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We won our Homecoming game with Clarke County last week. They have a good team and beating T.R. Miller has always been important to them. We were ahead 7-6 early in the third quarter when it happened. The cheerleaders did not do a cheer in anticipation of it. The band director did not instruct the band to be ready. The P.A. announcer did not warn the crowd that they should direct their attention to the field. None of my coaches were excited about what was about to happen. I did not tell the other players to pay close attention, that they could learn something valuable in the next few seconds. Some fans had gone to the restroom or concession stand. Others were talking to their friends and were not even paying attention. Our radio crew did not tell the listening audience to listen carefully to what was about to happen. The referees did not tell each other to be ready, to be prepared. Clarke County did not know what was about to occur. If they had known, they would have done something differently. No one knew but it happened anyway. Because it is part of the game.
Clarke County had the ball and ran a little swing pass to their running back. He caught the ball and was hit quickly by Nick Adams. The blow spun him around and he was immediately hit by Dominique Jackson. The ball came out and Kameron Coleman picked it up and ran it all the way for the touchdown. The game ended up 14-6. So looking back it was obvious that this was the most important play of the game. No one knew it was coming.
In football there are generally 5 or 6 plays that determine the outcome of a game. If we knew which plays were in those 5 or 6 we would make sure to have our best players in the game. To coach them up to what to expect. Now some plays you know are big plays. In the 4th quarter with time running out, Jamal Spears made a great play on the goalline tackling the Bulldog QB. Everyone knew that a big play in the game was coming because of the situation. They band played. The cheerleaders tried a little harder to get the crowd involved. The fans stood in anticipation. But no one knew about the Coleman fumble recovery.
It is one of the things that makes football a great game. You never know when the biggest play of the game will occur. It could be on the first play or the last play. It could involve the best player on the team. Or it could be a play by an average player. But the key is this---you must be ready. So that is why you play your very best on every play. Because you never know when it will be the most important play of the game.
I'm glad that Nick was recognized the play. Thank goodness Dominique knocked the ball loose. But I'm pretty happy that Kameron didn't decide to take the play off and rest. What if he had? What if he was a second slower getting there? In life as well as football you must be ready. Today might be the day you meet the person who will change your life. Maybe you are going to be so good at school or at your job today that someone will recognize your potential. They may suddenly offer you a great opportunity that could affect your future in a positive way. What if you had decided to stay home and take the day off? You could miss the opportunity of a lifetime. So you do your job as hard as you can, as good as you can every day.
The biggest play of your life could be today! Be ready!
