The Boys of Celina ...

[BobcatBenny]

Great Viewpoint Article ... deserves to be shared.

http://www.celinarecord.com/articles/2009/11/20/celina_record/news/611.txt

The Boys of Celina
By Gary Stephenson, Viewpoint
Published: Friday, November 20, 2009 12:27 AM CST
The Celina Record

I think the majority of you who are reading this would agree that the football season is a wonderful time of year; maybe our favorite time of the year.

We love everything about football season from watching the boys on the first day of two-a-days as we see “what we got this year;” to the first game day of the season when we tailgate and fill up on food that would cause any cardiologist to cringe; to seeing people again that we may have lost contact with over the summer.

Even though we are inland by several hundred miles, we love the song “Anchor’s Away,” especially when it gives way to the “Notre Dame Fight Song” and the clapping of the cut off 2”x4”s. Grandfathers stand in line with teenagers and toddlers to slap the shoulder pads of players in the Victory Line as we offer our split second of support that we are convinced will be the extra encouragement the boys need to “get the job done” tonight.

We love the cheerleader’s signs and always hope the wind will show mercy as the players prepare to run through them. We love the feeling of our community family reunion when we have the first home game, only to have the laughter interrupted by the first kickoff of the season when the armchair quarterbacks start espousing their ideas.

We love watching the boys battle for every inch of field position as they collide full speed with players who are usually bigger, faster and stronger.

We scream “tackle him,” to the Bobcat players as if that is a new concept they haven’t ever thought about. We laugh in embarrassment at the occasional idiot in the stands who madly yells at the officials as if their comments are really going to make a difference.

We turn our heads in disgust as a player vomits on the sideline only to run back out on the field for the next play. We share genuine concern for player and parent alike when a player is carried off the field wondering if their season or career is over.

We love the halftime shows and the amount of beautiful music that is created by such a small number of band members. We laugh when someone comments that “the band members could get places faster if they would just take bigger steps.” We are amazed when we see two or three boys marching in football pads.

We love traveling to away games as it’s a chance to go out to eat before the game. We love seeing the other teams facilities and comparing them to those in tiny Celina. We laugh at away games when the announcer tries to pronounce “Arogunmati” or “Lavey,” and we wonder where the extra vowels and consonants, or Louisiana/French accent came from in the pronunciation.

We love the drive home as we discuss all the intricacies of the game only to realize that everyone but you is already asleep and they haven’t heard a word you’ve said for the last fifteen miles.

We love the unashamed pregame prayer over the loud speakers as it proclaims the faith of our community. Win or lose, we love watching the boys circle up in prayer with the other team after the game as it proclaims their character and sportsmanship.

We love football. We love football for its tie to Americana and tradition. We love football for the feeling of community we experience every week. But, most of all, we love football for the escape it provides.

When times are hard, we look forward to Friday night and watching the boys. When the economy has us down, we look to Friday night as a time for joy and escaping the constant fretting of money and house payments.

When our life feels like a rat race, we enjoy being in one simple place for a few hours with friends and family as we root for our boys and our team.

When we are discouraged and worried about our changing lives, we look forward to the unchanging constant of Friday Night Football in Texas. These boys, and this game of football, provide our escape.

The boys on the field are our escape and we should be thankful. We should be thankful for what we see, and what we don’t see.

What many of us don’t see are the boys getting up at 6:00 am every summer morning to head to the field for their difficult IAP workout. What many of us don’t see are the boys playing 7-on-7 every Monday and Tuesday night as they try to prepare for all the teams who will be throwing the spread offense at them during the season.

What many of us don’t see are the 7-on-7 tournaments on Saturday mornings when the temperature is well into the 100’s as the boys not only battle the other team, but they also battle the heat, dehydration and cramps.

What many of us don’t see are the 2-a-day practices in early August when the boys are laughing at each other because they can tell what someone ate for breakfast or lunch as they recognize undigested food in the vomit that seems to line the entire perimeter of the field.

What many of us don’t see are the exhausted boys drenched in sweat lying under the bleachers trying to get some shade and relief.

What many of us don’t see is once the school year starts the boys still getting to the weight room every morning at 5:30 for their pre-school workout. What many of us don’t see are the boys falling asleep as they lay on the living room floor at night with ice bags on their sore backs, necks and hamstrings.

What many of us don’t see are boys whose arms are so bruised and tired that they have trouble putting their shirts on in the morning because they can’t raise their arms.

What many of us don’t see are the boys limping home at midnight or later on Friday nights and asking “where are the ice bags, ace bandages and ibuprofen?”

