Learning to Win: Patriots 35 Hoover 14

In life, nothing is given and everything is earned. Simply going through the motions is not good enough in the real world. Looking across from your opponent and just showing up doesn't get the job done.

We lost our opening game to Pt. Loma 14-7. I attribute part of that to having our first game jitters. Having a bye while Pt. Loma had a game the week before showed. Pt. Loma was well coached and they played hard, as did our Patriots. We played hard and the best part about our opening game was that nobody quit. Everybody competed until the final whistle.

But some players weren't happy because they did not play. Such is life in the Fast Lane of Competition. I spoke with our players after the Pt. Loma game and challenged those that did not play to question their coaches and find out what they needed to do to get into the game. At least six players took me up on that challenge and spoke to their coaches. It is a hard thing to do, but I am proud of them for taking that step on their own.

But come Monday and Tuesday, we did not practice well. We were sloppy, made metal mistakes, missed assignments and we as a team looked very disorganized. Coach Valaile even took away the Black Jerseys from the starting defense. I took responsibility of the team's performance and promised a new attitude from me and the coaching staff on Wednesday's practice. But the players needed to take some responsibility and work towards being a team and pushing each other.

Needless to say, our Wednesday practice was the best practice of the year to this point. Tempo was upbeat, players were hustling, we cut back on some plays and players knew their assignments. The coaches took a more positive approach in coaching the players. I looked forward to seeing how our players would respond to the Hoover Cardinals... That is until I woke up with the flu on Thursday morning.

I wasn't sick as a dog, I was so weak and beat up that I couldn't get out of bed. Luckily for all of us, Coach Armenta is a former varsity head coach, Coach Hubka is a former 8th grade football head coach and Coach Valaile has been my long time assistant coach. So I felt the team was in good hands and I stayed at home waiting on pins and needles to see how our Patriots would do.

As it turned out, the Patriots hard work did not go to waste and they beat the Cardinals of Hoover 35-14. I watched the video of the game and I was very happy with the teams performance. The players took their practice habits and put them to use out on the field. The offensive and defensive lines had good games and Colton Ledford ran for over 100 yards.

As I look back to the previous week's practice, it was the players preparation that pushed us to victory. Not the coaches, not the plays, but the attitude to succeed in whatever you do in life. That is my job. Teaching our players not only how to play football, but how to win in life.

By the way, I am sorry I didn't see it, but all the coaches commented on the large number of Patriot fans that were at the game and how loud and supportive you folks were. Keep up the good work Patriot family. It means a lot to the players and coaches.