Starting Under the Lights
American football player Terrell Owens once said, “God blessed me to play football.” In my opinion, this means that any person that has had the opportunity to play football has been blessed. I have been playing football since the 2nd grade. I knew how to carry a football before I knew how to do multiplication, and I knew how to tackle a person before I knew how to write in cursive. Every fall I have spent my evenings on grass fields learning football. However, the sport drastically changed when I began high school football. My first time starting varsity football involved practicing rigorously through the week, preparing mentally before the event, and playing intensely during the game.
The week prior to the game encompassed exhausting days of practice. The experience began on a normal Monday in September. After school, I changed and started warming up on the field. While I was stretching, my coach came up to me and said, “Dean, you are starting this Friday against Kirksville.” His words made my stomach hurt instantly. However, I remained calm on the outside and informed my coach that I was ready. My coach then started practice and I immediately started learning the opposing team’s offense. For the first time ever, I was practicing with the starting defense. Through the week, I performed tackling drills and linebacker steps. I learned how to read lineman and how to cover passes. In addition, my defensive coaches critiqued my every move and my veteran teammates gave me tips. The practices were long, harsh, and intense. Everyday after practice, I left the stadium exhausted. After Thursday’s practice, my team and I had our team dinner. I barely ate while my coach answered my last minute questions. I went to bed that night sick and tired. However, I knew that tomorrow I had to prepare my mind for the game.
I prepared myself mentally the whole day before the game. I woke up early to do a last review of the opposing team’s offense and my defensive responsibilities. When I got to school, the place was full of energy. All the football players had high testosterone levels and almost every student in my school was going to the game. Yet, the day went by monotonously. All I could think about was playing football that night. I thought about how I was going to tackle my opponents and what I had to do for the team to win. Finally, after eight grueling hours of school, I got on the bus and left town with my team. I wanted no distractions, so I listened to music and sat by myself. After a seemingly quick ride, my team and I had arrived. Again, I told myself I was mentally ready, and I was ready to play fiercely.
I played the football game vigorously. The time between getting off the bus and going out onto the field went by swiftly. My teammates and I went out onto the field and lined up for the kickoff. Our kicker raised his hand, received the signal, and booted the ball. As a result, the ball went into the end zone, which resulted in a touchback. The rest of the players on both teams came onto the field and the action began. At the beginning, I couldn’t breath from the enormous amount of adrenaline in my body. The first play was a sweep to the side opposite of me. Accordingly, my team’s cornerback came forward and pushed the ball carrier back into the middle of the field. So then, my friends and I rallied and delivered a devastating gang tackle. After getting up, I then new I could handle my new position. Thereupon, the game went by rapidly. I executed my responsibilities and made crushing tackles. After four quarters of high-stakes football and a stadium relocation, my team and I came out victoriously by a mere one touchdown. I had competed to the best of my ability and was rewarded with a win.
My opening experience playing high school football involved training extensively during week, preparing intellectually prior to the competition, and playing fiercely during the sport. As Terrell Owens once said, “God blessed me to play football.” Again, to me this means that every individual that has been given the chance to play the sport of football has been privileged. The sport of football has been an important feature in my life since I was eight years old. I am thankful to play the game and be able to start varsity high school football.
The week prior to the game encompassed exhausting days of practice. The experience began on a normal Monday in September. After school, I changed and started warming up on the field. While I was stretching, my coach came up to me and said, “Dean, you are starting this Friday against Kirksville.” His words made my stomach hurt instantly. However, I remained calm on the outside and informed my coach that I was ready. My coach then started practice and I immediately started learning the opposing team’s offense. For the first time ever, I was practicing with the starting defense. Through the week, I performed tackling drills and linebacker steps. I learned how to read lineman and how to cover passes. In addition, my defensive coaches critiqued my every move and my veteran teammates gave me tips. The practices were long, harsh, and intense. Everyday after practice, I left the stadium exhausted. After Thursday’s practice, my team and I had our team dinner. I barely ate while my coach answered my last minute questions. I went to bed that night sick and tired. However, I knew that tomorrow I had to prepare my mind for the game.
I prepared myself mentally the whole day before the game. I woke up early to do a last review of the opposing team’s offense and my defensive responsibilities. When I got to school, the place was full of energy. All the football players had high testosterone levels and almost every student in my school was going to the game. Yet, the day went by monotonously. All I could think about was playing football that night. I thought about how I was going to tackle my opponents and what I had to do for the team to win. Finally, after eight grueling hours of school, I got on the bus and left town with my team. I wanted no distractions, so I listened to music and sat by myself. After a seemingly quick ride, my team and I had arrived. Again, I told myself I was mentally ready, and I was ready to play fiercely.
I played the football game vigorously. The time between getting off the bus and going out onto the field went by swiftly. My teammates and I went out onto the field and lined up for the kickoff. Our kicker raised his hand, received the signal, and booted the ball. As a result, the ball went into the end zone, which resulted in a touchback. The rest of the players on both teams came onto the field and the action began. At the beginning, I couldn’t breath from the enormous amount of adrenaline in my body. The first play was a sweep to the side opposite of me. Accordingly, my team’s cornerback came forward and pushed the ball carrier back into the middle of the field. So then, my friends and I rallied and delivered a devastating gang tackle. After getting up, I then new I could handle my new position. Thereupon, the game went by rapidly. I executed my responsibilities and made crushing tackles. After four quarters of high-stakes football and a stadium relocation, my team and I came out victoriously by a mere one touchdown. I had competed to the best of my ability and was rewarded with a win.
My opening experience playing high school football involved training extensively during week, preparing intellectually prior to the competition, and playing fiercely during the sport. As Terrell Owens once said, “God blessed me to play football.” Again, to me this means that every individual that has been given the chance to play the sport of football has been privileged. The sport of football has been an important feature in my life since I was eight years old. I am thankful to play the game and be able to start varsity high school football.