What many of us don’t see is the following morning when they are so sore they can hardly take any steps without holding on to the couch or kitchen counter just to be able to walk.

What many of us don’t see are the boys reading the newspaper to see how all the other teams in district 9-3A did the night before as they look forward to they day they go to battle. What many of us don’t see, understand, or fully appreciate is the 20 week season these boys endure, and the uniqueness of it all.

Here is something to think about. In each of the last four years (2005, 6, 7, 8), these boys have played 16 games, plus four weeks of two-a-days. That’s twenty straight weeks of total physical, emotional and psychological dedication and stress.

The last four years, the Celina Bobcats have played in an amazing 64 football games.

Over the last four years, these boys have played in four State Championships, winning two. Over the last four years, they have played more football games than ANY other high school team in the State of Texas.

Over the last four years, they have played more games than ANY college football team in the country (That includes Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, LSU, USC, etc...) Over the last four years, they have played the same number of games as the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and San Francisco 49ers.

These boys have done all of this while still going to school and staying academically eligible.

These are amazing 15, 16, 17, and 18 year old boys who have been tremendous ambassadors for our school and the Celina community for so many years.

They have provided us with joy, excitement and a much needed escape from our daily lives. Now that the playoffs are here, each week could be the last of THEIR careers and dreams.

I hope you would all agree that we owe these boys our unconditional and unwavering thanks, gratitude, respect and full support for their exhausting work in these years of unparalleled success.

Please go to the playoff games and be “loud and proud” and support the Boys of Celina!

GOD BLESS.

Gary Stephenson

[marler1972]

Originally posted by BobcatBenny
Great Viewpoint Article ... deserves to be shared.

http://www.celinarecord.com/articles/2009/11/20/celina_record/news/611.txt

The Boys of Celina
By Gary Stephenson, Viewpoint
Published: Friday, November 20, 2009 12:27 AM CST
The Celina Record

I think the majority of you who are reading this would agree that the football season is a wonderful time of year; maybe our favorite time of the year.

We love everything about football season from watching the boys on the first day of two-a-days as we see “what we got this year;” to the first game day of the season when we tailgate and fill up on food that would cause any cardiologist to cringe; to seeing people again that we may have lost contact with over the summer.

Even though we are inland by several hundred miles, we love the song “Anchor’s Away,” especially when it gives way to the “Notre Dame Fight Song” and the clapping of the cut off 2”x4”s. Grandfathers stand in line with teenagers and toddlers to slap the shoulder pads of players in the Victory Line as we offer our split second of support that we are convinced will be the extra encouragement the boys need to “get the job done” tonight.

We love the cheerleader’s signs and always hope the wind will show mercy as the players prepare to run through them. We love the feeling of our community family reunion when we have the first home game, only to have the laughter interrupted by the first kickoff of the season when the armchair quarterbacks start espousing their ideas.

We love watching the boys battle for every inch of field position as they collide full speed with players who are usually bigger, faster and stronger.

We scream “tackle him,” to the Bobcat players as if that is a new concept they haven’t ever thought about. We laugh in embarrassment at the occasional idiot in the stands who madly yells at the officials as if their comments are really going to make a difference.

We turn our heads in disgust as a player vomits on the sideline only to run back out on the field for the next play. We share genuine concern for player and parent alike when a player is carried off the field wondering if their season or career is over.

We love the halftime shows and the amount of beautiful music that is created by such a small number of band members. We laugh when someone comments that “the band members could get places faster if they would just take bigger steps.” We are amazed when we see two or three boys marching in football pads.

We love traveling to away games as it’s a chance to go out to eat before the game. We love seeing the other teams facilities and comparing them to those in tiny Celina. We laugh at away games when the announcer tries to pronounce “Arogunmati” or “Lavey,” and we wonder where the extra vowels and consonants, or Louisiana/French accent came from in the pronunciation.

We love the drive home as we discuss all the intricacies of the game only to realize that everyone but you is already asleep and they haven’t heard a word you’ve said for the last fifteen miles.

We love the unashamed pregame prayer over the loud speakers as it proclaims the faith of our community. Win or lose, we love watching the boys circle up in prayer with the other team after the game as it proclaims their character and sportsmanship.

We love football. We love football for its tie to Americana and tradition. We love football for the feeling of community we experience every week. But, most of all, we love football for the escape it provides.

When times are hard, we look forward to Friday night and watching the boys. When the economy has us down, we look to Friday night as a time for joy and escaping the constant fretting of money and house payments.

