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Getting your money's worth at a game
Their team had just played lights-out, no-holds-barred, smash-mouth football for four quarters, and one overtime period, and lost. But forget the score of the game for just a moment and remember this one all-important, but always forgotten fact. These two teams are made up of volunteers, young men who do not get paid for their services. And the coaches who spend more than 40-hours, beyond the classroom, teaching these same players how to play the game. Then let's talk about the referees. I for one am the biggest critic of officials. I even used to have a hall of shame for the same people. But consider the fact that these men have regular jobs they perform each and every day and then they decide they want to go out on a weekend night and have everyone scream and yell at them and call them every name in the book except possibly the child of God. Everyone makes mistakes. I saw and noted on my stat sheets possible errors made in favor of each team. Remember this, only two flags were thrown in the second half, and both of them came with less than a minute left on the clock. We all know these facts, but we all still heap so much pressure on these individuals each and every week as though our lives depended on the outcome. Unless you were moronic enough to bet on a high school football game, then your monthly funds did not hang in the balance as to who won or lost. Now, getting past the obvious, let's relish the fact of the game that was played. Two teams fighting tooth and nail to try and get a win. It only costs $5 to get in the gate for the game and I can guarantee that each and every person got their money's worth. One team was battling to remain unbeaten and to prove something to others, while the second team was looking to right the ship and build towards the run of region games to come. Well guess what? I think both may have accomplished what they were seeking. I think Clarke County gets something to help them as they prepare to complete their region games while Jackson can see just how good they can play as they get ready to face the Escambia County trio (Atmore, T.R. Miller and W.S. Neal). The show we got in overtime was worth more than the price of admission. True football fans saw the game inside the game and appreciated the moves made by the coaches. Nothing was left in the playbook. Everything was left on the field by the players. It was something like a war, except for the bodies. But after watching some of the viscous hits during the game, I wondered why we never saw anyone having to be carted off the field. Take the game as what it was...a true gem and forget the negative stuff. We have enough of that in our everyday lives. Let's keep the high school sports pure. If you can not do that, and you know so much about coaching then take this friendly advice: 1) Quit your job. 2) Go back to college and get a teaching degree. 3) Get certified to coach. 4) Get hired by a school. 5) Kiss your family good-bye when the season starts. 6) Get ear plugs so you can't hear the fans from across the fence. 7) Be prepared to be father, mother, friend and mentor to your athletes. 8) And be prepared to do this for almost no money. Do those things and you can toot your horn all you want. Otherwise....shut your ignorant mouths and stay home on Friday and watch Las Vegas on NBC.
That's all folks........
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