Patriots for Life

The team finished week 3 of the camp with a good day of effort in the weight room.  To watch the growth of each of these young men is impressive.  They have drive, they hustle, they respect each other and pick one another up when times get tough.  I attribute that to all of you parents and the hard work you put into raising your sons.

We are instilling the core values of being a man and our priorities in life: Faith, Family, School and then Football in that order.

It had come to my attention that one of our players has a chance to go to Saint Augustine HS and leave us here at Henry, his home school.  So I made it a point to talk to him in the hopes he would stay here at Patrick Henry.  But if he and his family were committed to going to Saints, I would respect that and wish him all the best without any hard feelings.

I pull the young man aside and I told him I heard he might be going to Saints.  He looked at me with a grin and what he was about to say threw me for a loop.  He said, "Coach, I'm not leaving.  I love this team because it feels like a family."

As a coach, you know you have influence over those you teach and mentor.  But for a young man to tell me "it feels like a family" so early in the season really touched me. 

Coach Abate noted that most of our Offensive Linemen and Tight Ends have buzzed haircuts. Coach Abate told me, "Coach Dailey, you need a fat guy hair cut!"  (Please don't take offense.  The term 'Fat Guy' to me and Coach Abate is a term of endearment for the tightest unit on the team: the OL and TE's)

So after weight training, I gave the players a choice in conditioning:  A) Sprints in the sand pit or B) Coach Dailey gets a buzz cut.  Buzz cut won out 48 - 2.

Coach Abate whipped out the clippers and buzzed my head pretty good.  The players got a good kick out of it.

After Coach Abate cut my hair, I explained the reason why we did it:  The players are a part of me and I am a part of the players.  We talked about how this team has come together as a family.  We talked about how the friendship we form today will be forged for the next 4 years here at Patrick Henry and for the rest of your life.

Coach Naughton, Coach Abate and myself are all graduates from Patrick Henry.  We all played football at Patrick Henry.  We spoke of tradition and leadership.  We spoke of family and how it is essential to grow together to be successful.  Your sons have joined our fraternity at here Patrick Henry Football.  They are now Patriots for Life.

So I want to welcome all our new brothers to Patrick Henry Football.  You, like us, will be proud to wear the green and gold. 

I want to send a special note to the player I spoke to about going to Saints.  You have re-newed my faith in the future of our community.  Thank you Josh Peloquin