Of all the people in Davis Hall the most interesting to observe is the group that is always outside or in the lounge. They are probably the most consistent group of people I’ve seen. No matter when I’m walking to or from the building I know that there will be some of them outside. I love it.
There are a few places where they seem to locate themselves while outside. One of their spots of interest is the benches. I noticed some variables on whether or not they decide to sit or stand exist. The most prominent thing is how many people there exactly are. If there is a few people out side they tend to sit at the benches, primarily the first one. But when they are outside by the masses, 6 or more they tend to stand more and converse and such. While residing themselves in this bench area I noticed there are some specific things they enjoy doing. The prominent activity would be talking among each other. There conversations include that of some things they do together at night like going out and such. Conversations about classes are sometimes thrown in the mix. Many of the people who come and hang out side Davis Hall tend to smoke cigarettes. It is almost such of a social time for all the smokers. Many times you can hear one ask another for a cigarette or if another has a lighter. Besides smoking at this bench area, another activity they enjoy taking part in is playing with a hacky sack. This tends to occur when larger groups are outside. This game gets pretty intense. In case you don’t know about this game, it includes a small round bean sack. The people stand in a circle and the sack is tossed by one person into the air using there body, but no hands. This method of keeping the sack up is used again and again by everyone else in the circle to try and keep the sack from touching the ground as long as possible. I noticed that this is one of their more favorite activities along with smoking.
Besides chilling around the benches they tend to flock around a small stair case on the building, which leads to a little cover under the roof scoop. This is the spot for if the weather outside is bad. One of my days of observation was one of those days. It had been raining consistently and I noticed people would go under this roofed area to protect them from the rain. It was smart thinking, considering they didn’t like the rain. In this location the activities tend to be the same as by the benches. Sometimes people sit on the stairs while other times under the roof scoop. They enjoy talking about life, music, school, and such things here too. Other events they do here are the same as before, like smoking and hacky sack. I did notice another thing some do enjoy in this area is skate boarding. I suppose since there is stairs and a high curb along a garden in this locale it is a prime spot to do some skate board tricks. I noticed mostly males take part in this. There are also times when those smoking in this area get warnings from I.S.O.’s or R.A.’s for smoking too close to the building, so they have to move by the benches again. Sometimes even though having been warned before some people smoke here. It is a smart place to smoke though on rainy days, because the rain can put out the cigarette or whatever is currently being smoked by person. I have also noticed that at times before they have just chilled in this area in the shade listening to music. There are a few ways they listen to music. Sometimes there is some one with a small radio, but other times I have seen a guitar or even some little conga drums. It seemed pretty chill.
Also, another place which they tend to locate themselves is in the Davis Hall Lounge. This is also a resort for those days when the weather is poor. Here they tend to do different things than they would do outside. I also noticed if inside, there are other people inside than would be outside. Since they are not allowed to smoke, skate board and such in this lounge there are other things they do to have fun and socialize. In this lounge there is a big screen television in which I noticed they enjoy watching movies or sports games on. Also there is a pool table and ping pong table. There are times when there are some intense matches going on at both these tables, and times when not even being used. While in the lounge I also noticed that the conversation level increases and there are more different conversations going on.
Everyone who hangs out side Davis Hall appears to be a friendly person with very little worries about what others think. They just lounge around outside doing whatever they want, whether its smoking or hacky sack. The biggest thing I noticed was how no matter who or when some one walks by the Davis Hall outside dwellers, some one says hi and a little conversation goes on between one another. It just shows how nice and care free some people can be.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Big Issue on Campus
As people walk by one another there is one thing that everyone has in common, smoking. This is not to say that everyone is smoking, but whether people are smoking or people are walking by the smokers, they have to deal with the distinct smell coming from every direction on campus. This causes a big problem on the college campus due to people not wanting to have to walk by people smoking cigarettes and the smokers do not and usually will not stand twenty five feet from the building.
Everyday an hourly group of the same students stand outside, shouting to one another, playing hack sack and smoking multiple cigarettes. This happens throughout the day and most of the night. When the majority of people are sleeping, a group of smokers gather outside, shouting loudly, laughing hysterically and smoking their cigarettes. At night and during bad weather this group will stand under the building to shelter themselves from rain or snow. This causes smoke to linger up into the rooms of other students and they retaliate.
