A player's perspective

[bhs06_2]

I'll say this first: I am using this username because the cookies have been cleared from my browser so I can no longer "auto-login". Once I get my email address back I will log into my old bhs06 name. But until then I will be on this one.

Anyway...

This post is meant to see how things are like from a player's point of view and not a fan's. A player's perspective on the biggest game of our lives.

Friday was not fun. Being jeered and knocked on all day at school. Losing (badly) to your biggest rival which you have never beaten before and never will. It will be that way forever, nothing you can do. And worst of all, being knocked out of the playoff race. Students wearing shirts that said things like "no hope" and "remember the last time bell beat trinity? neither do I". At the pep rally, at the end for the alma mater, all the seniors rush the court and hold up there index finger. We as a team usually join them. Not this pep rally. Why? Because they don't believe in us. They are worthless. Also, they do things like crowdsurf and moshpit which got a player on our team a black eye back in week 2. After the pep rally we finally got a break from the student body. We then learned that our starting free safety had gotten in a fight and will not play. Our starting left defensive end violated team rules and had been dismissed. It hurt, but we still felt we could do without them. Leading up to leaving for Pennington, it was all focus, as no one said a word. We really wanted to win this game. But we didn't. We lost in an un-Bell/Trinity-game-like fashion. For us seniors, it was our last chance and we blew it. It will be this way for the rest of our lives. I can't even count on both of my hands the number of players we had crying because of how miserable it was. We could all relate. It was just so sad to see this happen.

Let me point out the one that sticks out the most: A player, probably the hardest worker on the team and the most optimistic. Also one of the smartest. He always has a positive attitude at practice and likes practicing. Hard worker at practice. Offseason he was always staying after school late lifting and running. Every day of the summer he came to offseason and worked hard. He isn't the biggest guy, or the fastest, and among the least athletically gifted. He doesn't play a lot, and when he does he will try hard. But he tries just as hard, like Rudy. He is Blue Raider football and the biggest believer. And going into the 4th quarter, score 42-0, he was on the bench sobbing with his head in his jersey. Because there was nothing that could be done, his dreams were smashed with the rest of the team and he just couldn't hold it in.

About the alma mater: Let me say that we had no idea the Trinity Alma Mater was playing. In each game we have played this year, the alma maters for both schools have been played before we even leave the locker room. So we stretched and they came(walked) out of their tunnel and all. We were in ours getting hyped up. It was loud in there, and the air compressor made it even louder. We had been in the tunnel for quite a while and it looked like everyone was waiting for us to come out(it was quiet). So we ran out, not knowing until after we had ran out that the Trinity alma mater was playing. It was too late, oh well. But let me say that we had no idea it was playing. It was not intentional.

I'm going to close with this. Since every one of the people on this board are fans(SLC fans in general), I am sure none of you have ever experienced a night so miserable like we did on Friday. The all day jeering from our own student body, losing to your rival, badly, never being able to beat your rival and never will get the chance again, and being knocked out of the playoffs, all in the same night, it hurts. I dreamed ever since I can remember of beating Trinity and playing at Texas Stadium in the playoffs. Both of those dreams, all the hard work I have put in, gone in one night. It is very hard to deal with. I'll just say Saturday was like someone had died. I slept until about 3 pm and just layed in my bed all day not wanting to do anything. I hope you guys can put yourself in mine and the other LD Bell seniors shoes and hopefully show some sympathy, because its been a tough few days. As a fan its easy to laugh at teams like ours and make jokes and make fun of us(YOU'RE FIRED! LOL!), but as a player its the opposite. And we only have 3 weeks left, we will have to make the best of it. It won't be as sweet when we win because the games won't matter. The toughest part will be handing Grand Prairie their 10th loss onto a winless season. I think our situation is bad but they must be worse.

I will never forget our first game, Bowie, down 7, had just recovered an onside kick with under a minute to go. Sherrod Harris drops back, and our safety KP Tatum makes a one handed interception and runs down the sideline. Our whole team runs over to him and lifts him up in celebration. It was one of the best moments of my life. That is what I wanted our season to be like, a fun and exciting adventure. Unforutnately it hasn't and won't. I have believed my dreams would come true all season long. But our magic has run out. I guess my dreams of beating Trinity and playing a playoff game will remain dreams forever.

