It’s been a couple of weeks since my last post. It’s taken that long to let the events all
sink in and get to a point where I could express it all. Two weeks ago today we were in AT&T
Stadium (Cowboys Stadium) and we were within moments of a huge victory. We went into the game as the underdogs to
most of the world, but our team and coaches knew we could win it. We knew that this was our year and that we
were going to march our way to the state championship.
We were less than 40 seconds away from upsetting the team
that had knocked us out of the playoffs the previous year. We could smell victory. Our fans were
ecstatic and there was a hush on the other side of the field. Then it happened. The tide shifted and they scored with just
seconds to go to take the lead. We lost by four points. We stood there numb and speechless and there
was nothing we could do. We couldn't
even get to our coaches and our boys and console them or hug them. The next two teams were already taking the
field for their game. We simply had to
wave from the stands and try to express our love and consolation as we were
asked to exit so the next set of fans could come into the stands.
By the time my coach got home. He was tired, frustrated and
still in a bit of shock. You see, we had been this close before just a couple
of years ago and literally lost on the last play of the game. Here we sat revisiting that moment all over
again. It seemed surreal, but yet, that’s
part of football. It only takes a second
to change everything. We managed to go
to dinner but there was little conversation. There wasn't a lot you could say
other than I’m sorry. My coach scrolled
through the Twitter feed of the game to analyze every play. He spent time texting his players to make
sure they were okay and to let them know how much he loved and respected each and
every one of them. We both received
texts from players and parents and we responded back to them. It was the best way to start the recovery
process from the pain and frustration we were feeling.
If you’re reading this and questioning the words recovery
and pain, you’re not alone and you’re probably not that tied into sports. If you understand those words then you get
it. You understand what it means the season to just suddenly stop. You get that there is a void in your week
where practice should be. Your coach is now home way earlier than is to be
expected at night and that your life as you've known it for the past few
months, suddenly and without notice takes a different shift.
Throughout the past couple of weeks several friends and community members have remarked to us that we must be “relieved that the season is over” or that I must be “excited that my coach is home.” Neither could be further from the truth. My coach and I both try to explain, that no we are not happy or relieved. We were stopped short of our goal. We are going to miss time with our seniors and our players. All we wanted for Christmas was a state championship. I tried to explain to one friend when he said “you must be relieved that it’s all over”, that in his world that would be me like me saying to him, “you must be relieved that you almost closed that deal, but you didn't quite make it and your competing vendor won the contract .” He just looked at me like I was a bit crazy.
So it’s been a couple of weeks and playoffs are going on
without us. We are now cheering on our friends and fellow coaches that are
still in the hunt for that state championship. We are also still working on
letting the pain and frustration of a season stopped short go away. The
Christmas decorations are up and the world is continuing to move ahead. My
coach has already started the conversations with his head coach and other
coaches about personnel for next season and what off-season has in store for
them. Life moves and so must we. Our
boys are coming to dinner this week and I can’t wait to have them all around my
dining room table as we talk and laugh about the past season. I’m excited to
hear their perspective on the season. I’m
also sad that it will be the last time we gather with this group of seniors as
part of our family, but more on that next week.
Cheering you on,
Laurel
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