While standing outside smoking there are the frequent snide remarks yelled down to the smokers. The smokers outside of Davis will get the daily, “Get that cancer you goddamn smokers!” which causes the people outside to yell back heinous remarks. This goes on for quite a bit of time and it ends with one of the Residential Assistants or Residential Directors coming out to yell at the smokers. Many smokers get upset when this happens because the nonsmokers are never the ones to get yelled at. The authority only hears the distinct sounds coming from outside that could possibly be waking up the rest of the community. This often results in getting ones name taken down and a brief conversation with a Residential Director.
Do I do something like this, or do I tell a story? Im soo confused
As people walk by one another there is one thing that everyone has in common, smoking. This is not to say that everyone is smoking, but whether people are smoking or people are walking by the smokers, they have to deal with the distinct smell coming from every direction on campus. This causes a big problem on the college campus due to people not wanting to have to walk by people smoking cigarettes and the smokers do not and usually will not stand twenty five feet from the building.
Everyday an hourly group of the same students stand outside, shouting to one another, playing hack sack and smoking multiple cigarettes. This happens throughout the day and most of the night. When the majority of people are sleeping, a group of smokers gather outside, shouting loudly, laughing hysterically and smoking their cigarettes. At night and during bad weather this group will stand under the building to shelter themselves from rain or snow. This causes smoke to linger up into the rooms of other students and they retaliate.
While standing outside smoking there are the frequent snide remarks yelled down to the smokers. The smokers outside of Davis will get the daily, “Get that cancer you goddamn smokers!” which causes the people outside to yell back heinous remarks. This goes on for quite a bit of time and it ends with one of the Residential Assistants or Residential Directors coming out to yell at the smokers. Many smokers get upset when this happens because the nonsmokers are never the ones to get yelled at. The authority only hears the distinct sounds coming from outside that could possibly be waking up the rest of the community. This often results in getting ones name taken down and a brief conversation with a Residential Director.
Do I do something like this, or do I tell a story? Im soo confused
Fast Paced Learning
I drive home about 4 times a week to work. My home is about an hour away. I drive through Westfield, on the pike, and through Pittsfield. I choose to observe people while they drive. I thought it would be a pretty good idea seeing as how that’s all I do is drive. Not only that but I lost my license before and I am an aggressive driver so I thought observing other peoples driving habits would help me understand why I drive the way I do.
Driving through Westfield is very different than driving through my hometown. There are potholes everywhere. The roads are a complete mess. I noticed that people are extremely impatient in Westfield. It doesn’t seem like there is a good flow in traffic or a good system of getting places. At one of the bridges truck drivers have to drive around in this detour type thing. That kind of seems like an inconvenience to me. The positioning of the lights seems kind of stupid and unnecessary to me. At one of the lights when you go straight you have a flashing yellow light giving you the right of way. Although the people turning right have a flashing red light. People automatically alternate with who goes, the person going straight then the person going right. Then of course its my turn and the jerk that I am I don’t let the person turning right go I just stay right on the person in front of me and get mad when people let others go. That is the way that I am used to driving. It is weird to actually see people in Westfield compromising with each other.
By the time I get to the pike I am usually annoyed with all the drivers and traffic that held me back for the past twenty minutes. It doesn’t end there though. I notice that when people are preparing to get onto the pike they drive really slow then try to speed up with people that are going at least what seems to be 90 miles per hour. This also annoys and frustrates me. As I get onto the pike I set my cruise control at 75. I notice that there is more of a pattern on the pike. There are what seem to be these unwritten rules that everyone knows and abides by most of the time. The pike is far more organized that city driving. The slow people stay to the right. If you’re in the left lane and someone is behind you you better pull over to the right quick or they get real mad. When traffic merges from the right people usually pull over into the left lane. These are all things that I notice people doing every time I drive home or back to school and they are things that even I do.
