The Last Friday

It happens this time every year. For many, it started about five weeks ago, Some very fortunate football players are still playing for State Championships, but this much is true – football ends for everyone. For some it ends after college. A very small percentage play professionally, but everyone's career will end.

For the vast majority of high school football players, the game is now over. It’s an intoxicating game, but it is a brutally cruel and an honest mistress.

For many of these young men, they have been a part of the football ecosystem and lifestyle since the age of six – 1st grade. So eleven years they have sweated, hurt, won, loss and bonded with teammates in a sport that creates lifelong friendships. I know this is true of every sport, but indulge me. If you golf, you can keep golfing. Basketball? There are pickup games in gyms and courts all over the country. Swim? Track and Field? Soccer? Bowl? Baseball? If you aren’t fortunate enough to play collegiately for all those sports mentioned, they all give athletes outlets after high school. They have parks, senior leagues courses, etc, etc. But it’s not easy after high school to play organized, padded tackle football.

For 95% of all football players football is forever over - not the annual turkey bowl or occasional flag game in the league. The kind of football that requires a year round commitment of training, five months of practice through heat and humidity, through pain and injury – that kind of football is forever over. ??

Some describe it as losing a part of your identity, and indeed, that is true. How many of us have had to endure “Uncle Rico” stories at reunions and family gatherings? The game sticks to you like super glue. For many, it’s the first time they have had to let go of something they love. As adults, we have practice with loss. As young men, these football players don’t. Believe me, ending the relationship with this game is serious, serious business.

I have hugged and cried with countless seniors when the magnitude of the finality hits them. Most began to feel the overwhelming presence of “the end” about a third of the way through the season. They begin to pick up the intensity. They hold the locker room accountable. They savor even the practices and the correction from coaches. They know. They know.

If your son, or a friend, or the son of a friend is one of those guys, listen to their escapades. Hear their stories. Be sympathetic as they go through the process of loss. They will get through it, but it’s not easy to let go. Just be there, and if they pull up their HUDL highlights, be patient!

So, for old times’ sake - let’s go Trips Zip Trade, Chicago Red, Blue Squeeze on Tuesday on Tuesday – ReadyBreak and SetGO!