Change is Coming

Change is in the air, literally. Thursday morning began like most others a mild 72 degrees, a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt. However, by the time the Bobcats took to the practice field the clouds had rolled in and the temperature had dipped well into the 50's. Change often comes quickly.

This time last year the Bobcats were licking their wounds after a season marred by injuries and burdened by an 0 and 9 record. Coach Hill and his coaching staff struggled to find ways to keep the discouraged group of young men plugged in. They focused on family and friendships while drawing up trick plays to keep the kids motivated. That was last year and things have certainly changed.

Fighting the first touch of true Autumn the Bobcats met on the practice field with their goals still intact. The cold wind and wet practice field let everyone know that summer had officially come to an end but with it so had the long drought of disappointment. The silver lining amongst the gray clouds, a real reason to practice, to focus and to hope. Ahead of them, the final regular season matchup against the Luverne Tigers and then on to the playoffs. Last weeks win against Slocumb secured their first playoff appearance since 2017. It also solidified their first round opponent, the defending state champions from Flomaton.

Some of the players wore hoodies and shivered as the wind blew across their face while others stripped bare chested, as young men sometimes do, and bellowed into the cold. Yet, as a team they went through a typical Thursday walk through dotting their i's and crossing their t's under the watchful supervision of their faithful coaching staff. A staff thankful to have the opportunity to be playing for more than just pride.

Brady Lester, a junior who played practically any and every position on last years depleted unit, spent the afternoon intently studying each formation and calling the predetermined alerts and checks from his Sam spot to put the defense in the best position. The line shifted, the defensive backs rotated and buzzed down, the linebackers barked out 'pull pull' calls as the play developed and each player tried to make their run fits. It's a far cry from where they were last year and it is most certainly still a work in progress but the team is getting better and growing more confident.

In the end that's what high school football is truly about, not the winning and losing but the changing. It's about teaching the players what it takes to win and how to deal with challenges, how to learn what you need in order to get better, and how to work with others for common goals. In short, it's about the process of boys becoming young men... it's about Change.