By the time I get off the pike I am so sick of driving and I still have about twenty minutes of small towns to go through until I get to Pittsfield. Pittsfield is where you will find some of the most aggressive drivers. Everyone is in such a hurry for nothing. Then we get the people from New York that doesn’t know how to drive. I get to Pittsfield and I am also swerving to avoid potholes. I remember this one time when I didn’t have my license (I still drove) someone from the lane turning right automatically just decided to go straight into my lane which would have caused an accident if I wasn’t paying attention. Since then I notice this more frequently only now I have my license and can beep and flip them off. This is what everyone does in Pittsfield. Everyone runs those red lights after about a minute of it turning red. Everybody is just so inconsiderate which is what I think led to my aggressive driving habits.
All three of the main places in which I drive are very different from each other. Drivers in Westfield seem more respectful and nicer to everyone. The pike is organized and in uniform. Pittsfield drivers are so aggressive it’s just annoying. Driving in these three different settings has allowed me to adapt to different types of driving habits and behaviors.
I drive home about 4 times a week to work. My home is about an hour away. I drive through Westfield, on the pike, and through Pittsfield. I choose to observe people while they drive. I thought it would be a pretty good idea seeing as how that’s all I do is drive. Not only that but I lost my license before and I am an aggressive driver so I thought observing other peoples driving habits would help me understand why I drive the way I do.
Driving through Westfield is very different than driving through my hometown. There are potholes everywhere. The roads are a complete mess. I noticed that people are extremely impatient in Westfield. It doesn’t seem like there is a good flow in traffic or a good system of getting places. At one of the bridges truck drivers have to drive around in this detour type thing. That kind of seems like an inconvenience to me. The positioning of the lights seems kind of stupid and unnecessary to me. At one of the lights when you go straight you have a flashing yellow light giving you the right of way. Although the people turning right have a flashing red light. People automatically alternate with who goes, the person going straight then the person going right. Then of course its my turn and the jerk that I am I don’t let the person turning right go I just stay right on the person in front of me and get mad when people let others go. That is the way that I am used to driving. It is weird to actually see people in Westfield compromising with each other.
By the time I get to the pike I am usually annoyed with all the drivers and traffic that held me back for the past twenty minutes. It doesn’t end there though. I notice that when people are preparing to get onto the pike they drive really slow then try to speed up with people that are going at least what seems to be 90 miles per hour. This also annoys and frustrates me. As I get onto the pike I set my cruise control at 75. I notice that there is more of a pattern on the pike. There are what seem to be these unwritten rules that everyone knows and abides by most of the time. The pike is far more organized that city driving. The slow people stay to the right. If you’re in the left lane and someone is behind you you better pull over to the right quick or they get real mad. When traffic merges from the right people usually pull over into the left lane. These are all things that I notice people doing every time I drive home or back to school and they are things that even I do.
By the time I get off the pike I am so sick of driving and I still have about twenty minutes of small towns to go through until I get to Pittsfield. Pittsfield is where you will find some of the most aggressive drivers. Everyone is in such a hurry for nothing. Then we get the people from New York that doesn’t know how to drive. I get to Pittsfield and I am also swerving to avoid potholes. I remember this one time when I didn’t have my license (I still drove) someone from the lane turning right automatically just decided to go straight into my lane which would have caused an accident if I wasn’t paying attention. Since then I notice this more frequently only now I have my license and can beep and flip them off. This is what everyone does in Pittsfield. Everyone runs those red lights after about a minute of it turning red. Everybody is just so inconsiderate which is what I think led to my aggressive driving habits.
All three of the main places in which I drive are very different from each other. Drivers in Westfield seem more respectful and nicer to everyone. The pike is organized and in uniform. Pittsfield drivers are so aggressive it’s just annoying. Driving in these three different settings has allowed me to adapt to different types of driving habits and behaviors.
heaven wherever i look
Paul Moses
English 101
3/20/08
Prof. Meek
Heaven Wherever I Look
The four seasons rotate like the circle of life all around the world. Some environments are affected more so then others. Similar to humans lives, we go through stages physically and mental. Walker Pond in Lakeville, Florida did not experience the seasons transforming the wild life. As the bright sun rises it seems like it’s my own personal alarm clock. Every summer morning one of the brightest stars in the universe shines right into my window at eight o’clock, screaming with its yellow rays. Telling me to get up and hit the lake. No matter what happens throughout the year that may get me upset or stressed out I always know the beautiful Walker pond will be waiting for my arrival every summer morning. It is so much easier to hop out of bed with a smile from ear to ear when I know the joy and relaxation that awaits me. When you can spend a whole day with nothing but a pair of basketball shorts on its hard not to be completely at peace.
