82Nd Annual Convention of the AFCA
82nd annual convention of the AFCA. JANUARY 9-12, 2005 * LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY President's Message It was an ordinary Friday night high school football game in Helena, Arkansas, in 1959. After eating our pre-game staples of roast beef, green beans and dry toast, we journeyed to the stadium for pre- game. As rain began to fall, a coach instructed us to get in a ditch to get wet so we would forget about the elements. By kickoff, the wind had increased to 20 miles per hour while the temperature dropped over 30 degrees. Sheets of ice were forming on our faces. Our head coach took the team to the locker room and gave us instructions for the game as we stood in the hot showers until it was time to go on the field. Trailing 6-0 at halftime, the officials tried to get both teams to cancel the game. Our coach said, "Men, they want us to cancel. If we do, the score will stand 6-0 in favor of Jonesboro." There was a silence broken by his words, "I know you don't want to get beat 6-0." Well, we finished the game and the final score was 13-0 in favor of Jonesboro. Forty-five years later, it is still the coldest game I have ever been in. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] No one likes to lose, but for every victory, there is a loss. As coaches, we must use every situation to teach about life and how champions handle both the good and the bad. I am blessed to work with coaches who care about each and every player.
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