-bhs06

[dragons08]

I'll say this first: I am using this username because the cookies have been cleared from my browser so I can no longer "auto-login". Once I get my email address back I will log into my old bhs06 name. But until then I will be on this one.

Anyway...

This post is meant to see how things are like from a player's point of view and not a fan's. A player's perspective on the biggest game of our lives.

Friday was not fun. Being jeered and knocked on all day at school. Losing (badly) to your biggest rival which you have never beaten before and never will. It will be that way forever, nothing you can do. And worst of all, being knocked out of the playoff race. Students wearing shirts that said things like "no hope" and "remember the last time bell beat trinity? neither do I". At the pep rally, at the end for the alma mater, all the seniors rush the court and hold up there index finger. We as a team usually join them. Not this pep rally. Why? Because they don't believe in us. They are worthless. Also, they do things like crowdsurf and moshpit which got a player on our team a black eye back in week 2. After the pep rally we finally got a break from the student body. We then learned that our starting free safety had gotten in a fight and will not play. Our starting left defensive end violated team rules and had been dismissed. It hurt, but we still felt we could do without them. Leading up to leaving for Pennington, it was all focus, as no one said a word. We really wanted to win this game. But we didn't. We lost in an un-Bell/Trinity-game-like fashion. For us seniors, it was our last chance and we blew it. It will be this way for the rest of our lives. I can't even count on both of my hands the number of players we had crying because of how miserable it was. We could all relate. It was just so sad to see this happen.

Let me point out the one that sticks out the most: A player, probably the hardest worker on the team and the most optimistic. Also one of the smartest. He always has a positive attitude at practice and likes practicing. Hard worker at practice. Offseason he was always staying after school late lifting and running. Every day of the summer he came to offseason and worked hard. He isn't the biggest guy, or the fastest, and among the least athletically gifted. He doesn't play a lot, and when he does he will try hard. But he tries just as hard, like Rudy. He is Blue Raider football and the biggest believer. And going into the 4th quarter, score 42-0, he was on the bench sobbing with his head in his jersey. Because there was nothing that could be done, his dreams were smashed with the rest of the team and he just couldn't hold it in.

About the alma mater: Let me say that we had no idea the Trinity Alma Mater was playing. In each game we have played this year, the alma maters for both schools have been played before we even leave the locker room. So we stretched and they came(walked) out of their tunnel and all. We were in ours getting hyped up. It was loud in there, and the air compressor made it even louder. We had been in the tunnel for quite a while and it looked like everyone was waiting for us to come out(it was quiet). So we ran out, not knowing until after we had ran out that the Trinity alma mater was playing. It was too late, oh well. But let me say that we had no idea it was playing. It was not intentional.

I'm going to close with this. Since every one of the people on this board are fans(SLC fans in general), I am sure none of you have ever experienced a night so miserable like we did on Friday. The all day jeering from our own student body, losing to your rival, badly, never being able to beat your rival and never will get the chance again, and being knocked out of the playoffs, all in the same night, it hurts. I dreamed ever since I can remember of beating Trinity and playing at Texas Stadium in the playoffs. Both of those dreams, all the hard work I have put in, gone in one night. It is very hard to deal with. I'll just say Saturday was like someone had died. I slept until about 3 pm and just layed in my bed all day not wanting to do anything. I hope you guys can put yourself in mine and the other LD Bell seniors shoes and hopefully show some sympathy, because its been a tough few days. As a fan its easy to laugh at teams like ours and make jokes and make fun of us(YOU'RE FIRED! LOL!), but as a player its the opposite. And we only have 3 weeks left, we will have to make the best of it. It won't be as sweet when we win because the games won't matter. The toughest part will be handing Grand Prairie their 10th loss onto a winless season. I think our situation is bad but they must be worse.

I will never forget our first game, Bowie, down 7, had just recovered an onside kick with under a minute to go. Sherrod Harris drops back, and our safety KP Tatum makes a one handed interception and runs down the sideline. Our whole team runs over to him and lifts him up in celebration. It was one of the best moments of my life. That is what I wanted our season to be like, a fun and exciting adventure. Unforutnately it hasn't and won't. I have believed my dreams would come true all season long. But our magic has run out. I guess my dreams of beating Trinity and playing a playoff game will remain dreams forever.