As I walk through my grandparent’s backyard I feel the thick green grass gently tickle the souls of my feet. With a bag of sunflower seeds in one hand and a cooler of Gatorade in the other I see my fishing pole and tackle box waiting for me in the neon orange canoe. Like the focal point of a painting, no matter how long you look at the beautiful pond your eyes will always be drawn to the bright orange canoe. I lift the heavy canoe from the grass and gently place it in the water like placing a sleeping baby in its crib. The dark blue water ripples away from the canoe gently yet rapidly. When I step into the canoe I feel the cold plastic on my feet as I wobble back and forth like trying to balance on a skateboard. As I push off from the dock I go soaring into the water as if I was floating on the clouds. The clear baby blue sky is completely empty except the blinding yellow sun beaming down onto my bare chest. The gentle wind cools my body as it whistles through the trees surrounding the pond.
The colors that engulf the pond compete for my attention, at the same time they blend together to make the most beautiful natural collage on earth. The dark blue water gleaming in my eyes coordinates with the bright green shrubbery and trees that seem to help keep the water in its bed. The trees stretch as far as the eyes can see into the light blue sky that acts as the cover to my utopia, only letting the good in and letting nothing leave. The sun reaches higher and higher in the sky like it knows to nurture and give life to every inch of walker pond. From the gloomy brown and grey snapping turtles corner, to the middle of the water where the silver bellied bass jump into the air to catch a afternoon snack. I take in all the great sights of the pond but there is so much more. The drag of my line rapidly clicking because in has a fourteen inch bass on the hook, the different calls of the birds looking for some food, and the leaves on the trees being blown in every direction. All I can taste is the ranch flavoring from the seeds and the ice cold fruit punch Gatorade hitting my pallet and cooling my whole throat.
Like the change of seasons everyone experiences the different parts of life. When I’m at Walker Pond the environment is not affected by the seasons because it is always perfect. Whoever enters the confines of the pond feels invincible, like they can live happily forever. Walker Pond As the sun begins to set the skyline develops a pinkish hue, I head back disappointed the day is over yet satisfied with how the day went. The air chills; I look over the pond standing on the dock with goose bumps all over my chest. I think to myself, I will be back again real soon.
Monday, March 3, 2008
last minute work
do you ever get the feeling when you have 20 minutes untill class and you have something important like homework or an essay due and you havent even started it yet? you whip it out and when your teacher gets it, they look at it and think that either A) it was obviously done five minutes ago and im not even going to accept this, or B) this has very good insight/ put time and effort into this deserves a check plus. How abot studying for a test? do you study all week or do you study the night before? I think that depending on what type of person you are, you either crack under pressure, or you use the pressure to your advantage.
I am the type that uses the pressure to my advantage. When i am on a tight time schedule, i find that i do my best work. this is especially true when studying for a test. In some cases , people study a week in advance for a test and usually they tend to remember information better then someone who studies the night before. I dont remember crap if i study one thing a night. BY the next day, ive already forgotten it. However, if i study the night before its like i remember reading the exact page in the book and i visualize what i read. i find that if i do homework right before class i get it done in much better quality. my handwriting is clearer and it works out more perfectly. although i do like to get work done i do take my time on it. It is difficult to tell wether my work was done yesterday or an hour or two before class started. although i usually dont have to worry about getting things done on time, there is the occasional fault that i stay up all night and do not get anything done or even if i do sleep i wake up late or something like that. anything like that makes me want to get it done faster and for some reason it always comes out better
I recently played in a pool tournament. before that day i was playing rather poorly and didnt think i woukdve done well. when i woke up that day i went downstairs and i played my best and it turned out to be the best i have ever done and my and my friend finished second. it is funny how some people will just fall to pieces when it comes to things like game tournaments. while they do worse, i do better.
