"You fight when it don't look good. You fight when everybody counts you out. You fight when there's NO WAY anybody besides you thinks you can do it. You just keep fighting, and at some point, you are going to win."
CGC
Don't quit. Keep trying. Never give in. Sorry this is so short. I've had a terrible case of strep throat and am just getting back into the swing of things.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Healing
So, I had a date slip past me this year without even thinking about it. I thought about it a couple of weeks BEFORE the date of the event, but I didn't even think of it on the day or after, until last week.
If you have read my blog a while or know me, you know the school I teach at was nearly defined by a single event about three years ago. A student, a 4 star football recruit, was killed in an 'incident.' I don't know for sure what happened and I am not sure anyone else does, either. It nearly ruined us. It devastated the school and divided the community. We had CNN calling the school. We were on local news, cable news, and media websites.
At any rate, the day of his death passed without incident this year. That was the first time that has happened. It doesn't mean we don't miss him. It doesn't mean we don't think about him. This group of 12th graders were freshmen when it happened, so hopefully we can all continue to heal. I know I was forever changed by the events of that day. December 10, 2008. I think about the last time I talked with him, even though I didn't know him well. We talked about orchids. Yes, orchids - the flower. He was doing a research paper on them. I know the kids still think about him. Periodically, a kid will show me a picture of him on their phone and ask if I wonder what he'd be doing these days.
This is what I do think about though. The next time I or anyone else insult a football player who we do NOT know personally, think about this idea. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow. We don't EVER know when there might be an ordinary accident or a bizarre, unexplained accident. We don't know about health. I am glad I have peace in my heart that the last thoughts I had on Friday afternoon were about BJ and his strange research paper on orchids. I am glad I didn't have a conversation on the way home that day that, 'wow, this kid is _________'. It is SO easy to throw thoughts out on social media that insult and assault the character of a person that we don't know at all. My wish for the memory of BJ is that we would all take 2 seconds before words flow out of out mouths that insult a group of fans, a player (you know, because what the media says about someone is ALWAYS true), or anyone else for that matter-and consider that there might not be a tomorrow or another hour.
Healing, however slowly, is finally coming to our sweet community. We've been waiting for you.
And BJ, I sure do wish you'd gotten the opportunity to be a part of the 2010 AU football team. Every time I think of you, I think of 'team day' with your entire Auburn PJ outfit.
If you have read my blog a while or know me, you know the school I teach at was nearly defined by a single event about three years ago. A student, a 4 star football recruit, was killed in an 'incident.' I don't know for sure what happened and I am not sure anyone else does, either. It nearly ruined us. It devastated the school and divided the community. We had CNN calling the school. We were on local news, cable news, and media websites.
At any rate, the day of his death passed without incident this year. That was the first time that has happened. It doesn't mean we don't miss him. It doesn't mean we don't think about him. This group of 12th graders were freshmen when it happened, so hopefully we can all continue to heal. I know I was forever changed by the events of that day. December 10, 2008. I think about the last time I talked with him, even though I didn't know him well. We talked about orchids. Yes, orchids - the flower. He was doing a research paper on them. I know the kids still think about him. Periodically, a kid will show me a picture of him on their phone and ask if I wonder what he'd be doing these days.
This is what I do think about though. The next time I or anyone else insult a football player who we do NOT know personally, think about this idea. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow. We don't EVER know when there might be an ordinary accident or a bizarre, unexplained accident. We don't know about health. I am glad I have peace in my heart that the last thoughts I had on Friday afternoon were about BJ and his strange research paper on orchids. I am glad I didn't have a conversation on the way home that day that, 'wow, this kid is _________'. It is SO easy to throw thoughts out on social media that insult and assault the character of a person that we don't know at all. My wish for the memory of BJ is that we would all take 2 seconds before words flow out of out mouths that insult a group of fans, a player (you know, because what the media says about someone is ALWAYS true), or anyone else for that matter-and consider that there might not be a tomorrow or another hour.
Healing, however slowly, is finally coming to our sweet community. We've been waiting for you.
And BJ, I sure do wish you'd gotten the opportunity to be a part of the 2010 AU football team. Every time I think of you, I think of 'team day' with your entire Auburn PJ outfit.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Thanks, Seniors
I did this last year and decided I would do it again this year. I think the seniors are all worth being thanked individually, so I do my best to try to say a bit to each of them, even if they never read it. As a whole, all of you deserve to be thanked for standing tall when things were rough. I hope that you come back and visit often and keep in touch with the Auburn family. I know lots of people say that we only won the national championship because of Cam, but we won because of each one of you. Every one of you played a part in it in one way or the other.
In no particular order...
Chandler Brooks- Wow, you came up big when we needed you. That play will be in the highlight films for quite some time. Thank you for your time and dedication to Auburn.
Sam Brown- I will admit, I don't know very much about you. However, you were a part of the team. Thank you so much for your time and dedication to Auburn.
Quindarius Carr- You had some fabulous punt returns. It was fun to watch you run. Thank you for your time and dedication to the Auburn team and family.
Drew Cole- I always watched you as much as I could. I work not far from Picayune, so I really wanted to see you do well. Thanks so much for sticking it out and staying with it. The Auburn family is grateful!
Jared Cooper- I think this year you provided some much needed leadership this year. Thank you for your time and dedication to Auburn.
Eltoro Freeman- You are a real Auburn man. You set a goal and you reached it. I know it wasn't easy for you and you didn't reach all of your goals. You earned my respect. Even when people sort of gave you a hard time, you kept putting one foot in front of the other and never game up. I hope you stay in touch with Auburn and visit often. Thank you so much for your dedication and love for Auburn.
