Friday night the Hoover Bucs won the 2009 6A Football State Championship. Around here in the state of Alabama, this is like winning a national championship. Just like you have major accomplishments/awards in your workplace that carry heavy weight in your corner of the world, this one carries great weight in mine. Having said that, I reflect back on the season as it led up to this weekend. 16 straight Fridays of games and pep rallies and PR appearances etc... A 16 week season is an NFL season, four straight months of pressure and expectations. As I look back on that time, I am leveled by the commitment of my girls and their families to this cause.
I am also reflective on my attitude coming down the stretch. The last 3 weeks were terribly burdensome and I did not handle those weeks well. My frustration boiled over and my guard was constantly up as I had to perpetually defend my actions, some of these actions were controversial, including the dismissal of one of my seniors in the middle of the playoff run. Every Friday we won, brought more attacks on my decisions, as the stakes got higher and another win brought another "chance" for the dismissed cheerleader to cheer again, these fresh attacks renewed every Monday. I don't know how other jobs function in other industries, but in mine, personal attacks on your character, the undermining of your actions, and disrespect are common place from the parents. They feel they have the right to bash your character and get highly agitated if they are not given the forum and time in which to disrespect you. Maybe it is the old "I pay your salary" line that compels them or the simple fact that they can not deal with adversity or conflict, so they regress and the "Jerry Springer" comes out in them, I don't know.
Misguided as they may be, they seem to be fueled by lashing out hurtful statements and character bashing without evidence or logic.
Having said that, I return to the statement that I did not handle the last three weeks well. If I had to do all over again, I would carry out the same punishment the same way a 100 times repeated because what was done was done correctly. It is the aftermath that I could have handled better. The aftermath is where I failed. I allowed the attacks to alter my outlook. I grew frustrated with my cheerleaders, specifically those who need guidance and a loving hand the most.
Because of Christ, I am a better man than that, and in that light, I failed them.
Thankfully, we worship a loving and kind God that forgives and we are capable of change and improvement so I mentally press on looking for lessons learned and new skills taught.
In searching for that insight and explanation, I continue to reflect and this fact continues to surface: I can't explain it, but for whatever reason, I wanted this championship deseperately. Far more than the other 5 I have been a part of here at Hoover. Maybe it is because I grew weary, very weary this season and felt that there "better be a payoff that the end of this", or because the man that led us there, Coach Josh Niblett, is a Godly man of character and fortitude, and I wanted him to succeed on multiple levels. I don't know.
What I do know is the past is for learning, the present is for savoring, and the future is for improving. With God's dear grace, I can do that. Thank you Lord.
As I Remain,
Coach Martin
PS-I was so excited that I forgot to take victory pictures, so what you see are pictures before we started playing.
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