I am the type that uses the pressure to my advantage. When i am on a tight time schedule, i find that i do my best work. this is especially true when studying for a test. In some cases , people study a week in advance for a test and usually they tend to remember information better then someone who studies the night before. I dont remember crap if i study one thing a night. BY the next day, ive already forgotten it. However, if i study the night before its like i remember reading the exact page in the book and i visualize what i read. i find that if i do homework right before class i get it done in much better quality. my handwriting is clearer and it works out more perfectly. although i do like to get work done i do take my time on it. It is difficult to tell wether my work was done yesterday or an hour or two before class started. although i usually dont have to worry about getting things done on time, there is the occasional fault that i stay up all night and do not get anything done or even if i do sleep i wake up late or something like that. anything like that makes me want to get it done faster and for some reason it always comes out better
I recently played in a pool tournament. before that day i was playing rather poorly and didnt think i woukdve done well. when i woke up that day i went downstairs and i played my best and it turned out to be the best i have ever done and my and my friend finished second. it is funny how some people will just fall to pieces when it comes to things like game tournaments. while they do worse, i do better.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
the 'fins.
This week, for soem reason i decided to write about the miami dolphins. Im not gonna lie they my favorite NFL team. Growing up it was fine because they were, well actually good. But its been pretty funny these past few years living in massachusetts where the Patriots have been real good lately. Which it wasnt like at all as a little kid. Ever since Dan Marino lft its almost felt like its been a rebuiling stage for the dolphins. After Marino retired the only decent facet on the team was its defense, it was sick. Fast corners in Madison and Surtain, good safety in Brock Marion. A nice front seven led by Jason Taylor , Zach Thomas and big Tim Bowens. So the focus on rebuilding went to the offense. And the dolphins drafted good talent in 2nd rd picks they had in Chris Chambers and Randy McMichael. But having a quaterback like Jay Fielder wasnt cutting it. There was one year when Lamar Smith had an outstanding year at running back, but he wasnt going to do that again at his age. So they made a big move to get Ricky Williams from the Saints. His first year as a 'fin was a record setting. He was something special, and something the dolpphins offense hadnt seen in years, it now seemed they were well rounded on booth sides of the ball. But the QB's had just were not cutting it, in Fieldler or Feely. And they let go
madison and surtain on defense wich left huge holes in the secondary. But then the worst thing ever happened. In the middle of his career, Rick Williams retired. He pulled a Barry Sanders! He wad goin to be nasty! But hey i guess he was some trouble with his drug tests and such. Thats when everything basically collapsed. Nothing went right after that. They tried differnt quaterbacks like Ray Lucas and A.J Feely but it didnt work. After a bad season they drafted
running back Roni Brown, who has turned out to be realy good. But the QB spot just wasnt working still. They went out on a limb and Got Daunte Culpepper off an injured season, he hurt his knee bad, and QB Joey Harrington who never had a shot in detroit. Daunte was definately rushed into the game, and didnt finish the season. They let Randy McMichael go, and Joey Harrington didnt really do much. So theylet them both go next season, and got another injured Vet at QB Trent Green. And signed hard hitting pro bowl Free agent LB Joey Porter. Going into the 07-08 season it was obviously going to be a rebuilding season. But i dont think people thought it would be this bad. Trent Green got hurt, another concusion, in like the 3rd game. And Ronni Brown got hurt too, i believe in 6th or 7th game, and at the time he was leading the NFL in rushing yards. Mid-season they traded thier wide out Chris Chambers to the Chargers. It was 14 weeks into the season until they even got thier first win. This year was just wacky. having almost not won a single game, oh man, it woulda been weird having been the only franchise ever to go undefeated, and also have a nonwinning season too. OH BOY, i forgot to mention that whole shenanigans with Nick Saban. OH well. The season led to the firing of head coach Cam Cameron, and the hiring of bill Parcells. His first big move was getting rid of Zach Thomas. It was hard seeing him go, because he was with the 'fins so long and is hall of fame worthy. But now they have the first pick in this upcoming draft, im wondering what they may do, draft a QB in Matt Ryan or what. only time will tell.
