Week 10: Bye week

Finally a week off. Only 3 practices this week and they are only in half equiptment. It was the week I was waiting for since week 6, because it was a chance to rest and catch my breathe to finish out strong. The lifts were this week which was odd but once again it was a nice change off pace. The only problem was the whole team including myself was that we took this week off. I felt like the season was over which wasn’t a good thing because although we cant win anything this year, with this last game we can win something, respect. The last week was against Bethany College, a small college down in West Virginia, that had the same record as us and for once this season we were predicted to beat them by 2 scores. I didn’t take this week off because I knew if I did, then the last game means nothing, and if it means nothing then we mind as well not even play it. Although it was our week off, I pushed the team harder than usual at practice, I wanted it to get it in our teams head that we can and will win this game, which means that it will be our first conference victory and we can build on this win for the next season and win more and more conference games. I wont give up, I made it too far to give up now….Never back down

Week 9: Thiel College

Going into the Thiel College this was the game we had a great chance of winning because they had the same bad record as us 1-7. They weren’t big nor fast but why were they beating us off the ball, why were they scoring easy points against us, its because they played with their strength, heart. This team never gave up, they never got down on each other and they realized when they messed up and they corrected it the next play. On the sideline it was a disaster for us, we went right back to the W&J game with all the arguing and all the fighting amongst our team. I had 3 catches early in the game for big plays and after that I was once again denied the ball, which led to me getting frustrated again. I couldn’t stand it anymore like before I started to get mad and I didn’t stop the whole game. Throwing my anger around the field and taking it out on the Tomcats, but once again my efforts came up short and we lost another game, and not just any team, but a team we should have pounded so hard that it was impossible for them to get back on the bus cause they were so hurt. Its was hard once again to walk up the hill to the tailgate and see the look of disappointment on my dad’s face, which even brought me down more. I only play for myself when im on the field cause I need to concentrate on my responsibility but to see my family just sad because of the potential we have to have a successful team and yet for some reason we cant put it all together on the field. What is that problem? Where is our missing link?

Week 8: Geneva College

Last year at this time I had to be carted off the field from the biggest hit I have ever taken from a cheap free safety that took an illegal hit to my head, and that ended my season with a massive concussion. Going into this game all I could think of was the hit I took, and just about the whole year I remained injury free, which in previous seasons was my major down fall. Their starting all conference tackle came back this game from an injury that kept him out the whole season until this point, and just as I guessed he was on me. The battle between me and him continued the whole game and for the most part he couldn’t hang with me. Laying it all out on the field the whole game, coach came up to me and asked if I was up for running 614 fire, the same play I got injured to one year ago. I had no fear, every play I go out on the field fearless because when you show fear that’s how you get hurt or that’s how you lose respect by the opposing team. My pre-snap read showed that the play should be a success and that I could have a chance to score on this play. The play was off and the ball was in the air, a little high but very catchable. As soon as the ball hit my hands, once again I took a hit that felt like it did a year ago, except this time was different. Once I caught my breathe I heard to crowd go nuts just like it did last year, only this time the crowd was in my favor. The ball was in my hands and I my head didn’t hurt. I didn’t score but 2 plays later we did, once again another big play from 82 that lead to a score. We didn’t lose again, but we didn’t stop fighting which is a big improvement. We walked off the field sad, but for some reason it didn’t hurt this time.

Week 7: #7 W&J College

Walking into the house of #7 ranked team in the nation Washington and Jefferson College was already intimidating. When the first half had commences we were down by 14 points, and I felt like I did my part because I had already scored 2 touchdowns. The half time speech was short and to the point, are we just gonna roll over in the second half and let this team just roll all over us and embarrass us on their homecoming in front of the biggest crowd we have seen yet, and the answer was yes. When the second half started I could barely get off the line for pass routes because I was being shadowed everywhere I went on the field, and not getting open or getting the ball started to really beat me down, and without thinking I snapped. I have never been so furious in my life. I can accept losing to a better team which is what this team was by far, but to roll over a quit is not in my blood and it never will be. As I looked around most of the team near the end of the game was on the bench with their heads down and the other group was walking around pointing fingers at what people did wrong and blaming them for this embarrassing lose. Here we go again just like last year, all the fighting on the sideline between players and coaches. This is not how a good team operates and this is not how my team will be working anymore. We got out played, out coached, and out numbered. And at the end of the game and I noticed we lost by 52 points and I looked at their sideline and watched them laugh as they tried to rack the score up as much as possible, I just thought to myself, you laugh now because many not next year or a couple down the road but Saint Vincent will come into this same place stronger and better than you and will do the same thing one day and we will be the ones laughing.

Week 6: Thomas More College

The bus ride down to Kentucky was only 6 hours but with all of our pit stops it felt like we were going to play a football game but instead was just going on a meaningless college roadtrip….which is what the trip ended up being. We stopped in Columbus Ohio where one of the most prestige schools in America is located, Ohio State University. We unloaded the whole team off the buses and looking around this enormous school just blew my mind because living in the country my whole like I never had the opportunity to see a campus so big. As we walked out to one of their many practice fields I had the opportunity to see some of their players that played at this college, and I can defiantly understand why I play at SVC and they play at OSU. We went through our long pregame that didn’t seem to go to well, but mainly because of the long long long bus ride. When we finally arrived at what looked like an abandoned holiday inn in Kentucky the focus and drive just wasn’t there with our team. Was it because of the 3 consecutive losses to teams we should have beat and not as we walk into the house of undefeated team we don’t have any condifence that we can beat this team. Why make the trip then? Why waste our team? The game was a disaster. Offense we were shut out and the only score we had was late in the 4th we had a fumble recovery for a touchdown, which at that point ment nothing because the game was basically over. Was our season over? Did we just throw in the towel?

