One Tackle

Some players live in the spotlight. Touchdowns, tackles and amazing plays are just part of Friday night lights. But there are others who suit up every day for practice and every Friday night knowing their playing time will be few and far between and they may never see the spotlight- and that’s ok. They are there for the team. And I don’t mean a list of names that appear together on a roster. I mean a brotherhood of guys who through the summer heat, fall rain, adversity and triumph have each other’s backs. These are the guys that show up for each other over and over, on and off the field. 

But every once in a while, the backup guys have their shot at glory and oh what a moment that is. That one touchdown- that one tackle. It’s like they just grew ten feet tall. And the coolest part of it all is how their teammates and coaches react. There are bear hugs, high fives and chest bumps from the moment they come off the field. You would think they just made the winning play of a state championship. It’s enough to bring a grown man to tears. Because in the end, that’s really what it’s about- the team and how each person plays their part and brings value to what they accomplish together as one unit. It’s loving each other and celebrating each other’s achievements. It’s picking each other up when the night isn’t going their way.

I love watching all of these boys play. But what I love even more is watching them grow as young men. How the game of football and the coaches that lead them are molding these players and shaping their lives. That impact will be seen far past the Friday night field. So yes, maybe it’s just one tackle- but man what a glorious tackle it is.