Letter to the editor: Opelika head football coach taught life lesson on sidelines
Published: October 29, 2009
Opelika head football coach taught life lesson on sidelines
On Friday, Oct. 23, I witnessed something extraordinary at the Opelika-Auburn high school football game.
Late in the second half, Opelika Coach Brian Blackmon received a well-deserved standing ovation from the Opelika parents. Opelika was getting beaten handily. The players, coaches and fans were disappointed in the performance and emotions were running high.
Like the rest of the fans I witnessed a couple of OHS football players lose composure. Then Coach Blackmon called a timeout. Not to strategize on the next play, but to hold class out on the field.
With all the OHS players around him, Coach Blackmon gave what was obviously a passionate speech. I heard only four words, but those four words were enough. “Finish the game” and “dignity.”
Finish the game with dignity. Could have been a Sunday sermon. Could have been a talk from your granddad while fishing at the pond. But it wasn’t. It was Coach Blackmon speaking to a bunch of sweaty, tired, frustrated young men.
Coach Blackmon cared so much about his players that he called a timeout to hold class and teach a life lesson about character. I am so thankful that my 11-year-old son, who was sitting next to me in the stands, was able to witness that life lesson. And all of the people who stood up and gave Coach Blackmon a standing ovation witnessed that life lesson.
I just want to say thank you, Coach Blackmon. Thank you for finishing the game with dignity. And, thank you for caring so much for our OHS football players.
Robert Clayton Williams
Opelika
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Reader Reactions
that was a good statement.As a former player,having played for AHS.We realize it is only a GAME.But the game reflects life and the victories and defeats we will go through.Some of us have parents to call a TIMEOUT.Some of us don’t and we are left to figure it out.It is hard to lose that game,in 74 my senior year we lost 6-0 to OHS. But the lost shows us we can pick our selves up,start another game and claim victory in that one.My brother was a coach in B’ham and many of past players have fond memories of life on the practice field. If only life was like sports.if you could practice then play the game.But then we do do that by preparing for life with our education.in sports you have REVIEWABLE CALLS,BUT IN LIFE THERE IS NO REVIEW ON RESULTS OF THAT CALL YOU JUST MADE….....FOR SOME IT’S WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR,BUT FOR OTHERS THE GAME TURNS INTO REAL LIFE,WITH NO DO-OVERS.
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