[bigredman]

Well it was an interesting season. Played the Bobcats this past weekend. Great game. Good coaches on the other side. The kids played their hearts out. It was 20 to 20 going into the last two minutes of the game. Called a Red Tiger Whiskey (which is a right side, inside linebacker blitz to the outside of the defensive tackle). We run a 4-4 defense (a variation of the 6-3). Anyway, with the inside linebacker blitzing, the other team ran a fake draw counter reverse. My outside linebacker got taken in by the fake counter, my inside linebacker got to the QB just as he made the hand off to the slot receiver going on the reverse to the same side as my blitzing linebacker. Perfect play against the defense I called. The kid ran it 30 yards for a touchdown. I just had to look across the field to the other coach and smile at him and point. He got me. The point after attempt was no good so it was 26 to 20 with one minute and 49 seconds left. We got the ball back on the ensuing kickoff, drove the ball to their 40 yard line, got bogged down, attempted a 4th and 4 screen play unsuccessfully. They kneel on the next play. Game over. A real heart breaker, but I was proud of my kids. So proud. We are a small team in numbers, with many of our players going both ways. God I love these kids. They didn't lose this game, I did. I told them so, and they came up and hugged me telling me its OK. Telling me how no one player can win or lose a game, same goes with a coach...yada yada yada...all the stuff I tell them. That is what its all about. They heard and learned the message. They became a TEAM and loved one another. It never fails to make my eyes well up (as I am now). We will have our banquet to hand out trophies, say our good-byes, and see you next years. We missed the playoffs unfortunately. You know, when I go to the High School where my youngest son attends and see the kids from previous years, they come up to me smiling and calling me coach. We relive our glories and defeats, catch up on what's been happening with them and me and the team. I can only explain it as a legacy that's ongoing and rewarding. I have seen some of the players that I have coached go onto college football. None have made the pros yet, but I'm sure one day it will happen. What I would like to see before I die, is one of my kids make the pros, and on Monday night football player introductions say "Bobby Carpenter, North Stockton Ravens". That would be sooooooo cool!