-bhs06
great story bhs, i cant even begin to feel the pain you must feel, i extend to you a hand and ask you to join the slc sideline during the playoffs, itd be an honor to have you on our sidelines

[drgnbkr]

Despite the crap from itsabagof??? that was a great narrative. I know it may not seem like it now, but you will take lessons form your experience that will help you in life. Your honesty is admirable and I'm sure you will succeed at whatever you do..

[dragons08]

Despite the crap from itsabagof??? ..
haha itsabagof that should be his username, whats with the pics all of a sudden?

[SLC13]

Despite the crap from itsabagof.......LMAO :D

[TrueBlue]

Hey, BHS06, I have really appreciated your posts all season -- remember the words of our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt:

"It is not the critic, who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the high acheivement of triumph and who at worst if he fails while daring greatly knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Bell still has a mathematical chance of making the playoffs -- finish strong either way...

[bell grad dad]

Bhs06, this is not an I told you so post. Please read all of it before you decide to hate me.
I warned you when the season started that you had some players on your team that refused to be lead, even by the best of leaders. I have no idea who you are or if you are a starter or a role player, but you are a LEADER. you will find success in life. High school football teaches boys how to become men. The Nike commercial reflects that , you will become fathers, soldiers, business leaders.....what you take away from this game is what will build your future. Winning is important, fun and really exciting, BUT IT IS NOT WHAT MAKES YOU A MAN. You are miles ahead of many players on other teams that are winning championships. This is not a knowck on any of those programs or players, just a reflection that sometimes when you are down and no one gives you a chance and they step on you, you can rise above. Keep the Raider Pride and your head up. It was nice to see most of your team play with class this year and I will continue my promise of being the first to congratulate your team on Saturday mornings when you win.

You have already won, you just don't realize the importance of the battles that you have fought and the victories you have already accomplished. Good luck to you...................

[Sakatha]

Do what I did when I left high school in Hurst. Move to Southlake!

No seriously, I've been there. Done that. Whichever.

I guess it's all a matter of point of view, really. To never taste success, and have a singular goal that doesn't get accomplished is painful regardless of when it happens.

I am betting that if you asked the seniors of the '03 Carroll squad how they felt as the horn went off, looking up and realizing that they just lost state to Katy by *1* point, they felt the same way you did/do.

High School football in this state is a tradition, and almost a religion.

I will *NEVER* forget crying along side the rest of the Blue Raider faithful as Plano cheated it's way(no denying this.. don't try.) to a 28-21 win over L.D. Bell in the 1986 semi-finals. They went on to crush La Marque in the finals that year.

It hurts no matter what your record is. I truly am sorry that you had to experience that let down. I know it's painful.

~DnM

[Sakatha]

BellGradDad -

Outstanding post. Agree 110%.

~DnM

[cfbobcat]

Wow, great story. Just wow. I am sorry you are feeling so much pain but keep your head up. It is unfortunate that you guys are lacking the support of the student body. Keep in mind though that most of those seniors have no idea what it is like to really compete or fight for something they believe in. Keep fighting. In the long run you will see that you did the best you could and you have a lot to be proud of. I hope the rest of your team has the character you do.

[SLCDad]

. . . . all the hard work I have put in, gone in one night. . . .All the hard work you did will be with you forever. It's part of your character which no one can take from you.

Thanks for the great post. Anyone who reads it will benefit.

I've just become an L.D. Bell fan.

[bubbacoach]

Man I have coached teams that were lucky to win a game and I have won a State Championship. The one thing I can say is that regardless of which team I was coaching, there was one objective in mind. That was turning out responsible, self sufficient members of society. We as players, coaches, and fans sometimes get caught up in the winning and losing more than necessary. Winning is great and it will provide you with a great feeling temporarily. But what you should be getting most out of your days as a players is learning the little things in life that make you successful down the road. How to overcome adversity, a work ethic, responsibility, manners, sportsmanship, teamwork, dedication, and...... If your coach is a coach that does not teach these things then he has failed you. Hopefully he has, most coaches do understand that it is not about the winning and losing, but the life lessons. If you can learn the life lessons you have a chance to be successful on the field. If not, you don't. Do not look at your career or season as a failure if you have learned these things. Look at it as a foundation for the future, a chance to make you successful in the game that truly matters. The Game of Life.