madison and surtain on defense wich left huge holes in the secondary. But then the worst thing ever happened. In the middle of his career, Rick Williams retired. He pulled a Barry Sanders! He wad goin to be nasty! But hey i guess he was some trouble with his drug tests and such. Thats when everything basically collapsed. Nothing went right after that. They tried differnt quaterbacks like Ray Lucas and A.J Feely but it didnt work. After a bad season they drafted
running back Roni Brown, who has turned out to be realy good. But the QB spot just wasnt working still. They went out on a limb and Got Daunte Culpepper off an injured season, he hurt his knee bad, and QB Joey Harrington who never had a shot in detroit. Daunte was definately rushed into the game, and didnt finish the season. They let Randy McMichael go, and Joey Harrington didnt really do much. So theylet them both go next season, and got another injured Vet at QB Trent Green. And signed hard hitting pro bowl Free agent LB Joey Porter. Going into the 07-08 season it was obviously going to be a rebuilding season. But i dont think people thought it would be this bad. Trent Green got hurt, another concusion, in like the 3rd game. And Ronni Brown got hurt too, i believe in 6th or 7th game, and at the time he was leading the NFL in rushing yards. Mid-season they traded thier wide out Chris Chambers to the Chargers. It was 14 weeks into the season until they even got thier first win. This year was just wacky. having almost not won a single game, oh man, it woulda been weird having been the only franchise ever to go undefeated, and also have a nonwinning season too. OH BOY, i forgot to mention that whole shenanigans with Nick Saban. OH well. The season led to the firing of head coach Cam Cameron, and the hiring of bill Parcells. His first big move was getting rid of Zach Thomas. It was hard seeing him go, because he was with the 'fins so long and is hall of fame worthy. But now they have the first pick in this upcoming draft, im wondering what they may do, draft a QB in Matt Ryan or what. only time will tell.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Remembering the Super Bowl
“This year belongs to the Wildcats.” That was the headline that was published in the regional newspaper. From the very first practice in early July, we knew it was going to be true. This truly was going to be our year. I’d say this headline was backed up by not only me, but also the other twenty four seniors. We were predicted to be the best football team our high school has ever seen or would ever see.
We were coming off a season with a Vocational Superbowl victory over Worcester Tech, an 11-1 record, being ranked the 27th best high school football team in the state, and having the 12th highest scoring team in the entire state of Massachusetts averaging thirty six points a game. On top of all of these stats, we also had nine out of eleven starters coming back from the previous year, and five out of eleven returning for the offense.
Dominating each and every game and team we played on both sides of the ball; we finished off the regular season undefeated at 11-0 and ranked 7th in the state in scoring. We had made it into the Division 3 playoffs for the first time in school history, and were ranked as the number two seed.
In the semi-final game we were set to play the 3rd seeded team Arlington Catholic. Out of all the semi-final games played in all of the divisions, the Boston Globe said that our game was supposed to be the best matched game. This was because both teams were in the top ten for scoring, so we knew we were in for a shoot out. Just as predicted, it indeed was a shootout with the final score of 48-46 in our favor.
So there we were only five days later, in the biggest game of our lives; playing for the Division 3 Super Bowl. Players, coaches, students, faculty, parents, and even all the fifteen communities that go to the school seemed to be ready for this moment ever since the very first play of the very first game. There we stood; me and my fellow captains staring into the faces of the opposing Medfield High captains just waiting to see our destiny by the simple flip of a coin.
The game started out just like any other. We stopped them with the slightest of ease, and got the ball on a three and out. We knew they had scouted us well because on their first defensive play they rushed all eleven guys on a blitz. So the very next play we faked a run and threw a lob pass that went all the way 70 yards for a touchdown.
At halftime we were up 16-12. Feeling good, but at the same time, knew not to expect the game to get any easier. The whole third quarter of the game seemed to slow down and be more fundamental. There was only one score the entire 3rd quarter. This was Medfield’s first lead of the game coming from a touchdown to go ahead 18-16.
The fourth quarter started, and we had the ball first. After the first play, we knew what to do as it went for twenty yards. Our game plan was to waste as much time as humanly possible, and then score with very little time left. This plan didn’t work as flawlessly as we thought. We scored with five minutes left and made the game 22-18; leaving them way too much time on the game clock for them to score. And that’s exactly what happened.
