“Friday night lights” is a common American phrase that is often used to caption football games, highlighting community, friends and school spirit. We go to football games and see the wins and the losses, but what happens when the losses are more than the wins? Playing the blame game is easy but, in a place of uncertainty, sticking together as a team and a school is important.  

The weight of heavy expectations
At the beginning of the football season Lamar’s record was zero to three, which stirred up a lot of conversation between students regarding the fate of this year’s season. People often place their opinions and unrealistic expectations on players without realizing how their words might affect them. “It makes you feel terrible. People say things, and you start to believe it and begin to doubt yourself,” said offensive line senior Jaden Cook. “Unconditional support is a little act that can go a long way. When people say negative things, we keep having to defend and explain ourselves.” As a school we want to win, but people often overlook the time and effort given to the game and give out discouraging words.

Behind the scenes 
Kindness comes in different forms for football players — when the words of the fans can’t support them, a compassionate phrase from a teammate can create a lasting impact. “If your teammate drops a pass and you yell at them, it’s going to get in their head, but if you say, ‘next play’ and encourage them, they are most likely to do better,” says running back junior Kaze Byrant. Meaningful and positive interactions with teammates allow everybody to be on the same page, which translates during game time.

Leadership is learned — to be a great leader, you must be an excellent follower first.  “I’ve been in varsity for four years. This time, I was able to learn from those around me,” says Cook. The experiences in every game shape his way of thinking no matter the situation. “I’ve played in packed and empty stands, and it doesn’t do me any different because I’m going to play football regardless,” says Cook. Being a senior implies an automatic leadership position. “I’ve got to be an example and mentor because I hold the most experience in varsity and I’m one of the oldest,” says Cook.

Football signifies something different to each player. They all have their own story, but each valuable, nonetheless. “Watching football on TV inspired me to play at the age of seven, and it just stuck with me since then,” stated Byrant. Most of the players tend to relate, because they are living out their childhood dreams by playing the game they love. The outside eye tends to forget that these are teenagers working hard and putting their best foot forward at intense games and tiring practices. According to defensive back senior Jaylen Sanders, a usual day consists of early mornings as a student, and late nights as an athlete. “By the end of the day we are ready to go home and get some rest,” stated Sanders. “Every day is an exciting day. We’re going to be tired, but we’re still going to play our heart’s content.”

Let’s talk game
The first game of the football season was against Atascocita High School with a score of 28-48, earning the football team their first loss. After two additional losses against Summer Creek and Clear Spring High School, players knew that things couldn’t stay the same. “After the third one, we started to wonder what was really going on and knew something had to change. We started to look at ourselves and figure out what was going on,” said Cook. The game against Alief Elsik was the chance to attempt something different and to showcase what they’ve been learning and practicing. “We infenestrated new formations and switched things up, because we became too predictable,” said Cook. Their plan successfully worked, which allowed them to secure their first victory with a score of 38-seven. “I feel like we improved from the first three games and locked in doing what we are supposed to do.” stated Sanders. 

Win or lose kindness is free — it may not come in a huge shiny trophy or even earn bragging rights, but it builds something even more valuable. It creates a strong team and community, and those who stick together win together.