Thoughts before the 2022 football season for players and fans

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David Burnworth | August 19, 2022

This coming Thursday, the high school football season kicked off here in Ohio, while other states will wait another week to kick things off. With a new season comes new hope for all of the teams, especially for those who struggled last season. For those who had a good season but came up short on that state title bid, the hope once again is there that they can finally bring home the title. For the seven teams who won the title last season, a target is now on their backs. Some have a chance to repeat, while others will succumb to the pressure of trying to defend their title.

For the seniors, I hope you take the time to enjoy every second of this season because, for some of you, this will be it. Enjoy this season as you have never enjoyed it before. Be the leader that a senior is supposed to be, even if this means doing something you have never done before because you won’t have that chance again at this level.

For the freshmen who have earned the right to dress and play on varsity, be a sponge and learn everything you can from those senior leaders. Never be afraid to ask a question or ask for help. All of those in classes above you were right where you will be on opening night at one time in their high school career. Listen to the coaching staff without hesitation and do as they teach you. What you learn this season will mold you into the player and the person you will become later, not only on the field but in life too.

To the juniors and sophomores, some of you will be starters, while others will be coming off of the bench or getting most of your playing time on special teams. Whatever the case may be, you should all work harder than you ever have before. The starters can’t forget what got them there, while the others are working harder to get into the starting lineup.

Every one of you is a member of something that is much bigger than one, and that is the team. Always keep that in mind and never leave a teammate hanging. Help each other on and off the field, whether it be football-related or something off of the field. Do not allow one mistake to turn into another. Let your teammates know what needs to be done to fix an issue at practice before it comes on under the lights or in the classroom. Most of all, be an ambassador to your team, family, school, coaches, young kids, alumni and anyone you know. You are representing them. Play with dignity, honor, integrity and good sportsmanship.

To the adult fan who goes to a game: remember that these are young men playing this game. They are not college or NFL players, so there is no need to boo them or scream out negative things at them during the game. They are all smart enough to realize they made a mistake. I know none of us, myself included, will ever agree with everything a coach does, especially when it comes to play calling, but remember this: they are coaching while you are sitting in the stands or along the fence. It is their job to coach and your job to support the team you root for.

In closing, we do have a favor to ask of players and adults. Players, when you’re on that field, after a play or just before a play or during warmups, make it a point to thank one of the referees on the field. Seriously. They aren’t there to pick the winner. They’re there to help you do what they once did. They don’t care if you win or lose. They don’t make millions doing what they do. They are there for the love of the game. Just like you. They’re human. Thank them. We need them. We need more of them.  Let them know we want them. . And just like you they’ll make a mistake here and there. That is part of being human and not some sort of robot. Parents, adults in the room, when they do miss a call, think before you scream out that nasty word that a fan should not be yelling and really think hard before you start running off at the mouth and get into some unnecessary trouble with the school or worse, with the police who are working the game to keep everyone as safe as possible.

Good luck this season. Ball out.

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