High School football season is here.
It’s a season of Friday Night Lights with the local band playing the school fight song, cheerleaders performing their latest cheers in front of a packed student section, and parents, grandparents, and community members filling the stadium to cheer on their hometown team.
The only problem is, the local team is in a losing streak that doesn’t show any signs of ending.
Where do we go from here?
Trying to Keep an Air of Optimism
Right before the first kickoff of the season, there was a wave of optimism rippling through the crowd. The home team had been on a losing streak for the last few year, however maybe this year was the year. Maybe the Greyhounds would pull together and begin to see a few wins.
Both of my boys are juniors this year. They both play football, with Kaleb playing both ways on the line, and Keegan playing starting quarterback. Needless to say, football is big in our household with off-season weightlifting sessions, 7-on-7 in the summer, and 4 man workouts squeezed in whenever possible.
Whenever the first football game arrives, it doesn’t matter how many losses we have had prior, fans pull on their Greyhound gear and flood into the stadium to eat popcorn, buy raffle tickets, and cheer on our Boys of Fall.
We are ready to begin what will hopefully be a change for the better with Greyhound football.
Injuries Strike the Greyhounds
Picture this: It’s the third game of the Greyhound season. We are playing the team that we beat last year, (the only team we beat last year) so, you know, fans and players alike are all thinking this is our chance. If we want a win this season, this is it.
It’s 3 minutes before half, and the score is tied 0-0. This is good for us. Typically we are already down by a couple of touchdowns. We have the ball and are moving closer to the endzone. I’m thinking, good, we have a chance to score before halftime. Next thing I know, Keegan is brought to the sideline where our trainer, Marco, rushes to his side. I’m standing at the fence because, well, the stands are too far away from the action for me at this point. While Marco is talking with Keegan, our sophomore QB is put in.
Keegan looks upset and in pain. Marco is shaking his head and looks concerned. He starts walking my way.
“I think his collarbone is broken,” he says to me. “You’ll need to take him to the ER to get X-rays.”
I give a resigned, “okay” because, well, I can’t say, “Can’t you just stick him in anyway?” (I wouldn’t do such a thing, but it did run through my head for a split second.)
I head to the stands where it seems like the majority of the Greyhounds fans are looking at me to hear the verdict.
“Marco thinks it’s a broken collarbone,” I said, looking at my husband, Brian. “We need to go to the ER to get X-rays.”
“Now?” Brian asks in disbelief.
“Yes,” I reply. Brian and I are both thinking the same thing. Keegan’s football season is probably over for the year, and we are leaving our other son on the field.
Fast forward, we were given updates from other parents as we sat in the hospital waiting room. We traded info with them via endless texts regarding information about Keegan, along with the current score of the game. The other team ended up scoring before halftime, then dominated the second half with a final score of 0-30. Keegan’s jersey was cut off of him, which was heart-wrenching in itself, and it was confirmed that his collarbone was indeed broken.
I won’t go into the pain that Keegan felt with the realization that he wouldn’t be throwing again for the Greyhounds until next year. That’s not what this post is about. (The emotional pain far exceeded the physical pain of the broken bones, although that was bad in itself.)
Instead, I’ll just say that the very next Friday, one of our other juniors on the team broke his collarbone. Right after that, during the same game, a senior lineman had a terrible concussion and collapsed as he was walking off the field at halftime in that game. He was taken to the hospital.
As if that’s not enough, we’ve been plagued with sprained ankles, messed up shoulders, and other various injuries. At last count, there were 13 athletes out due to injuries. That’s quite a bit considering we only have 54 players in total between JV and Varsity.
It’s hard not to feel like everything is stacked against you. If I struggle with this as a parent, I can’t imagine how the players and coaching staff must feel.
Homecoming, After Homecoming, After Homecoming
When you don’t have a good record, you somehow become the team that everyone plays during their Homecoming.
To put it plainly, it sucks.
Players and fans alike become sick of playing in packed stadiums during away games, only to listen to the cheers, bells, whistles, and overall mocking that takes place when you can’t even score a touchdown.
Now, I get it. I’m a competitor. Everyone’s allowed to cheer. I like to cheer myself, but another piece to this puzzle is that we are playing in a league where the schools are sometimes twice or three times our size with countless of players to choose from.
It’s disheartening, but never a reason to give up.
We have a total of nine games this season. Our record is 0-7, with two games left before basketball season begins. (Thank God for basketball season.)
Our Homecoming night was packed, but a devastating loss. Besides our own Homecoming night, we’ve been the Homecoming team for three other away games.
It becomes tiring after awhile.
One of these days, things will change.
Where Do We Go From Here?
What’s next?
Recently I went to our hometown stadium on a Saturday and watched a day of youth football. There was no particular reason for this, except that I just enjoy the game and I can see a few students that I remember from when they attended the school where I teach.
As I was sitting on the bleachers in the warm October sun, it occurred to me that I’ve sat in the same spot for years.
I remember watching my own boys play during their youth football seasons and thinking, ‘it will be different when my boys get to the high school. We’ll start winning and all will be good.’
Well, Keegan and Kaleb will be seniors next year. We have a new coaching staff, a new football culture, and high numbers for next year’s juniors and sophomores.
There’s a chance. There’s always a chance.
I’m thinking there will be many opportunities to get into the weight room during the off season (although, if you are a football player or parent, you know there’s no such thing as an off season).
My boys have the opportunity to convince their fellow teammates that now’s the chance to work on your strength and continue to get better.
For now, we need to survive the next couple of weeks, do our best against the most difficult of situations, and try to squeeze in a little football fun along the way.
Goals for Today:
- Watch the Tigers Play the Guardians
- Pick Up the House
- Take a Nap – I read somewhere that naps extend your lifespan.