Taking a break from the insanity to once again brag.
Max is first team all league. (DB)
More importantly to Max, he received the coach’s award. It was kinda assumed he’d receive the defensive player award (and the young man who did is absolutely deserving. A great person and strong lb. I’ve known and loved this kids most of his life….as I have most of these young men).
The thing is…Max is a really good db (free safety) Really good. He also plays WR, special teams (PR, KO and return) and QB when necessary or a designed play (he’s a natural qb, but won’t play because then he can’t play defense…his true love). He rarely comes off the field. He takes himself out for a play or two to catch his wind and then he’s back in. Football is and always will be his first love, lax a very close second. He decided to focus on lax for college because he knows that he won’t play fb post college, has much less risk of serious injury playing lax, and has a better chance of actually playing. He’s had a few small schools interested in him for fb. He’s been honest. He’s interested and willing to talk with anyone and honored that there’s any interest in him, but he’s focusing on lax. Most coaches already know he plays both sports and appreciate his honesty and being upfront.
Receiving the coach’s award means everything to Max. As he told me a few weeks ago, his coach is one of the best men he’s ever known. He’s hard. (Lord knows I’m
not the mommy that worries about a coach being mean to my baby) He’s tough. He’s fair. He’s honorable. And he loves his boys. There have been times we’ve enlisted him with disciplining Max.
As I hugged and thanked his coach tonight, I quietly told him what Max thinks of him. He needs to know how important he is to these boys. He was quiet for a minute and then just said thank you and I love your kid. There were tears in his eyes. (Full disclosure: I’m pretty sure he’s used to hearing me yell at him and the asshat refs. Again, I’m not only loud, my voice frigging carries)
There is so much more to coaching than winning and losing on the field. The impact on these young men (and women) lasts a lifetime.
My husband was close to his hs fbcoach until the day he died 2 years ago. So close, he knew and loved our kids and actually coached one of Max’s jh games well after he retired (I have pics of the 3 of them after the game). And this man is one of the greatest coaches to ever coach the game. Seriously. His accolades and honors are well earned. He loved his kids. And they knew it. More than 150 of his former players showed up from all around the country to honor him earlier this year.
For those of you who coach and/or teach, and truly love our kids (okay, maybe tolerate on
those days) thank you. They’re not always easy to love. Neither are the parents. But please know that your commitment to our kids does not go unnoticed.