The first game of the season. New coach. New players. The raw energy on the field before the kickoff was something you could almost touch and feel - as the players believed in the dream of winning this first game against the number 10 team in state.
Coach Heuertz in his first game as head coach - ever. He's trying to turn around a program that has one of the worst records over the past six years as anyone in the state. I'm sure he dreamed of winning this one, although realistically they didn't have much of a chance against a much more experienced team with far more returning players.
The players fought all night - and they were close to scoring several times, moving the ball downfield in what just might be some foreshadowing of success to come.
Yet at the end of the night, a loss is a loss, and many in the crowd just might be thinking "new coach, but same old results."
They weren't looking closely, or looking at what was important. Coach Heuertz is making a difference, and he's showing his players and the entire school the right way to play the game - on the field and in life.
He never once lost his cool, or his temper. He coached like crazy all the way to the end, and he never lost his positive attitude. While some of the coaches in the past would revert to maniacal tirades against referees, Heuertz showed more respect for the game.
Beyond all this, you could feel a different attitude on the sidelines than I've seen in the past. The players, while hurt by the impending loss, kept their spirits up and motivated each other to keep trying, and to fight till the end of the night.
While the dream of winning this game was quickly shattered, this school will rally around the new coach and the new attitude of the players. I believe this because the team believes, and the pursuit of the dream is sometimes more important than living it.
