by Mark Jackson

Created on: February 04, 2009

Coach Pitcher goes over the special teams depth chart one last time. Coach Goltra, Defensive Coordinator, reminds the team one last time of the keys to success on defense. Now it is my turn, I try to eloquently hit the tree points necessary for us to be successful on offense; establish the Power by getting a play side push from our offensive line, be able to protect the play action, and make sure that we play our "up" tempo style of no huddle. "Gentlemen, play fast tonight, if you are more physical than them then you will win this game. Remember focus and intensity, but focus comes first! All right now, let's pray." I usually pick a player to lead the prayer, they sometimes fumble through it or seem very nervous, but I am always encouraged by the sincerity of the prayer. When the players finish praying we always do one last thing. "Okay guys we have prepared you all week and we will coach our butts off tonight for you, we are going to head to the field, this is your time, players only breakdown as soon as we are out the door. Remember, three minutes till we have to be on the field." As we walk out the door I make a point to shake the hand of all my assistants. Up the stairs and down the hall to the doors, the players follow. "Two lines, helmets on, hold hands, seniors in the front". Once we have everyone lined up, we start the walk out the door, "no talking, get focused". It is not a long walk out the end of the high school, down the sidewalk, across the drive that runs in front of the stadium and through the pass gate, down the hill, across the mats laid out on the track to west end zone. I go ahead and jog across the field to our sideline; we are on the sidelines opposite the stands, one of the best coaching moves I have made since coming to Center High School. The players break it down one last time, through the tunnel of cheerleaders and drum majors. The band strikes up the fight song and here comes the Yellowjackets.

It is an awesome feeling and just writing about it gets me fired up. I love Friday Night football. And I was about to write this line, "it is what I live for". As a passionate high school football coach it is easy to get consumed; consumed by the desire to win, the "need" to prepare my team in off season, consumed by watching film, going to clinics, coaches meetings, and all the things that are necessary to be a successful high school football coach. The next thing you know, you are "doing" all the things it takes to "win" football games and

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