“Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”

-- Vince Lombardi

 

It’s easy for those that love football to get caught up in the success of the great programs around the state. You can often read debates about this team is great and is better then all other teams because............ We all know the great teams, we all know their accomplishments and accolades.

 

While all these great teams are out trying to win another big game, there are other teams, teams that you may have never heard of, or not heard much about, who are fighting to make history just as much as the great teams. These teams are not often heard about, their battles are often not wrote about, and their accomplishments, arguable less important, are not broadcasts with interest. See, these teams are not battling for rankings, they are not competing for championships, they are only trying to win a game, one single game.

 

The 2013 season has seen several programs that had sustained losing streaks come to an end. Some may think this was an event that was probably not celebrated, after all, these teams had not won a game in, sometimes, two or more seasons. That thought would be wrong, these teams celebrated just as much as a team that just won the State Championship. One could argue that their accomplishment is greater then some of the great teams that have won multiple championships. Winning is contagious, unfortunately, losing is as well. At some programs, winning is expected, winning is a forgone conclusion. Winning is taken for granted. The same can be common among programs that have losing streaks. Losing is expected, it is a forgone conclusion. That is why breaking a losing streak is such a great accomplishment, it is easy to keep losing, everyone expects it. The players at these programs that ended the losing streak kept up the good fight, they believed they could win, they stayed the course. And, now they are the players that made history at their school - they broke the streak.

 

Clinton County

The Bulldogs were the holders of the longest losing streak in the state at 37 consecutive loses. Clinton County was a 1A school that had very small numbers, as far as players go, but under the last alignment they were moved to 2A. It may have seemed as if the Bulldogs may never win another game, after all, they had trouble competing in 1A, moving to 2A was not a good thing for them. But, in the second week of the season of 2013, Clinton County ended the streak beating Tremble County 13-6. Remember, winning is contagious. The Bulldogs were not done, the very next week they won again beating McCreary County 28-0. What is next for Clinton County? Can they win three in a row? What can they do the rest of the season? Stay tuned, the Bulldogs are in another streak - a winning streak.

 

McLean County

The Cougars where in a similar situation as Clinton County, they are a 2A program that had lost 33 consecutive games. The McLean County players must have felt the same as the Clinton County players, wondering if they would win and break the streak, would they be the team that notched a win for the Cougars. McLean County was able to get that allusive win by beating Beckinridge County 29-14. Remember winning is contagious. Like Clinton County, the Cougars decided they liked the winning feeling and won again the next week beating Carverna 35-14. McLean County is on a new streak - a winning streak. Will the Cougars be able to win a third consecutive game? Will they stay on the winning streak?

 

Greenup County

The Musketeers last won on October 22nd, 2010, and was on a 24 game losing streak. Greenup County is a 4A program that has had problems with numbers and success in the past, but the last three years have been the most difficult. in the third week of the season of 2013 Greenup County ended the streak by beating Fleming County 22-20. The current Musketeers can forever say they were on the team that ended the losing streak. What’s next for Greenup County? Can they win again this week, can they start a new streak - a winning streak?

 

West Carter

The Comets’ losing streak dated back to October 14th, 2011. West Carter has a coach, Kevin Brown, who is easy to cheer for. A great man who has dedicated most of his life to West Cater Football, playing for the Comets, and now teaching and coaching there. West Carter ended their losing streak last week by beating Nicholas County 55-0. Not only ending the losing streak, the Comets also scored over 50 points for the first time since 1998. Can West Carter win again this week? Can they start another streak - a winning streak?

 

We may be watching this weekend to see if a program won the big game, to see if a team stayed undefeated, but we have to remember there are teams competing to accomplish just as big things. But, those things may not be followed as closely. We as football fans and proponents of the game should remember the accomplishments of teams such as the ones listed here, they are every bit as important as those of the great teams, and who knows, these accomplishments may just be what turns these programs around and starts them on the road to greatness.

 

To the Clinton County, McLean County, Greenup County, and West Carter players, congratulations. Keep up the hard work. Coach Lombardi is often misquoted and the last part of his quote (“It’s the only thing”) is sometime left off. Don’t let anyone tell you, “Winning isn’t everything”, be sure to tell them “It’s the only thing”. Because without the work and effort to compete, the striving for victory, the competing to win, the sport has little meaning. Keep up the good work and get that next victory, one at a time.

Edited September 11, 201313 yr by Ram

Good stuff, Ram. Congratulations to all the young men who got to taste victory for the first time in a long time.

Good stuff, Ram. Congratulations to all the young men who got to taste victory for the first time in a long time.

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I agree. I'm sure it made them feel on top of the world for a few days.

Good stuff Ram!

Props to the kids!

In my opinion those guys received the greastest lesson football can teach, far above winning, that is being stedfast under adversity. Way to go to the coaches and players who refused to quit. We all know having played football and moved into the real world adversity is always around and these programs have a leg up on it. You are never disqualifed unless you quit. Way to endure.

Great stuff, Ram! Very proud of all those young men and coaches. Hopefully there is even more success in their futures, both on the field and off.

Ram has a knack for throwing a really good thing out there when there is so much hating going on in all those other threads...

 

Well done sir...Just sayin:thumb: