New Beginnings: Day 1

 

New 2020 Lineman Of The Week Belt

This is the new 2020 version of the "Lineman Of The Week" award.  This is the forth version of this weekly award, and I think it keeps getting better and better.  This award is reserved STRICTLY for offensive linemen....no one else is eligible to win the prestigious weekly prize.  Here is the story of it's beginning.  

It all starts when these kids are in Youth Leagues.  As the teams form, a Coach will often spread his/her  coaches around the field and say:  OK....all running backs go with Coach so and so.  All QBs go with Coach so and so.  All defensive players go with Coach so and so.  All wide receivers go with Coach so and so (usually the largest group)    Finally, all Offensive Linemen go with Coach so and so.....but there is generally no one left to go.  Even at that age, no one wants to play on the offensive line.  This job is considered boring and usually taken for granted.  However, every Coach knows the big boys up front are the most important people on the entire offense.  Without them the offense cannot run.  I needed to change this; thus, the belt was born.  

I knew the weekly award had to be special.  I purchase the blank leather belts from an awards supplier  My wife Marty decorates the belt with designs dictated by some of the Senior Linemen on the team.  Marty can do just about anything with her Silhouette vinyl cutting machine.  Each belt is unique to each year.  This year Elijah Bacon (Sr Offensive Tackle) decided this years theme.....(Indians and Pancakes)  Then, I turn the belt over to the players. After each game, the players are graded on their performance.  The player who grades the highest  has his name added to the belt, and the winner gets to keep the belt for a week.  He can take it anywhere he wishes... to school, to church, to a restaurant....wherever.  The belt has become a symbol to their hard work, and it is a reminder of how much we appreciate them   They fight for it....and I love that.  

Past Winners: (Sorry If I missed You....ran out of space. )  

Louie Rahal  

Bacon 

Austin Maxwell 

Carlos Perez

Jarvis Jones 

Carlos Perez 

Jarvis Jones  

We have officially started football practice for this year.  We are working under strict COVID 19 restrictions, but it's still football.  I will get into our local schedule later this week, but rumor has it that we will be playing a State Powerhouse in week one (September 11th)  We are still waiting for confirmation.  

I will write again tomorrow.  Day 1 is in the books.  

later