2:24. That’s how much time we had left to work with on the game clock. We had just let up the go ahead score to make the game 26-22.
This was when I was blind-sided. Coach looked us all in the eye and said, “Ok guys, this is your game now, you are the leaders of this team, you have proven it day in and day out ever since the very first day of practice. What do you think we should do to win this game?”
I will never forget what happened next. I remember it so clearly how as soon as his words floated from his mouth into our ears how everything became silent. It was as if there wasn’t a crowd of 10,000 screaming fans only twenty feet from us. Everything just went silent. It wasn’t as if the five of us captains didn’t know what to do; it was more like we were just so extremely shocked as to what we had just heard come out of his mouth. None of us knew what to say to this; we were all dumbfounded.
This is when I stepped up and looked coach in the eyes and said, “Coach, I know that I’m not alone when I say this, but I will do ANYTHING in my power to win this game. I know for a fact that before this game is over that I won’t be the same as going in. I will give my body for my teammates. That is what we are going to do to win this game.” Saying this came as a surprise even to me, but I knew that my words struck a cord with him and the rest of the players just as his did to us. I knew this because everyone’s attitudes quickly changed from fearful to fearless.
We were like men possessed. After the kick return e had started on our own 15, and from there we marched down the field as if there were no opposing team in front of us. That was until we hit their thirty yard line. To stop us from proceeding any farther, the Medfield coach called a time out to cool us off, and when we got back on the field they lined up in the strangest formation I have ever seen.
Their defensive linemen were lined up where the linebackers would have normally, and the linebackers we a yard deeper then the D-Linemen. It was if they were trying to make a human wall five yards from us. Seeing this I knew nothing good was going to come from this play. The ball was snapped, and I was on my way charging at them with a full head of steam, and as soon as I and the rest of the offensive line got to their human wall they all dropped down and tried to take us out by our knees.
Noticing too late, I fell for the trap, and was immediately taken to the ground. I was in the worst pain of my life, but I didn’t care. I hobbled my way back to the huddle and listen for the next play. I found out after the game that I had hyper-extended my knee, and torn a ligament.
Coach then tried sending in a sophomore to replace me; because he saw that I was hurt, but I just laughed as he came running towards the huddle to replace me. I yelled to him, “Don’t you dare come to this huddle. Turn right around, and get the hell off the field. I’m not coming out!” He froze where he stood, shocked at what I had just said. He froze for a second, as if struck with rigimortous, and just stared at me. Noticing how serious I really was he slowly proceeded his way off the field.
The very next we another first down, and we were now on their sixteen yard line with 26 seconds left in the game, and with only one time out left to use. The first play was a dropped pass on the 5 yard line. The next two were also dropped, but were tipped up into the air first by their defense. It all came down to this one last play. Both teams lined up; the ball was snapped; us linemen held steady; the defense thought we were running the ball so they blitzed. A perfect pass was thrown to the end zone…… and the ball was dropped!!!!
The biggest game of our lives was lost with only 13 seconds left.
“This year belongs to the Wildcats.” That was the headline that was published in the regional newspaper. From the very first practice in early July, we knew it was going to be true. This truly was going to be our year. I’d say this headline was backed up by not only me, but also the other twenty four seniors. We were predicted to be the best football team our high school has ever seen or would ever see.
We were coming off a season with a Vocational Superbowl victory over Worcester Tech, an 11-1 record, being ranked the 27th best high school football team in the state, and having the 12th highest scoring team in the entire state of Massachusetts averaging thirty six points a game. On top of all of these stats, we also had nine out of eleven starters coming back from the previous year, and five out of eleven returning for the offense.
Dominating each and every game and team we played on both sides of the ball; we finished off the regular season undefeated at 11-0 and ranked 7th in the state in scoring. We had made it into the Division 3 playoffs for the first time in school history, and were ranked as the number two seed.
In the semi-final game we were set to play the 3rd seeded team Arlington Catholic. Out of all the semi-final games played in all of the divisions, the Boston Globe said that our game was supposed to be the best matched game. This was because both teams were in the top ten for scoring, so we knew we were in for a shoot out. Just as predicted, it indeed was a shootout with the final score of 48-46 in our favor.