Week 5: Grove City College

Grove City College….another attainable win, and another disappointing lose. Although they were a much bigger team than us, our fast pace offense was a complete disappointment only putting up 12 points. Its starting to wear on the team that we go out every week for 5 days to prepare for a game every week. We work hard, sweat, bleed just to win and it seems like other than week 2 that goal is unattainable. So here I am another week up at the tailgate and its just starts being mass complaining about the team about players, coaches, and any other person to blame this lose on instead of understanding that it takes a team to win and it takes a team to lose, and once we realize that and put our arguing aside we will start winning these games that should not being losing. That night I went out to the post game party and had a good time but the whole time I was there just enjoying my time with my best friends and I kept thinking the time we have now will not compare to another win, especially one in our conference. Next week we have Thomas More College who is undefeated and what not a better time to celebrate than a upset win against one of the best teams in the conference, possibly the best.

Week 4: Waynesburg University

After a big loss to Waynesburg me and my buddies walked up to the after the game tailgate that my dad hosts after every home game. Looking around I couldn’t help but to notice the amount of orange that happened to be surrounding (there colors). It upset me that there was a big festival around our school and it was all around this big trailer that they brought up to school to eat and listen to music with the team. Sitting with my team and watching them made me think many things. One I was anger that even after they beat us up pretty good and now they are rubbing it in our faces, and it also made me think is that that’s what I want in our program. They have been an established team for many years and that’s what this teams traditions are, and even though we are a new team with a people that are still adjusting to the big changes at our school, we can be that team and we can have that chemistry and that team spirit that these teams have. That day made me think that someone needs to step up as a leader and I thought that that person needs to be me and my friends, and in order for this team to have that spirit, I need to step up my actions to win games and bring together this team and community.

Week 3: Westminster College

Deep in the game against Westminster College we were down by 21 points going into the 4th quarter. They were a solid up front team and I could just tell that they were starting to rally over us, which is one of the worst feelings in any sport. It felt like the team was standing in quick sand and no matter what we did something turned wrong for us and we sank farther and farther. Even with my big touchdown early in the game, 2 interceptions later and 2 quick scores for them sealed the deal. Even though we stuck in it until the end, coming back and only losing by seven, the game was over and the pressure of a losing program was on our backs yet again. I know this morale bruiser was going to be hard to overcome for the next week against Waynesburg.
The locker room was quiet, the showers were quick and the bus ride was long. No one really talked because such an attainable win was shot down and no matter how much I want to, we can’t go back and beat that weak team that should be feeling what our team and me personally is feeling right now. Even the kids who didn’t play didn’t say much because they felt the pain the rest of the team is feeling right now. The combination of the sickness from that game and the pain of a separated shoulder I took near the end of the game prevented me from eating the cold pizza in front of me and also prevented me from going out that night because it didn’t feel right to celebrate something that doesn’t deserve such an occasion. Instead I went back to my room put my head down on my bed and stayed there until the next day when a new chapter would begin.

Week 2: Gallaudet Univeristy

On the bus ride back from week 2, the attitude was a little different, everyone was excited. For the first time since the football team has been resurrected, we come home winners. The game wasn’t pretty but when the score reads 23-22 Saint Vincent everyone affiliated with the team knew that we did something special. All the blood, sweat, and tears finally paid off. The coaches, for the first time in a long time, were talking to us after the game. They were proud of everyone that played today. Gallaudet College, a deaf school from DC was a solid team who pounded us on our season opener last year, played a great game, but for the first time, we showed chemistry, we showed love for one another, and confidence that we are not coming home losers again.
My game went well. I had 2 big catches for over 20 yards that contributed to touchdowns, and a game that you win by one point every score, possession, and catch matters. My phone is coming alive as I am getting congratulations from everyone in the school. This game could possibly establish us as a team to be reckoned with in further games. But, being the calm player that I am, I just sat back in my seat with my best friends and enjoyed the ride, soaking up every moment of winning my first college football game. For that entire day I felt like a god. Not because of the win, but because a collaboration of people knew that we did something amazing and we did something good for the people that care about us.

Week 1: McDaniel College

Here we are again, first game of the season coming off a disastrous season one year ago. The night before I stayed off campus just so that I can eliminate distractions and get the quiet time to study my playbook and do what I have to do to win this game. Our team this year is much more mature and stronger than the Bearcats of last year and we are playing an opponent that we can definitely compete with, McDaniel College. I am in the locker room starting to suit up as I get my right thumb taped up and listen to my favorite warm-up music, Musiq Soulchild, just to relax my mind and get me loose and calm before the game. We all huddle up and pray for luck in this game, asking that our Lord and Savior watches over us. As we take the field and see our opponent the tempo is turned up and no longer is the team loose, but instead angry. We are so angry that you can feel like you want to go out on the field and just make mothers nervous for their sons.

The first kickoff is up and in the air and the game is on its way. Not only was I ready to take the field but I can see our offensive line just staring at our opponent and not taking their eyes off them, knowing that they are not going to get beat today. I get the play and break the huddle. In my stance I am analyzing everything about my opponent; his stance, his leverage, his eyes, just to read what kind of player he is and what I can predict he is going do this play. The first snap in off and just like the first play the entire game was the same way, we lost……