a touchdown to the other team as they run it right through us and we walk with our heads down? Of course! So, this really is how the game went. 40 straight minutes of it.
In the fourth quarter, the other team finally put in their D squad. I wish I was making this up. Out of nowhere, we ran a play perfectly, selling the fake perfectly, and completing a pass for a touchdown to bring the score to 6-41 with no time. They let us run the conversion and we got that too, making the final 7-41. As a coach, my record really is 0-1, however, id consider saying I am like -5 and 1 after that performance.
So what do you do with a team of boys who won't run in a game, yells at each other, doesn't wear the proper uniform to games or school? Well, what we do is run them. A lot! Around an hour and a half lot! Right after the game! On the same field! In front of fans! They knew they had a sprint for every unanswered point we lost by. 41-7=34. We ran every single one of them, kinda. We jogged. So, we kept running, and doing up-downs and running. Were the boys mad? Of course, but do they understand? YES!!! They got the point of what we were doing. We had boys coming after practice to say they are done screwing around and are stepping it up. It is sad we have to do things like this to get them to look at reality a bit, but if it must be done, we will do it. Again and again until they have it pounded in their heads.
By the end of the season, I have a feeling my entire team is going to hate Joel Gerber and Vance Williams, the master-minds behind all the sprints and punishments they are doing!
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