I sat last night preparing for the big bowl game that my favorite college team would be playing. I had my snacks, my drinks, my comfy clothes, the correct television station, the sound system set appropriately. I couldn't be there in person, so I did my best to make sure this would be an enjoyable experience at home. As the toss of the coin was taking place, I looked at the players' faces and tried to decide if they were nervous, excited, ready. They looked good--calm, collected, confident. I was a wreck! I had to laugh at myself and even said to those with me, "Why am I so nervous? You'd think I was playing tonight."
These young men had done something no one had expected this year. Their team had been picked to be near the bottom of the conference and after the first game of the season where we barely won against a much smaller school with far less resources, many loyal fans were prepared to write off the season. And then something wonderful happened. These young men began to find their combined voice. Every week they came to the field ready...not to win the league, not to show us all...but ready to take care of that game, that particular day. There was no tomorrow to worry about. Their focus was only this game and making each day a little better than the day before. And they did.
They ended the season with ten wins and only two losses and a bowl game. They ended the season ranked eighth in the nation. They had given us a season of thrilling (sometimes too thrilling) games. Not bad for a team that most everyone had written off five months ago.
Why was I so nervous? Because I wanted it for them. They had worked so hard, given us all so much enjoyment and excitement over the season. They earned it...every bit of it and I wanted them to have that successful conclusion to a remarkable year. It was not meant to be. But I hope that, in time, they will remember all that they accomplished and not what was lost. Certainly, there are lessons in the loss, but they taught us all that the reward is not in the once a week victories. The reward is on the field every day, trying again, learning more, being a little better each day. Not focusing on rankings and the big prizes, but each little victory, each and every day. And when you do that, then the big rewards will come.
Thanks Guys, for the lessons learned!
