Fridays in the fall are special, beginning in August. I know Fall doesn't begin for another month and a half, but the first Friday in August signifies a change in the season's to me. Football Season.

 

The mornings are a little cooler and there is a change in the air. Summer break has turned into two-a-days. I haven't put on a helmet in 30 years but I remember the bruises, skinned up knees and elbows, dirt in my face and chiggers, the butt-chewings and the praises. I remember the soreness that always came with the first few days of practice, but it seemed to pass fairly quickly. I think I even miss the old red water that tasted like sulfur, even when they mixed in the powdered Quick-Kick (a precursor to Gatorade). And I fondly reflect back on a bunch of coaches to whom I owe a tremendous debt for all the life lessons they taught me.

 

As I sit here this morning, wearing my lucky Friday red shirt and thinking back on old memories, I guess I just really miss being on a team. We would beat on each other, give ungodly nicknames, torture each other unmercifully, but... we were brothers. Best times of my life.

 

I hope you have fond memories too, and I hope you can look forward to another great season for your team.

Fridays in the fall are special, beginning in August. I know Fall doesn't begin for another month and a half, but the first Friday in August signifies a change in the season's to me. Football Season.

 

The mornings are a little cooler and there is a change in the air. Summer break has turned into two-a-days. I haven't put on a helmet in 30 years but I remember the bruises, skinned up knees and elbows, dirt in my face and chiggers, the butt-chewings and the praises. I remember the soreness that always came with the first few days of practice, but it seemed to pass fairly quickly. I think I even miss the old red water that tasted like sulfur, even when they mixed in the powdered Quick-Kick (a precursor to Gatorade). And I fondly reflect back on a bunch of coaches to whom I owe a tremendous debt for all the life lessons they taught me.

 

As I sit here this morning, wearing my lucky Friday red shirt and thinking back on old memories, I guess I just really miss being on a team. We would beat on each other, give ungodly nicknames, torture each other unmercifully, but... we were brothers. Best times of my life.

 

I hope you have fond memories too, and I hope you can look forward to another great season for your team.

 

Great Post !

Damn I miss the good ole days!!!

Fridays in the fall are special, beginning in August. I know Fall doesn't begin for another month and a half, but the first Friday in August signifies a change in the season's to me. Football Season.

 

The mornings are a little cooler and there is a change in the air. Summer break has turned into two-a-days. I haven't put on a helmet in 30 years but I remember the bruises, skinned up knees and elbows, dirt in my face and chiggers, the butt-chewings and the praises. I remember the soreness that always came with the first few days of practice, but it seemed to pass fairly quickly. I think I even miss the old red water that tasted like sulfur, even when they mixed in the powdered Quick-Kick (a precursor to Gatorade). And I fondly reflect back on a bunch of coaches to whom I owe a tremendous debt for all the life lessons they taught me.

 

As I sit here this morning, wearing my lucky Friday red shirt and thinking back on old memories, I guess I just really miss being on a team. We would beat on each other, give ungodly nicknames, torture each other unmercifully, but... we were brothers. Best times of my life.

 

I hope you have fond memories too, and I hope you can look forward to another great season for your team.

 

 

Don't forget salt tablets during two-a-days!

Well said, sir. It's funny that most of my memories are from the practices and the lockerroom and not the games. We had a darn good team but we had a great bunch to hang with on a daily basis.

 

Plus the legend Coach Bob Lewis reinforced what my parents tried to instill: accountability. No excuses.

 

A quote I still live by came from Coach Lewis: Excuses are a poor patch on the garment of failure.

 

Again, great memories.

Don't forget salt tablets during two-a-days!

 

Two things that my kids can't believe today:

 

1. Powdered Gatorade during games

2. No water during practice other than one squirt (literally).

Only varsity team I was ever on was wrestling. More of an individual sport - mano-a-mano.

 

But like others have said, I remember a lot more from the practices and the locker room than the actual matches.

One of my favorite stories. The guy who wrestled one weight class above me was as strong as an ox, and had a brain to match.

 

He sat out practice one day. Said he landed wrong in gymnastics class and sprained his head.

Excuses are a poor patch on the garment of failure.

Excellent quote. I shared that one with my boys.

Fridays in the fall are special, beginning in August. I know Fall doesn't begin for another month and a half, but the first Friday in August signifies a change in the season's to me. Football Season.

 

The mornings are a little cooler and there is a change in the air. Summer break has turned into two-a-days. I haven't put on a helmet in 30 years but I remember the bruises, skinned up knees and elbows, dirt in my face and chiggers, the butt-chewings and the praises. I remember the soreness that always came with the first few days of practice, but it seemed to pass fairly quickly. I think I even miss the old red water that tasted like sulfur, even when they mixed in the powdered Quick-Kick (a precursor to Gatorade). And I fondly reflect back on a bunch of coaches to whom I owe a tremendous debt for all the life lessons they taught me.

 

As I sit here this morning, wearing my lucky Friday red shirt and thinking back on old memories, I guess I just really miss being on a team. We would beat on each other, give ungodly nicknames, torture each other unmercifully, but... we were brothers. Best times of my life.

 

I hope you have fond memories too, and I hope you can look forward to another great season for your team.

 

Was just discussing the comraderie, growth, and good times I was fortunate to experience with my teammates with one of my sons coaches this afternoon. I second the "great times" perspective. I sincerily hope all of our kids can empathize before they go off to college!

Well done Watusi, as I sat here reading this some things flashed through my head

 

The buzz haircut, the bicycle transportation and curfews signified this change of season you speak of for me...

 

As a Frosh you were scared to death to look a Sr let alone a Varsity guy in the eye but you starved for their approval to belong.

 

As a Soph you did your time and knew that as good as you might think you were or mom and dad told people you were it just wasn't going to happen and you knew that, so this is why they called you a "Reserve"

 

As a Jr, it was your time to shine on Special Teams and you were as good as anyone at what you did and took pride in every play even if it were only for 8-10 plays a game. You were also 2nd string and an injury away from starting so preparation was everything and this is why you excelled at Monday Reserve games.

 

As a Sr, you looked at the Frosh and said my lord they are so small and look scared to death, you look at the Sophs and say wow we have some studs coming up, you look at the Jrs and say I better give it all each and every day or someone will take my spot.

 

Then you look at your teammates and more importantly you look yourself in the mirror and know that this is your time to shine and etch your name in the history books on Friday Nites...:thumb:

 

 

My oh my, how the times have changed but the Season remains the same...

Clyde, you touched on what made football so special to so many young men... Comradery! I will never forget the random times with my best friends before, during, and after practice. Fans remember the games on Friday nights, but as a player, nothing will compare to how close you became while no one was watching.

Clyde, you touched on what made football so special to so many young men... Comradery! I will never forget the random times with my best friends before, during, and after practice. Fans remember the games on Friday nights, but as a player, nothing will compare to how close you became while no one was watching.

Could not agree more, the games now are a blur, but will never forget those moments in practice...when someone got lit up, or when a coach chewed your butt unmercifully....thought I would never get through those days.....oh how I wish I could return.

I try to instill in my son the appreciation of these times, especially during this his senior year, my message is to enjoy every single moment, cause in the blink of an eye its over and you cant have it back again.

At X under Coach Meihaus there was no water and of course those salt tablets. Why didn't we stroke out or something?

At X under Coach Meihaus there was no water and of course those salt tablets. Why didn't we stroke out or something?

I remember 3 hour practices with 1 water break, a hose from a neighbors house, we would fill up our helmets with water and ice and drink out of the vent hole, disgusting! Not sure how we all survived.