So there we were only five days later, in the biggest game of our lives; playing for the Division 3 Super Bowl. Players, coaches, students, faculty, parents, and even all the fifteen communities that go to the school seemed to be ready for this moment ever since the very first play of the very first game. There we stood; me and my fellow captains staring into the faces of the opposing Medfield High captains just waiting to see our destiny by the simple flip of a coin.
The game started out just like any other. We stopped them with the slightest of ease, and got the ball on a three and out. We knew they had scouted us well because on their first defensive play they rushed all eleven guys on a blitz. So the very next play we faked a run and threw a lob pass that went all the way 70 yards for a touchdown.
At halftime we were up 16-12. Feeling good, but at the same time, knew not to expect the game to get any easier. The whole third quarter of the game seemed to slow down and be more fundamental. There was only one score the entire 3rd quarter. This was Medfield’s first lead of the game coming from a touchdown to go ahead 18-16.
The fourth quarter started, and we had the ball first. After the first play, we knew what to do as it went for twenty yards. Our game plan was to waste as much time as humanly possible, and then score with very little time left. This plan didn’t work as flawlessly as we thought. We scored with five minutes left and made the game 22-18; leaving them way too much time on the game clock for them to score. And that’s exactly what happened.
2:24. That’s how much time we had left to work with on the game clock. We had just let up the go ahead score to make the game 26-22.
This was when I was blind-sided. Coach looked us all in the eye and said, “Ok guys, this is your game now, you are the leaders of this team, you have proven it day in and day out ever since the very first day of practice. What do you think we should do to win this game?”
I will never forget what happened next. I remember it so clearly how as soon as his words floated from his mouth into our ears how everything became silent. It was as if there wasn’t a crowd of 10,000 screaming fans only twenty feet from us. Everything just went silent. It wasn’t as if the five of us captains didn’t know what to do; it was more like we were just so extremely shocked as to what we had just heard come out of his mouth. None of us knew what to say to this; we were all dumbfounded.
This is when I stepped up and looked coach in the eyes and said, “Coach, I know that I’m not alone when I say this, but I will do ANYTHING in my power to win this game. I know for a fact that before this game is over that I won’t be the same as going in. I will give my body for my teammates. That is what we are going to do to win this game.” Saying this came as a surprise even to me, but I knew that my words struck a cord with him and the rest of the players just as his did to us. I knew this because everyone’s attitudes quickly changed from fearful to fearless.
We were like men possessed. After the kick return e had started on our own 15, and from there we marched down the field as if there were no opposing team in front of us. That was until we hit their thirty yard line. To stop us from proceeding any farther, the Medfield coach called a time out to cool us off, and when we got back on the field they lined up in the strangest formation I have ever seen.
Their defensive linemen were lined up where the linebackers would have normally, and the linebackers we a yard deeper then the D-Linemen. It was if they were trying to make a human wall five yards from us. Seeing this I knew nothing good was going to come from this play. The ball was snapped, and I was on my way charging at them with a full head of steam, and as soon as I and the rest of the offensive line got to their human wall they all dropped down and tried to take us out by our knees.
Noticing too late, I fell for the trap, and was immediately taken to the ground. I was in the worst pain of my life, but I didn’t care. I hobbled my way back to the huddle and listen for the next play. I found out after the game that I had hyper-extended my knee, and torn a ligament.
Coach then tried sending in a sophomore to replace me; because he saw that I was hurt, but I just laughed as he came running towards the huddle to replace me. I yelled to him, “Don’t you dare come to this huddle. Turn right around, and get the hell off the field. I’m not coming out!” He froze where he stood, shocked at what I had just said. He froze for a second, as if struck with rigimortous, and just stared at me. Noticing how serious I really was he slowly proceeded his way off the field.
The very next we another first down, and we were now on their sixteen yard line with 26 seconds left in the game, and with only one time out left to use. The first play was a dropped pass on the 5 yard line. The next two were also dropped, but were tipped up into the air first by their defense. It all came down to this one last play. Both teams lined up; the ball was snapped; us linemen held steady; the defense thought we were running the ball so they blitzed. A perfect pass was thrown to the end zone…… and the ball was dropped!!!!
The biggest game of our lives was lost with only 13 seconds left.
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