HS Football End of Season

The end of every football season is tough.  To coach football well takes a tremendous amount of emotional energy.  There are so many relationships that are formed throughout the season and while most of them are much deeper than a game it is those games that provide the opportunities for the relationships to grow.  The final huddle is always hard, as the memories come flowing back.  While I wish we could have won Friday it would have just delayed the inevitable, the season must come to an end.  In those final moments I always have a feeling that I could have done more and am reminded of the end of Schindler’s List where Schindler feels he could have saved more people.  The stakes are certainly not as high, but my day to day ability to impact the team is over, especially for those 11 seniors. 

Yes, I will see them in the halls and they will come back and visit.  The underclassman will start working towards next year and life will go on but the relationships do change.  I hope that we have planted seeds, cultivated and watered the soil, and removed obstacles to growth so that we can see each player grow as a godly man.  We have seen a lot of growth but it will take years to know the impact. 

As I finish my 11^th season as a coach I am starting to make plans to find those first players that I coached and see just where they are at.  It has been an honor to coach your son this past season, to have the opportunity to impact their life with something that is more than a game.  Below you will find some information on how to provide me with some feedback on the season and I hope you take that opportunity to help me and the football program.

Last Practice and Equipment turn in

We will have the last hit drill right after school on Monday, November 26.  This drill is a symbolic passing of the torch for the seniors and just takes a few minutes.  After the drill we will turn in all equipment and empty out all the lockers. Players that are not in a winter sport will help put away the field equipment.  Everything should be done by 4:30.  Players that are in a winter sport will turn in their equipment first so that they can get to their practice.

Awards Banquet

The fall sports awards banquet will be on Thursday, December 20 in the gym at 7PM. I like to see the players dress up for this night.  At least have them treat it like a chapel day at school. We will still have our end of Season party during the AFC/NFC Championship games in late January.

Game Recap and Blue Shirt Warriors

Click here for the story about Friday’s game.  Click here to see the final Blue Shirt Warriors.  In reality they have all earned this award.  Picking a single player is very difficult each week.  Everyone that has not already gotten a shirt will get one at the final practice.   

End of Season Survey and Player Interviews

Each year I send out a survey for both players and parents at the end of the season.  The following links will take you to the surveys. We put several parent and player ideas from last year’s survey into practice this year. Once your son has filled out the survey I would like to have an exit interview with him.  These can be done during lunch or right after school and usually last about 15 minutes.

Underclassman End of Season Survey

Senior End of Season Survey

Parent End of Season Survey

Off-season Workouts

We will take a little time off but I will be sending out information about our off-season workouts in the next couple weeks.

HS Football Week 11 - Playoffs

It was another great win to close out the season and give the seniors a final win at home.  We have continued to make great progress the last several weeks and I am looking forward to that continuing into the playoffs.  Please encourage your son to watch a little film so they can be prepared for practice and the challenge that awaits us as we take on a very good team from Marble Falls in Faith Academy.  The changes that TAPPS made this season insure that every playoff team is a good one, so it will be an exciting trip this Friday.

Weekly Theme- Courage

Psalm 23 “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Week 10 HS Schedule

Monday, November 12-4:00 to 6:00 pm (Full Pads)

Tuesday, November 13-4:00 to 5:50 pm (Full Pads)

Wednesday, November 14-3:45 to 5:30 pm (Half Shell)

Thursday, November 15-3:45 to 5:00 pm (Half Shell)

Friday, November 16-7:00pm against Faith Academy at Marble Falls (bus leaves at noon and should return around 2:30AM)

Directions

1511 Pony Drive Marble Falls, TX 78654, Click here for driving directions.

There is a large Formula 1 race in Austin on Sunday and traffic is expected to be bad all weekend. While players and families are welcome to spend the night this is also a factor in making the decision to return home that night.

Charter Buses

We are planning to take a charter bus again.  We are also exploring the idea of taking one and maybe two charter fan busses.  We believe that the cost on the fan bus may be in the range of $25 to $30 per person if we could fill it.  If you would be interested in riding a fan bus please let me know.  If you would like to help offset the cost of the player charter that is also greatly appreciated.

Grade Check

Grade check will be on Tuesday.  I have talked with several players that are in the danger zone.  Please check RenWeb to make sure your son has everything in.

Playoffs - Thanksgiving

If we win our first round playoff game we will practice Monday and Tuesday at our normal times, Wednesday morning and then again on Friday afternoon.  We will not practice on Thanksgiving and are trying to provide the most time around Thanksgiving Day for people to travel. A second round game would most likely be in Giddings on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Game Recap and Blue Shirt Warriors

Clickhere for the story about Friday’s game.  Each week we select a player that has closed the gap the most during that week.  They will get a special t-shirt and their picture is on the box score page for that week’s game.  Click here to see this week’s selection.  

HS Football Week 10

 It was a great team effort on Friday night with big plays coming from so many different people. We are continuing to improve in all areas of the game of football. The past few weeks have been special and I am looking forward to that continuing on into the playoffs. It was exciting to get the JV players in the varsity game after they finished the JV season against Fort Bend. The JV season was a lot of fun and a tremendous amount of improvement was seen there as well.

With the time change practices will continue to get shorter. On Monday we will be dropping pumpkins off the grandstand so that may take some extra time. Players never seem to mind sticking around for activities like this one.

Weekly Theme- Legacy
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Week 10 HS Schedule

• Monday, November 5-4:00 to 6:15 pm (Full Pads)
• Tuesday, November 6-4:00 to 6:00 pm (Full Pads)
• Wednesday, November 7-3:45 to 5:30 pm (Half Shell)
• Thursday, November 8-3:45 to 5:00 pm (Helmet)
• Friday, November 9-7:00pm at Home vs Galveston

Senior Night
We will be honoring our 11 senior football players prior to the game Friday night starting at 6:40PM. We would love to have a big crowd so please plan to arrive early.

Senior Dinner
We are moving the senior dinner to Tuesday night right after practice. We will be going to the Salt Grass Steakhouse by Willowbrook Mall. Seniors should be headed home around 8. Several seniors and myself will need to be at the open house on Thursday.

Playoffs – First Round
It is almost certain that we will be headed to Marble Falls which is about 45 minutes west of Austin. I am planning to take a charter bus and not spend the night. I will know more details later in the week.

Playoffs - Thanksgiving
If we win our first round playoff game we will practice Monday and Tuesday at our normal times, Wednesday morning and then again on Friday afternoon. We will not practice on Thanksgiving and are trying to provide the most time around Thanksgiving day for people to travel.

Game Recap and Blue Shirt Warriors
Click here for the story about Friday’s game. Each week we select a player that has closed the gap the most during that week. They will get a special t-shirt and their picture is on the box score page for that week’s game. Click here to see this week’s selection.