Sarasota Riverview 35- Vero Beach-28
"Coach, I Lost The Game For Us" "I Played Horrible...I Should Have Done Better"
These words spoken by a 16 year old kid (who was feeling like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders), will haunt me for awhile. As I looked into his eyes I could feel and see the hurt this young man was feeling. As tears started to fill my own eyes, I gave him a big hug and tried to share some of my so-called old man coaching wisdom with this player in obvious distress. It went something like this:
I said that he was a member of a 60 man roster along with about a dozen coaches and uncounted support staff. ALL of us could have done something better...including coaches. You are only 1/70th of the reason we lost. Together we make 2/70th of the reason we lost. All of us share in this loss together son...not just you. Maybe if we all did one thing better during the game it would have made a difference. I have been doing this a long time now son, and this was just not our night.
I am so sorry this blog was not kept up this year. With my neck injury it was just plain painful to sit down and type for any length of time. I tend to get a little wordy with my writing, so I just gave up trying to write until I felt better and numbness eased up. It still hurts like hell, but now that the season is over I can get some treatment on this bulging disc. I know...that's just an excuse. However, when choosing between missing practice and writing in a blog....being with the football team will win every time.
The Four Horsemen
My belt idea went over pretty well I think. The kids seemed to enjoy this 'prestigious award' every week. Also, the idea seemed to be popular with the local media and fan clubs, etc... This makes me happy. The belt pretty much stayed between one of the "Four Horsemen" pictured above..each of them winning multiple times. As soon as we grade the final film, then we can count the number of victories each of the four players above had...and that player gets to keep the belt forever. Personally, I would love to see a four-way tie....then I would cut the belt into four pieces. (L-R) Carlos Perez.. Jarvis Jones.. Austin Maxwell.. Hunter Riggins...it has been my honor to share this season with you.
After I spoke with the player mentioned earlier, I continued the long walk back to our locker room wondering if this would be the last time I ever walked on a football field as "Coach George" My mind wandered to the past wonderful 33 years of coaching, and I began to wonder if this was really going to be how my career ended. I had become an older coach walking by himself , carrying equipment, with tears streaming down my face. Is it really going to end like this?
There are so many reasons not to coach anymore it seems. Over the years, coaching has probably cost me tens of thousands of dollars in lost revenue for my business. Football has always come first...even before sales appointments with my customers. I have been selfish with my time....football has always come first. Both my kids were raised on the football field. I missed so much of their everyday life growing up (prom-chorus-other sports, trick or treat, school plays, family vacations etc...) because of my commitments to the sport I love. I regret not watching my kids grow up like normal kids. I can't believe I just said that.
My wife Marty is a fantastic football wife. She met me as "Coach George" so she is used to me as I am. Marty cooks something special for the coaches most Sunday mornings. She sews our uniforms for Coach Deluke, she makes our formation cards, tee shirts, coaching gear..or whatever else we need to help make us successful. She will bake cookies for the entire team. She will squeeze our players into see a doctor whenever necessary...she really is a fantastic coach's wife. However, she gives up a lot too. We can't go be with our friends often because of football games and commitments during the long season. I am gone a lot too. I feel like maybe I want to open up my schedule a little bit to do things she wants to do.
Grandson Mason
My Son Mike and Mason
My son Mike and his wife Alex had their first child...Mason. I have only seen the baby one time when he was first born. Mike has since been stationed in Colorado, and I have not been able to go see him or the baby since they moved. I was afraid to make any sort of reservations for travel.during the football season out of fear I could jink the team...plus I was hoping the team was going to practice on Thanksgiving day. Needless to say, I will be going out there at Christmas to see Mike, Mason and Alex. I need to go now before Mike gets deployed again. Again....I am putting football before family. Right now I am burned out. It has been a long, great season. A sudden defeat like this will always put me into a funk for awhile. I will begin to question myself on my abilities as a coach. I wonder if I have anything to offer anyone anymore? But, why do I still study film, attend clinics, study strategy, and visit other football programs if I no longer want to coach? I just don't know the answer....yet. I want to get my knee repaired or replaced before next season. Insurance woes have slowed the process for awhile. I want to get my neck repaired. Now that football is over for awhile, I can get that done.
Locker Room after a defeat is not pretty.
One final thing. Our Booster Club. What a fantastic group of people we have this year. These people have spoiled us rotten all year long. We want for nothing. The boosters have virtually fed the entire team all year long...every, single day after practice. We have more coaching gear and player's gear, than most college teams. I will never forget your kindness to our team. Brian Stolze, you and your crew have been fantastic...the best I have ever seen by far. I am so appreciative of your kindness.
With that, I am going to wrap this blog up. I have some decisions to make in the next couple months. Hopefully, I can go out on my terms, and the decision will not be made for me. lol. I LOVE this program, and it has been my honor and pleasure to work with all of you.
Maybe I will see you next year. Funny I can't say retire.
GZ
