I am ready for friday night lights

BY BRENT DRUMMOND, GRANGER ISD, GRANGER, TEXAS

After shutdowns and cancellations, we are finally starting to feel a sense of normalcy.

Like most coaches around the United States, we are all excited to be back working and doing what we love, but everyone still has that feeling of wondering what is going to happen next.

Dealing with COVID in the education field is tough. Our kids struggled with grades, they struggled at home, and some dealt with tremendous loss. As an educator during these trying times some of us really had to step up and put in the extra work to make sure our students were staying on track while also figuring out how to keep ourselves on track.

As things start to settle down and we get back to Friday night lights I can’t help but feel a rush of excitement and think about how blessed we are to have this opportunity. As coaches who are getting back to doing what we love, there are a few things that I believe we need to remember going forward.

TRUST

The biggest thing that I want to say and get across to coaches after the

year we have had is to focus on building trust. Trust plays a major role in everything that we do in the coaching world. ■ Trust your administration and know that they will be by your side during the tough times that we might face ahead. ■ Trust your fellow coaches and know that they have your back and are in the same position as you for the same reasons as you. ■ Trust your kids this year. These kids need this trust after the year we just had. Building trust with them will not only allow you to grow as a coach, but also grow the program in a positive way. Once these kids sense trust they will take care of the rest! ■ Trust God and know that everything he does he does it for a reason and with a purpose. ■ Most importantly trust yourself. Trust that what you do this year is right and has meaning.

This is a very important year for us all as we figure out how to pick up where we left off and grow like we were growing before the pandemic.

HAVE A WHY

One thing that I have learned is to you must have a why. Your why is your

lifeline during your coaching career make sure that is completely from the heart.

My first year in coaching I had an Athletic Director tell me that he is all about winning, but at the end of the day he was all about making better men, sons, brothers, husbands, and fathers. This has really stuck with me over the years. While we are here to make better athletes, athletic careers will soon go on and be a thing of the past. But if we can instill in these young men and women good morals that they use every single day those lessons will last a lifetime!

MY MESSAGE TO COACHES

Coaches, enjoy this year. Push your kids to excel in the classroom, in

athletics, and inlife! Enjoy the moments this year, get excited for the kids when it is time to get excited, and hug your kids when they need that hug!

After all the COVID-19 issues we had in 2020 we need to all enjoy this season and bust our butts like this is our last because just like we learned last year you never know when it might come! Check on your kids this year and make sure they are taken care of, trust them with everything you got, create your why and stick to it, and most importantly have fun!

This is the best time of the year! Good luck and have a great season!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MY NAME IS BRENT DRUMMOND AND I

am from Rockdale, TX. I graduated from Rockdale High School. After high school, I attended Sam Houston State University where I obtained my Bachelors of Arts degree in History with a minor in Political Science. While working on my degree, I got the chance to coach at Davila Middle School/Rudder High School in Bryan, TX. I coached football and track at the middle and high school level and was able to learn from some great coaches. This year I am starting my first year with Granger ISD as a high school history teacher and a football, basketball, and track coach.

Discipline to me is sacrifice; it’s willingness to give up something you want to do, so you can better yourself.

BOBBY BOWDEN