Fridays with Mac: Legacy

Perhaps it’s a grateful guy growing more sentimental with age. Maybe so. But a recent weekend on the stomping grounds of youth bore bountiful fruit.

The wondrous weekend in Kanas City began with a reunion of a high school football team from 50 years ago. The fall of 1974 and a special bunch of young men who wore the red and white of the Raytown South Cardinals. We had a special season.

The Cards under first year coach Bruce Johnson announced their arrival to the Missouri prep football community with a convincing win over state power Jefferson City. It continued with triumphs over other respective powers on the way to an undefeated (10-0) regular season. The campaign did end in disappointing fashion with a loss in the state semifinals to eventual state champ Columbia Hickman. Its roster contained five players who would play professionally. The Cards had the Kewpies on the ropes but let a late third-quarter led slip away.

The bitter ending to a magical season could not dampen the enthusiasm of the aging players, ever more aging coaches and a legion of fans who remember that moment so well. Back in the mid 70’s, Raytown South, in the town of Raytown and nestled on KC’s southeast edge, was a basketball school under legendary coach Bud Lathrop.

Not the fall of ’74. All eyes were on a team that rose to #1 in the state of Missouri behind a stout defense and solid offense. Your scribe was blessed to play quarterback and sometimes safety for a senior-laden squad with a collective spirit based upon talent, toughness and devotion to one another.

The weekend festivities began with attending the 2024 Cardinals’ home game against Lincoln Prep. What a blast to hang with the current players, coaches and fans. About 40 in our reunion crew sat right in the middle of the stands and cheered on the team. Even encouraged the cheerleaders to recite cheers from long ago. Nobody bit on my pleas for “Two bits, four bits, six bits a dollar, all for the Cardinals stand up and holler!” Former cheerleaders in our midst joked, “There’s no way I could shake my booty like that for fear of wrecking havoc on my back.”

I’d like to think we were a good luck charm for the current Cardinals. That wouldn’t be true. Ray South struggled a bit in the first half but came on strong after halftime to secure a convincing win. My darling wife was along for the ride and cracked, "Once you old dudes living your Glory Days departed, the team came alive.” Ouch. Said their coach afterward. “We’re slow starters.”

Another special moment of the weekend was the next morning. Most of the team gathered to watch video of four key games of the incredible season. The before mentioned route of Jeff City and three others: wins against Center and Rockhurst along with the heartbreaking setback to Columbia Hickman.

It’s what happened after watching the games that is the message in this moment. Sorry for burying it so deeply. Almost to a man, upon reflection from the videos and not our fading memories? We know it tends to embellish the good and diminish the less than good, right? Almost to a man we would approach a teammate, give them a hug and sincerely proclaim, “Sorry I didn’t block better, or pass better or tackle better.”

It struck me like a lightning bolt. The real difference maker for a team of overachievers still marinating in the success of that season? An unwavering desire for each player to play to their best abilities for the guy next to him on offense, defense and special teams. It demonstrates the power of thinking about others before self.

Regardless of the goal, whether in sports, relationships, business or the future of our nation? If our conviction is to do our best, not for individual’s sake, but for the sake of the team? Memorable stuff can happen.

Playing to the best of our abilities. Hanging with the fellas, coaches and fans of a special group was a powerful reminder. When we never grow weary of such a spirit? Good things often happen leaving a priceless legacy.