As we discussed in the two previous blogs, a loss in the playoffs ends the season abruptly and without celebration. During those years when we advanced to the State Championship game, given the obviously forecast conclusion to the season, we planned and executed a celebration of our seniors’ last practice.
We established a tradition where we would all meet in the middle of our field and invite the seniors to go to their most memorable spot on the field. The underclassmen make notice of each senior and his/her location. Then the seniors are asked to return to the team and explain where they went and why it was so meaningful.
For some, it is the spot of their first start, first tackle, or first score. This year, one player, who played for us as a freshman then stepped away for two years before returning for his senior year, went up into the bleachers. He later explained that is where he was during games his sophomore and junior seasons. He shared that he had a lot of fun cheering on the team along with his classmates but that there was something missing. He needed to be a part of something special… Part of something bigger than himself… Part of a family.
After the last senior shares their story, the underclassmen line up in a gauntlet at the edge of the field so they can have one last hug and share parting words with each senior as they make their way off the field one last time as a football player. On more than one occasion, I’ve heard a senior with tears in his eyes say to an underclassmen, “This team is yours now, and it’s special. Treat it with care and respect. Before you know it, you’ll be passing it on to someone yourself. Make sure they treat it with care and respect too…”
This tradition is too extraordinary to only do on those years when we reach Championship Saturday, so now we come out to the field on the first Monday after our last game. Regardless of how far we advance in the playoffs, our seniors are celebrated, their legacy passed on, and the tradition continues.
Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time!
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