Losing a Heartbreaker

If you learn how to get over a loss, let me know…I’m still dwelling on a game we lost when I played in HS. Here I am 3 days removed from a playoff loss (34-36). We held an edge in yardage (488-212), but weird plays (ex: 3rd/23 they throw right to our FS… our corner broke on the ball and collided with our safety…the tipped ball was caught by their receiver-who was on the ground 24 yards downfield), big plays and an extra point did us in. I’m sure I’ll feel bad about this season for some time- we were one of the front-runners, ranked #1 for a good part of the season. For the second year in a row injuries devastated us (we have 24 on our roster, 9-12). We lost both starting corners, one LB and one DL (meaning we also lost our TB, 2 Guards and a TE). We had given up 14 points through the first 7 games- the last 4, after the injuries, we gave up 95 (we did play some better teams though). Having to play kids who weren’t ready to play in the last reg. season game and two playoff games was frustrating- watching them grow up and almost knock off (and overall, outplay) an 11-0 team was kind of satisfying. All I can say about our loss this week was our guys battled, fought like hell and never relented anything. It just wasn’t meant to be- but guys who I wasn’t sure about proved that they learned to compete- guys who were ready to “pack it in” after we lost the 4 (8) starters decided that our goals were team goals, not ‘starter’s goals”, and found a way to be the best they could be every night (practice, weights, and games). We learned some good things from this season, and I learned we may be able to compete again next year (sure hope our 150 lb. eats enough to at least be 160 by next year). It takes a while, but after some time, the focus will be on all the good things, not the devastating loss. Starting the highlight tape reinforces the good….we may start ours soon because I’m still upset.

Best of luck to all who are still going…

Yeah… I will be OK. Already starting to work on 06. Get to scout a District opponent tomorrow (who we beat 28-0, but they are still in). Anyway, I have no problem being upset for 3-6 months… if losing doesn’t bother you then why do all that work (weights, off season, pre season, tapes, scouting no sleep for two and a half days, etc.) to win? If I ever get to THAT point then I will get out of coaching and go make some money (most likely be a restroom attendant). Anyway 87Cougars… last year we lost in the playoffs 34-0… not much you can second guess there (other than we should have gone to McDonald’s after the game instead of Burger King). We lost two games this year- both in the last few seconds and both by 3 points or less- there have been years where close losses bothered me because we didn’t quite have the character to “suck it up” in crunch time. This year is different- we shouldn’t have even been in those games- and if we could convert PATs, we win both. Help your players (and yourself) understand why you were in that game to begin with- and for those that are back next year, help them to learn why you lost and do what you can to apply the lesson (for us… we need to work on SPECIAL TEAMS and make them not so "Special").