GRIDIRON GLADIATORS
A TRIBUTE TO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
In small towns and large cities across the state of South Carolina this is the time of year when the smell of football begins to work its way into the breeze. It becomes official on high school football fields everywhere with the first crack of football pads. The air is filled with sounds of collisions of gridiron gladiators preparing for a championship season.
Each new season brings the unlimited potential of teams dreaming of the prospect of undefeated seasons conference and state championships. Each player visualizes being all-conference, all-state or all-American. There are even dreams of college scholarships and to some, one day of lining up to play on Sundays.
There is a special camaraderie with football players being molded into a team, acting in unison toward a common goal. The lessons of discipline are drilled as hard as the lessons of blocking and tackling. The play books are studied, and the strengths and weaknesses of each opponent are studied with military precision.
Timing of pass patterns and coordinating blocking and rushing formations are rehearsed over and over. The goal is to execute with such precision that each player could perform his function correctly every time, even when fatigue and pain are dulling the senses and blurring the vision.
While there may be dozens of reasons for all the effort put into the sport, the prevailing underlying reason is the glory of the team. For small towns, it’s the pride of the town. For larger communities with more than one school, it’s for the pride of the school. Trophies and banners adorn the halls of honor and stories of great victories and heartbreaking losses echo through homes and businesses for years to come. Every player has run numerous sprints, thrown and caught footballs, and lifted thousands of pounds of weight preparing to be part of the greatest game on earth: High School Football! The best thing about being a football player is that they are regular hard-working athletes who learn the lessons of discipline, teamwork, integrity, and respect in the ultimate team sport of football.
This season will also produce its share of highs and lows. But the true testament of the game and effort put into playing will be this year’s overall measure of discipline, teamwork, integrity, and respect that young athletes have pounded into them as they train and sweat and strain without the lights and crowds that draw the attention.
The thrill of victory does not come without the toil of preparation and the discipline that comes from drilling and training, and then drilling and training some more. Football is a game that teaches self-discipline, working together as a team, and working through mental and physical pain. The expectations of success with no excuses are an unspoken creed that everyone who plays the game understands. Ultimately the players, coaches and parents must put the “team first” in order for there to be any chance of success.
WHAT IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER
*Courage in cleats, hope in a helmet, pride in pads, and the best of young manhood becoming a warrior on the gridiron. Football is the toughest, most physical game requiring the player to strain with every fiber of their body in some cases to just survive.
WHAT IS A FOOTBALL COACH
A football coach pushes individual athletes and the team to achieve optimum performance, provides support when they are exhausted and teaches the athletes to execute plays that their competition does not anticipate. A football coach will make you run more laps than you feel like. A football coach will tell it like it is. And a football coach will listen.
A TRIBUTE TO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
In small towns and large cities across the state of South Carolina this is the time of year when the smell of football begins to work its way into the breeze. It becomes official on high school football fields everywhere with the first crack of football pads. The air is filled with sounds of collisions of gridiron gladiators preparing for a championship season.
Each new season brings the unlimited potential of teams dreaming of the prospect of undefeated seasons conference and state championships. Each player visualizes being all-conference, all-state or all-American. There are even dreams of college scholarships and to some, one day of lining up to play on Sundays.
There is a special camaraderie with football players being molded into a team, acting in unison toward a common goal. The lessons of discipline are drilled as hard as the lessons of blocking and tackling. The play books are studied, and the strengths and weaknesses of each opponent are studied with military precision.
Timing of pass patterns and coordinating blocking and rushing formations are rehearsed over and over. The goal is to execute with such precision that each player could perform his function correctly every time, even when fatigue and pain are dulling the senses and blurring the vision.
While there may be dozens of reasons for all the effort put into the sport, the prevailing underlying reason is the glory of the team. For small towns, it’s the pride of the town. For larger communities with more than one school, it’s for the pride of the school. Trophies and banners adorn the halls of honor and stories of great victories and heartbreaking losses echo through homes and businesses for years to come. Every player has run numerous sprints, thrown and caught footballs, and lifted thousands of pounds of weight preparing to be part of the greatest game on earth: High School Football! The best thing about being a football player is that they are regular hard-working athletes who learn the lessons of discipline, teamwork, integrity, and respect in the ultimate team sport of football.
This season will also produce its share of highs and lows. But the true testament of the game and effort put into playing will be this year’s overall measure of discipline, teamwork, integrity, and respect that young athletes have pounded into them as they train and sweat and strain without the lights and crowds that draw the attention.
The thrill of victory does not come without the toil of preparation and the discipline that comes from drilling and training, and then drilling and training some more. Football is a game that teaches self-discipline, working together as a team, and working through mental and physical pain. The expectations of success with no excuses are an unspoken creed that everyone who plays the game understands. Ultimately the players, coaches and parents must put the “team first” in order for there to be any chance of success.
WHAT IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER
*Courage in cleats, hope in a helmet, pride in pads, and the best of young manhood becoming a warrior on the gridiron. Football is the toughest, most physical game requiring the player to strain with every fiber of their body in some cases to just survive.
WHAT IS A FOOTBALL COACH
A football coach pushes individual athletes and the team to achieve optimum performance, provides support when they are exhausted and teaches the athletes to execute plays that their competition does not anticipate. A football coach will make you run more laps than you feel like. A football coach will tell it like it is. And a football coach will listen.