New Blog Post- A most wonderful time of the year

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It is a glorious time of the year. I know you are probably sweltering in mid summer heat index that just feels wrong. At FT Bragg I think they actually have a mechanism to actually increase the heat and humidity here just to make training soldiers more miserable. But while it is heating up in our environment something else is heating up too. With September just a mere month and half away, young boys, middle schoolers and high schoolers all across our land are sweating through this unbearable heat with the hope of a 100 yard field, cleats on their feet and shoulder pads and helmets strapped and its time to go to war. Football is almost here!

Football, a purely American game in itself, is also a game for warriors and warriors in training. I cannot tell you how many of my soldiers in the very special community I work in tell tales of Friday night lights and epic games that they played in as young men. This tradition has been reliving itself out every fall for generations, I did it some 30 years ago, so did my brother, my best friends and now my son Jack is prepping for warfare on Bermuda grass.

Jack played one year in elementary school, but this year is different, he's in middle school now. The kids are bigger, faster and stronger than the 4th grade team he played on. Its a little more serious now, a little more intense. And that is a good thing. Just as life gets a bit more intense, a little more serious as we grow up, so do the games we play, mimicking that life.

Football is more than a game of brute force. Its a game of suffering together through forced running, sled drills, and speed work. Its game of taking care of the guy on your left and on your right. Its a game that individuals stand out, but without the rest of the guys the touchdown makers would be toast. its a game of strategy, a high speed collision infested chess match if you will. Its a game where you line up against the guy across from you and every play its "Alright, lets see who wants this more!" And at its purest form its glorious. It is warrior training....every society has had this in some form since the dawn of time.

So today when Jack called me and said, "Hey dad, guess what?" (He does this every time he has good news)
"I can't guess Jack" (My usual response)
"I got got my position today, I'm playing center!"
"That's awesome son, you know I played center back in the day, I'm proud of you"
"Thanks dad! I got my helmet and shoulder pads too"
"That's awesome Jack...can't wait till your first game!"

He's a warrior in training

And I'll be there come hell or high water at that first game cheering him on and making sure his mom doesn't collapse...it really is a most wonderful time of the year!

Comments

Alaska Luxury Fishing Lodge said…
You really had a wonderful time. Just so happy to read your post. Keep us posted.
3:49 AM
Dicy McCullough said…
Hi Brad. Loved your blog about football. You know we have a new grandson, and his grandpa is itching to teach him how to play football. He already has bought his helmet. Too funny.
9:16 PM
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