Classic Battle

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The warning came out around 4PM, fog alert. Heavy fog rolling into Sheboygan. Game kick-off was scheduled at 6:00PM.....Place: Sheboygan South High School Field....Teams: Sheboygan Badgers Vs. Sheboygan Steelers in what is to become an immediate classic, one of the best games played, a back and forth defensive battle with low scoring, lots of punts and the team that can stick to their game plan the longest wins the game.

The team captains assemble at mid-field shaking hands in respect of each other but that was the last friendly jester before kick-off. We are to kick off to start the game and are subjected to the Steelers open style offense, marching the length of the field in 6 plays to score. As they line up to go for the two point conversion our kids buckle down and slam the Running Back in the back field....badgers 0 Steelers 6.

The battle is now on, back and forth the teams went with fumbles on both sides due to the heavy fog making the ball slippery. We punted, they punted until with 2 minutes left in the half we break a long one to the 10 yard line...the clock ticking, time outs all used up we get a play off, my quarterback keeps to the left, he hits the corner on his way to the end zone...at the 5...4...3...2...1......to be pushed out of bounds at the 1/2 yard line as the clock shows 0:00 on the board to go into half time....it was demoralizing, the kids heads were down, they didn't need to be.

The coaches get the kids together, go through pep talks, what changes needed to be made for the second half but time was getting short as I stood behind the coaches waiting to say my peace. I was proud of them, they played hard, score or not but their heads were down. I had a minute and a half left and all I could hear was my Dad in the back of my head and I had to smile. So this is what I said "Boys, where would you rather be? It is Thursday night football, we are playing on the high school field, fog is heavy and we are are in a smash mouth game. Eyes on me and give me a smile because it doesn't get much better....break it down" and I walk away knowing I had them.

The second half we came out and smashed mouths, hard hits, grunts everywhere for both teams when we hit first. QB breaks left again, 30, 20, 10, and at the 5 he gets tripped up. I grabbed my Running Back and looked at him and called a 43 Blast, "score me a touchdown"...."yes coach". He did just that. We lined up for the conversion, ran it straight down the middle and pushed the pile across the line. Badgers 8 Steelers 6.

That was how it ended in what is maybe the best played game between two teams that I have been involved in.

As I waited for my turn to address the kids at the end of the game I thought that I needed to thank my kids. Little did they know what they gave me that night, they were proud of themselves but I thought it was important that they know how grateful I was.

"I am proud of you and after you break down for the badger cry I want to shake every one of your hands before you leave...now break it down".

At 5:16 PM,  Anonymous said...

For a moment in time, everything is right. The feeling is good. Ooops! The Sheboygan Buckeyes are coming to town next week. They are even tougher. Hey, they put on their pants the same way we do! We can beat them too! Little victories last a life time. Love, Dad.

 

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