Commitment High School Football Inspirational Inspiring Reserves

A Tribute to the “Other” Trinity State Champion Football Players

There are more players on Trinity’s football team than possible jersey numbers.  Realistically, only 60 – 70 players can get into a game leaving at least 50 players on the sideline.

My son loves to play football. As a freshman, with over 100 on the roster, he had difficulty getting playing time. He knew this year it would be even more difficult to get into a game. Why did he still make the tremendous sacrifice and time commitment to be a Trinity football player? The simple answer is my son loves Trinity football.

Starting in January, he went to conditioning and weight training.  When he tells Coach Maddox stories, you can tell what a positive influence the man is in my son’s life.  In fact, my son has a football card from when Maddox was a coach at U of L.

From January to June, he never missed a session. Sounds like not many of the boys did. My son comes from a Red Sox family.  We scheduled a trip with my father to see the Red Sox play in Phoenix, but it would have meant him missing a couple of sessions. In addition, two weeklong summer trips were also planned, one out of the country and the other a family reunion.  I even discussed whether I could get him excused with President Mullin. He suggested that my son write a note to Coach Beatty. I went so far as to draft the note myself.  My son never even considered it. His response was simply, “You don’t know the Trinity way, Dad.”

From July to December, he never missed a conditioning session, practice or game.  Not many did.  To watch the starters during the game give pointers to the “others” is a marvelous tribute to the legacy of Coach Beatty and the Trinity football program.  To think about the compensation paid to each of the coaches, if any at all, in relation to the commitment and effort put in is mind boggling.

It is hard to see the contribution the “others” make when they spend all their time during the games on the sidelines.  There are no spectators at practice when the effort made by the “others” makes the team better and better.  He complained about, but loved, as a lineman, carrying the ball during practice and getting destroyed by the starting defense. Many bruises demonstrate his commitment.

Championship week my son was so nervous he had a hard time sleeping.  All he wanted for Christmas was “the ring.”  In quiet moments, he wondered whether they would win the rematch again St. X.  My response was three words – “Trust Coach Beatty.”  Without hesitation, he said, “We do.”

I never doubted that Trinity would win that game.  Even when it looked unlikely, I knew that the conditioning all the boys committed themselves to, all those hours, sacrifices made, missed vacations, sweat, effort would be a factor in the end and it was.  My son has every right to call himself a state football champion.  So do all the “others.”

A Proud Trinity Dad