When our life feels like a rat race, we enjoy being in one simple place for a few hours with friends and family as we root for our boys and our team.

When we are discouraged and worried about our changing lives, we look forward to the unchanging constant of Friday Night Football in Texas. These boys, and this game of football, provide our escape.

The boys on the field are our escape and we should be thankful. We should be thankful for what we see, and what we don’t see.

What many of us don’t see are the boys getting up at 6:00 am every summer morning to head to the field for their difficult IAP workout. What many of us don’t see are the boys playing 7-on-7 every Monday and Tuesday night as they try to prepare for all the teams who will be throwing the spread offense at them during the season.

What many of us don’t see are the 7-on-7 tournaments on Saturday mornings when the temperature is well into the 100’s as the boys not only battle the other team, but they also battle the heat, dehydration and cramps.

What many of us don’t see are the 2-a-day practices in early August when the boys are laughing at each other because they can tell what someone ate for breakfast or lunch as they recognize undigested food in the vomit that seems to line the entire perimeter of the field.

What many of us don’t see are the exhausted boys drenched in sweat lying under the bleachers trying to get some shade and relief.

What many of us don’t see is once the school year starts the boys still getting to the weight room every morning at 5:30 for their pre-school workout. What many of us don’t see are the boys falling asleep as they lay on the living room floor at night with ice bags on their sore backs, necks and hamstrings.

What many of us don’t see are boys whose arms are so bruised and tired that they have trouble putting their shirts on in the morning because they can’t raise their arms.

What many of us don’t see are the boys limping home at midnight or later on Friday nights and asking “where are the ice bags, ace bandages and ibuprofen?”

What many of us don’t see is the following morning when they are so sore they can hardly take any steps without holding on to the couch or kitchen counter just to be able to walk.

What many of us don’t see are the boys reading the newspaper to see how all the other teams in district 9-3A did the night before as they look forward to they day they go to battle. What many of us don’t see, understand, or fully appreciate is the 20 week season these boys endure, and the uniqueness of it all.

Here is something to think about. In each of the last four years (2005, 6, 7, 8), these boys have played 16 games, plus four weeks of two-a-days. That’s twenty straight weeks of total physical, emotional and psychological dedication and stress.

The last four years, the Celina Bobcats have played in an amazing 64 football games.

Over the last four years, these boys have played in four State Championships, winning two. Over the last four years, they have played more football games than ANY other high school team in the State of Texas.

Over the last four years, they have played more games than ANY college football team in the country (That includes Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, LSU, USC, etc...) Over the last four years, they have played the same number of games as the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and San Francisco 49ers.

These boys have done all of this while still going to school and staying academically eligible.

These are amazing 15, 16, 17, and 18 year old boys who have been tremendous ambassadors for our school and the Celina community for so many years.

They have provided us with joy, excitement and a much needed escape from our daily lives. Now that the playoffs are here, each week could be the last of THEIR careers and dreams.

I hope you would all agree that we owe these boys our unconditional and unwavering thanks, gratitude, respect and full support for their exhausting work in these years of unparalleled success.

Please go to the playoff games and be “loud and proud” and support the Boys of Celina!

GOD BLESS.

Gary Stephenson

:clap: :2thumbsup :2thumbsup :2thumbsup :2thumbsup

[BILLYFRED0000]

Thanks Gary. I know you might read this and I appreciate you putting down so eloquently what we all feel and believe. And since you are helping 3 of these fine young men on the weekends we know you have a clue about what you are discussing.

[BobcatBenny]

Those Bobcats have played a lot of games over the past few years.

[coachkiss]

You hit the nail on the head. I couldn't have said it better myself.

[oldtownag]

Great record. I am sure someone would love to give them a break.

[Stephenson]

I wasn't writing this as a pity party or for the whole world to see. I just wanted to write it for the paper in Celina so that the people of Celina would quit fretting over a 4 loss season, and instead understand how much these guys have done for us and the town. We just need to appreciate what these boys do and support them.

[Pick6]

Originally posted by Stephenson
Celina would quit fretting over a 4 loss season

No use in fretting over a 4 loss season when a 5th loss is in the cards.