A.J Greene- You battled injury and injury, but you never let it stop you. You have been an excellent leader and player. Thank you for your time and love for Auburn.
Josh Harris- I know long snappers don't get the credit they deserve, but you really deserve credit. Snap after snap, you were error-free, even when others got the glory. I ragged you a bit on twitter since you made fun of a band t-shirt, but I was really kidding. (sorta) Thank you for being such an awesome player and person. You were a leader when we needed it. I hope you do well in the senior bowl. Thank you so much for everything you did for Auburn.
Davis Hooper- I think you were a quiet leader. I mostly say this based off of what others say about you, but quiet leadership can take you far in life. You did make a difference. Thank you for your time and dedication to Auburn. We are all grateful for your time. I hope you stay in touch and visit with the team in the future.
Chris Humphries- A fullback doesn't always get all the credit he deserves, either. Thank you for your time and service to Auburn. This family loves you and thanks you.
Bobby Ingalls- Thanks so much for your time and dedication to Auburn. You made a difference, even when you thought no one noticed.
Brandon Mosley- Wow, you helped out this year! You provided leadership to a very young group. I thank you for your time and dedication to Auburn. You will always be a part of the Auburn family. I hope you stay in touch with the team and visit often.
Nathan Taylor- Thank you for your time and dedication to Auburn. You made a difference even if you didn't think you did. Thank you for everything you did for the team.
Neiko Thorpe- You had such a great career at Auburn. Not only did you make some big plays, but you made a difference to the younger guys, Thank you for your time at Auburn. I wish you much luck and hope you are able to visit us in the future.
Jay Wisner- You had some big catches this year! Thanks for your dedication to the team and to Auburn. I hope you are very successful and all of your future dreams come true.
Finally, I want to thank Coach Roof and Coach Malzahn.
Coach Roof- Thank you for time time and dedication at Auburn. You are truly an honorable man. Thank you to your family as well. I wish you luck at the next step in your life.
Coach M- Wow, what a ride. Thank you for being such a positive influence for all of us. We will miss you greatly. We wish you could stay, be we also understand the need to move on to another level. Best wishes and thanks for sharing your family with us. Come and visit as much as you can.
War Eagle to all of you.
In no particular order...
Chandler Brooks- Wow, you came up big when we needed you. That play will be in the highlight films for quite some time. Thank you for your time and dedication to Auburn.
Sam Brown- I will admit, I don't know very much about you. However, you were a part of the team. Thank you so much for your time and dedication to Auburn.
Quindarius Carr- You had some fabulous punt returns. It was fun to watch you run. Thank you for your time and dedication to the Auburn team and family.
Drew Cole- I always watched you as much as I could. I work not far from Picayune, so I really wanted to see you do well. Thanks so much for sticking it out and staying with it. The Auburn family is grateful!
Jared Cooper- I think this year you provided some much needed leadership this year. Thank you for your time and dedication to Auburn.
Eltoro Freeman- You are a real Auburn man. You set a goal and you reached it. I know it wasn't easy for you and you didn't reach all of your goals. You earned my respect. Even when people sort of gave you a hard time, you kept putting one foot in front of the other and never game up. I hope you stay in touch with Auburn and visit often. Thank you so much for your dedication and love for Auburn.
A.J Greene- You battled injury and injury, but you never let it stop you. You have been an excellent leader and player. Thank you for your time and love for Auburn.
Josh Harris- I know long snappers don't get the credit they deserve, but you really deserve credit. Snap after snap, you were error-free, even when others got the glory. I ragged you a bit on twitter since you made fun of a band t-shirt, but I was really kidding. (sorta) Thank you for being such an awesome player and person. You were a leader when we needed it. I hope you do well in the senior bowl. Thank you so much for everything you did for Auburn.
Davis Hooper- I think you were a quiet leader. I mostly say this based off of what others say about you, but quiet leadership can take you far in life. You did make a difference. Thank you for your time and dedication to Auburn. We are all grateful for your time. I hope you stay in touch and visit with the team in the future.
Chris Humphries- A fullback doesn't always get all the credit he deserves, either. Thank you for your time and service to Auburn. This family loves you and thanks you.
Bobby Ingalls- Thanks so much for your time and dedication to Auburn. You made a difference, even when you thought no one noticed.
Brandon Mosley- Wow, you helped out this year! You provided leadership to a very young group. I thank you for your time and dedication to Auburn. You will always be a part of the Auburn family. I hope you stay in touch with the team and visit often.
Nathan Taylor- Thank you for your time and dedication to Auburn. You made a difference even if you didn't think you did. Thank you for everything you did for the team.
Neiko Thorpe- You had such a great career at Auburn. Not only did you make some big plays, but you made a difference to the younger guys, Thank you for your time at Auburn. I wish you much luck and hope you are able to visit us in the future.
Jay Wisner- You had some big catches this year! Thanks for your dedication to the team and to Auburn. I hope you are very successful and all of your future dreams come true.
Finally, I want to thank Coach Roof and Coach Malzahn.
Coach Roof- Thank you for time time and dedication at Auburn. You are truly an honorable man. Thank you to your family as well. I wish you luck at the next step in your life.
Coach M- Wow, what a ride. Thank you for being such a positive influence for all of us. We will miss you greatly. We wish you could stay, be we also understand the need to move on to another level. Best wishes and thanks for sharing your family with us. Come and visit as much as you can.
War Eagle to all of you.
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