Post Game

Kelsey - Grice - Kirby.... My babies  

Kelsey is a Powerful Cheerleader  

I May Love This Baby A Little Bit  

 Joey's Team 12-Under  Panthers  

On Friday night after our game, I decided to wake up in the morning and drive to St. Augustine to watch the grandbabies cheer in their jamboree game that day.  This was going to be a complete surprise for them...they did not know I was coming.   I arrived at about noon, and I spent the next seven hours at the field sitting in 95 degree sweltering temperatures  to be with the kids.  And you know what?  I loved every minute of it.  Kristin had been after me to come watch Kelsey cheer at one of her games, but I always had a reason not to go.  This day was going to be different.  The grass could wait.  Fishing could wait.  Watching game film could wait.  No more excuses...I had an opportunity to go watch these kids before we (VBHS) got into the meat of our season, so it was now or never for me.  

Watching Kelsey cheer was so much fun for me, for I never really had the opportunity to watch her mother cheer back in the day.  I was always on the field when she was cheering.  Kelsey is a powerful cheerleader....she is not one of those skinny minny little flying girls...Kelsey is a base and she is proud of it....just like her mother.  besides.....I think she is so cute in her little cheerleader clothes. (I heard their real game uniforms are coming in time for their first real game.)  I feel bad that I missed Kirby's game, but I spent a lot of quality time with her during the day.  Kirby used to dislike me all the time.....now she just dislikes me some of the time...so I am making progress with her. LOL. Truthfully, Kirby dislikes most people (except her Daddy) some of the time anyway...so I do feel special.  Little Grice and me are growing tighter every time I see him.  

Joey (Kristin's husband) is coaching for the first time this year.  I encouraged him to take an assistants position until he gets a full season under his belt, and surprisingly, that is just what he did. Joey is the offensive coordinator (OC) and he is running much of the same stuff we ran at SRHS back in the day. This team is not as talented as other teams I saw yesterday, but they are well-coached by a bunch of young guys with a little piss and vinegar in their drawers.  The kids are responding, and they will surprise a lot of more-talented teams this year.  Coaching alone will be the difference for them.  During Joey's game, I inched my way to the sideline to watch what was going on.  As I feared most, I started running my big mouth as I looked at the defense and how they were lining up.  After I loudly let fly "GET IN THAT HOLE" a couple of times, I forced myself back to the endzone to stand with my daughter.  Joe doe not need my help...this is his team.  He is doing a fine job with the offense, and he does not need the help of an overbearing father-in-law with a big mouth.  

Friday night was awesome.  I arrived at the school with a huge box of cookies, brownies, and homemade candy that Marty made for the new coaches.  Marty wanted to start the guys off right.  I hung out in the coach's office trying to calm my nerves, so I went out back and hurled in the bushes.  Then I felt much better.  I was ready to go.  Randy got me a new coaching shirt...and it felt so strange slipping on the white and red shirt with VB Football embroidered on the left shoulder. I thought I looked good wearing red..but it sure felt strange.  

 I think I was dreaming the whole night.  Had I been here before?  Yes....but it had been twenty plus  years ago.  The stands were filling up.  The could hear the band as they marched onto the field and into the stands.  The smell of game food penetrated my nostrils.  I could see the other team warming up on their side of the field.  I was walking the field as our own team went through their pregame stretch ritual.  I looked up and saw Robin Bethel sitting in her usual corner of the visiting grandstand.   Right behind her was my brother Donnie and his wife Alisha.  I started getting goosebumps on my arms....I knew it was game time.  FINALLY, my life was going to be normal again.  Maybe, just maybe I can be happy again someday.  

I worked the press box with my buddy Pete DeLuke on Friday night.  My job was to spot for Lenny...basically what I have been doing for the past 16 seasons.  I looked over the field and I immediately found Randy Bethel doing his usual thing.  I searched for #93 Patrick Bethel and found him with his group.  I then looked for #22 Terril Washington (Charles' boy) and found him.  All the family had been accounted for....now it was time to go to work.  Game time was near.  

We lost the game 20-17.  Truthfully, we dropped 4  TD passes in the end zone.  We have got a few things to work on, but this is what a kickoff classic is all about...fixing these little problems.  Luckily, this game does not count against our record.  This team is going to be just fine.  

Time for Bed....

GZ