[DDBooger]

Originally posted by Pick6
No use in fretting over a 4 loss season when a 5th loss is in the cards. lol you's a bad man! ;)

[charlesrixey]

Originally posted by Pick6
No use in fretting over a 4 loss season when a 5th loss is in the cards.

it won't be tonight :)

[TheDOCTORdre]

Originally posted by charlesrixey
it won't be tonight :)

oh but it will be

[Pick6]

Originally posted by charlesrixey
it won't be tonight :)

:thinking:

[ProudHornetMom]

Originally posted by Stephenson
I wasn't writing this as a pity party or for the whole world to see. I just wanted to write it for the paper in Celina so that the people of Celina would quit fretting over a 4 loss season, and instead understand how much these guys have done for us and the town. We just need to appreciate what these boys do and support them.

Good for you supporting the way you do. I think this is an article that all fans need to read. It has many universal truths that we all need to be reminded of for our teams.

[MN95]

Beautifully said Gary. I couldn't agree more.

Pick 6, you have proved it many times before, and again emphatically here: there isn't an ounce of class in you.

[RPF2666]

Great job Mr. Stephenson!

And, congratulations on the successes Garrett was a part of.

[Z-RO]

After a season like this it wouldnt suprise me if they kicked out half of the kids in high school so they can get back into 2A the next 2 years :p

[gatordaze]

Originally posted by Z-RO
After a season like this it wouldnt suprise me if they kicked out half of the kids in high school so they can get back into 2A the next 2 years :p

I can assure you that no one in Celina wants to return to 2A. I was very proud to see many of the boys in the weightroom today talking about the next 258 days until 2-a-days resume. The future is as bright as ever in Celina.

Go Bobcats!

[Sittin & Fishin]

Good article. I have grandsons, grandnieces and nephews at Celina and I've always been impressed with how hard they work (as do all schools). Speaking as an old coach, you sometimes don't realize how hard the kids work because you're around them every day and it becomes common place. Now as a fan, it's even easier to forget about how much the boys (and the girls) really work. This article is a nice reminder.

The boys played very hard Friday night. With no offense to a very hard fighting and disciplined Kennedale team, that was a game Celina feels like they should have won with their domination on defense and time of possession. I've never seen a game where a winning team only had 69 yards of total offense, and 3 total first downs. But, Kennedale kept us out of the endzone most of the night and they did what it took to win. They are to be congratulated, and wished "good luck" against Pittsburgh.

As much as I hated doing it when I coached, there are games where you have to look in the mirror, admit your mistakes, and tell the players you let them down. I hope the Celina coaches did that after the game Friday. The defense was stellar, but the offensive side of the ball left much to be desired. The play calling was unimaginative and predictable. The passing game was not successful, yet they kept going back to it. As it has been all year, the clock management was very bad with unnecesary timeouts having to be used because plays weren't getting in on time. The onside kick decision gave up costly field position in that type of slug-it-out game. And, the two point conversion attempt was confusing to say the least. Over the years, the Celina coaches have obvioulsy had success and they have been given some well deserved praise, but this game was not their finest hour.

Celina will be back. They have some questions to answer and some spots to fill, but they have a great group of boys returning who should be successful. Glad to hear they're already back in the weight room.

Good luck to the seniors who are moving on. Are any of the seniors besides Lavey going to play in college?

Did Jose Romero hurt his knee or ankle? Surgery? He was a big loss.

From a big rock on the edge of the Sabine River, I wish you all a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

[bobcat4life]

Romero had a high ankle sprain. I do not know how serious it was so I could not tell you anything other than that. And Lavey is the only one going to college from this group of seniors.

[BILLYFRED0000]

Originally posted by gatordaze
I can assure you that no one in Celina wants to return to 2A. I was very proud to see many of the boys in the weightroom today talking about the next 258 days until 2-a-days resume. The future is as bright as ever in Celina.

Go Bobcats!

Aint that Crazy gator. They never quit do they. I should come on down to the weight room just to get excited again.

[Txbroadcaster]

Originally posted by BILLYFRED0000
Aint that Crazy gator. They never quit do they. I should come on down to the weight room just to get excited again.

95% of other teams never quit either.

[ctown]

Originally posted by Txbroadcaster
95% of other teams never quit either.

Yeah, 95% might just be the percentage of Celina winning since Ford took over as coach...

[Stephenson]

Originally posted by Sittin & Fishin


Good luck to the seniors who are moving on. Are any of the seniors besides Lavey going to play in college?

Did Jose Romero hurt his knee or ankle? Surgery? He was a big loss.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Caleb Lavey is going to Oklahoma State for football

It is my understanding that David Argunmati and Jay Perez were getting some college looks before they got injured. I hope they get to realize their dream of playing college football.

Garrett Stephenson has already accepted a baseball scholarship to Oklahom Christian.

Ryan Merit is recieving baseball offers but hasn't formally announced yet.