[BigFoot]

Bell has not always been beaten by Trinity, BH...my son was there when Bell had Coach Edwards and our coach was beginning the decline of his health and memory. We were beaten too not always by Bell but we missed the playoffs much for the same reasons...some chose not lead or follow. The team was split. But all that said, just learn from this experience and it will serve you well later in life. I wish you the best and am truly sorry for your pain. Even though ET is winning now, I have been through some bad times with them too. It will pass and you will go on to have a life filled with strength of character if you can bounce back and be the best that you can be. Good luck in all you do.

[The Great Evaluator]

BHS 06,

As a Trinity fan, the 1st post i read was titled "Trinity might not make the playoffs". My 1st reaction was to set you straight but after giving it some thought i realized it would be to no avail. You would have to find out for yourself. I think i speak for a lot of us on this board when I say that we applaud you for believing in yourself. Whether you realize it or not you are a winner. The scoreboard may not always reflect that but it sounds as if you never gave up and as long as you do that you are a winner. Don't look at these last 3 games as meaningless, they will be the last that you ever get to play in. Hey the pressure's off now, go have fun with the rest of the season. Take no pity on Grand Prairie, football is a war of attrition and when you get a chance to beat someone, do it (with class) of course. Ryan Head Coach Joey Florence said it best "Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat". Right now it seems as if Bell will never beat Trinity but the day will come. I was there in 1986 when we had em down 21-0 at the half. They ended up beating us 24-21 with a Cary Blanchard field goal. I remember those days and you hate each other with a passion at the time but as you get older you won't hate Trinity - just like i never hated you when you posted false info about Trevor Vittatoe. I hope this season has been a valuable learning experience for you, I have enjoyed your posts both the good and the bad and i think you have a bright future as a journalist if you pursue it. Your fans
guide on the 38th annual rivalry was well written with no false info. Keep posting because I always seem to end up reading them and i very much appreciate a players perspective of things.

Your fan and friend,

The Great Evaluator

P.S. - Unless they win it all The Trojans will feel your pain at some point during the season, especially if they have to face SLC in round 1. Always remember life don't owe you nothing, keep plugging!

[Octoberfest]

BHS, nothing in your life will quite compare to the camaraderie that you share with your teammates. I have played this game at every level and what I have found is that the unique relationship that a player (particularly in football - no matter the level) has with his teammates is very hard to duplicate in the "real" world. Enjoy and remember the great part of these moments.

I have always felt that lost games presented the greatest opportunity to learn. While I certainly wanted to limit those "opportunities", there was always something to be taken away from the experience and used later in life. Best of luck.

[MHS_Ram]

What you said is something that I believe only a person who has played, coached, or really understands the game can truly understand and know how that feels (not just in football but in all sports). All players dread (doesnt feel like the right word I just cannot think of any one better) the time when their career is done. What makes it worse is when you are assured of when that is going to be. The thing that you must remember is that what you are going to get out of your time playing football in high school is not going to be based on wins. Wins are something that you remember and talk about with friends and teammates long after your done. What you get out of football is something much, much, greater. You will have learned responsibility, determination, hard work, and many other things more valuable than a win.

I am myself a Senior player and my career is done after this year so I can relate, although my team can make the playoffs sooner or later it is going to end. The thing you must remember is to have fun. I used to be the type that would get very angry at games, sometimes even if we were winning or won. I then realized that I was not having any fun, fun is what it should be about. We are not in the NFL, this is not our job, what reason do we have to put up with all that we do if not for fun. It can be hard with the pressures put on players by fans, students, and such. This year I have heard people (not playes but students) complain about us because this year sucks and is not as fun as last year because we (so far) have lost one district game and might not be district champs this year. Thats how some "fans" can be: they love you while your on top but as soon as you drop even a little they abandon you. My advice to you, one that I try to follow myself, is to forget about all these people, dont pay attention to what the paper says, and just play for you and your team. Have fun because the only true regret you can have after you are done is if you wished you enjoyed it more.

[dragons08]

All the hard work you did will be with you forever. It's part of your character which no one can take from you.

Thanks for the great post. Anyone who reads it will benefit.

I've just become an L.D. Bell fan.
as did i, i liked their band, but not their football team has a little spot inside of me as well, so please BHS, come support the dragons, like i said before, itd be an honor to you have on our sidelines!