Garrett said, upon graduation Cody Braddock will tour South Korea giving Ping Pong exhibitions. Apparently, he's the real deal.

Regarding Jose Romero - he suffered a high ankle sprain. (I still don't know why that wasnt called a horse collar tackle. But, the officials did a good job in the game.) Yes, losing him was a big loss for the team in the second half.

[skins4life]

Originally posted by Stephenson
I wasn't writing this as a pity party or for the whole world to see. I just wanted to write it for the paper in Celina so that the people of Celina would quit fretting over a 4 loss season, and instead understand how much these guys have done for us and the town. We just need to appreciate what these boys do and support them.

You did hit the nail on the head. The records may not be the same for other communities in the state, but the boys are the same.. They're 15,16,17and 18 year old kids who have so may fathers, brothers, uncles, fans etc... living vicariously through their play on the field on Friday nights.

All I can say, I will always respect the boys and their coaches from here on out no matter the out come of the game.

[NTFan]

Originally posted by Stephenson
Caleb Lavey is going to Oklahoma State for football

It is my understanding that David Argunmati and Jay Perez were getting some college looks before they got injured. I hope they get to realize their dream of playing college football.

Garrett Stephenson has already accepted a baseball scholarship to Oklahom Christian.

Ryan Merit is recieving baseball offers but hasn't formally announced yet.

Garrett said, upon graduation Cody Braddock will tour South Korea giving Ping Pong exhibitions. Apparently, he's the real deal.

Regarding Jose Romero - he suffered a high ankle sprain. (I still don't know why that wasnt called a horse collar tackle. But, the officials did a good job in the game.) Yes, losing him was a big loss for the team in the second half.

Cody Worrell has already gotten offers from 3 schools. One Division I, and two Division II's. Actually there was a Division II school in town today that called him and offered him something. He met them at the fieldhouse, and no decision was made. So I guess that's four kids with FOOTBALL offers.

To be a horsecollar the following has to happen- 1) tackler has to come from straight behind the runner 2) Hand has to go inside the shoulder pads 3) tackler can not run more than one step with the runner before bringing him down.......tackler for Kennedale came in from an angle, grabbed the outside of Jose's jersey and then tackled him. No horsecollar. but unlucky injury for sure

[Stephenson]

That's great for Cody. Congratulations!!!

Thanks for the detail on the horsecollar tackle. I had my view momentarily blocked by a guy as he walked up the steps in front of me, so I did not see the angle of attack. I just saw the jerking back and down motion that Jose made and the subsequent ankle injury that the horsecollar was made illegal for.

[Sittin & Fishin]

Originally posted by NTFan
Cody Worrell has already gotten offers from 3 schools. One Division I, and two Division II's. Actually there was a Division II school in town today that called him and offered him something. He met them at the fieldhouse, and no decision was made. So I guess that's four kids with FOOTBALL offers.



Do you know what schools are offering, and what position he is being recruited for?

[garciap77]

Originally posted by BobcatBenny
Great Viewpoint Article ... deserves to be shared.

http://www.celinarecord.com/articles/2009/11/20/celina_record/news/611.txt

The Boys of Celina
By Gary Stephenson, Viewpoint
Published: Friday, November 20, 2009 12:27 AM CST
The Celina Record

I think the majority of you who are reading this would agree that the football season is a wonderful time of year; maybe our favorite time of the year.

We love everything about football season from watching the boys on the first day of two-a-days as we see “what we got this year;” to the first game day of the season when we tailgate and fill up on food that would cause any cardiologist to cringe; to seeing people again that we may have lost contact with over the summer.

Even though we are inland by several hundred miles, we love the song “Anchor’s Away,” especially when it gives way to the “Notre Dame Fight Song” and the clapping of the cut off 2”x4”s. Grandfathers stand in line with teenagers and toddlers to slap the shoulder pads of players in the Victory Line as we offer our split second of support that we are convinced will be the extra encouragement the boys need to “get the job done” tonight.

We love the cheerleader’s signs and always hope the wind will show mercy as the players prepare to run through them. We love the feeling of our community family reunion when we have the first home game, only to have the laughter interrupted by the first kickoff of the season when the armchair quarterbacks start espousing their ideas.

We love watching the boys battle for every inch of field position as they collide full speed with players who are usually bigger, faster and stronger.

We scream “tackle him,” to the Bobcat players as if that is a new concept they haven’t ever thought about. We laugh in embarrassment at the occasional idiot in the stands who madly yells at the officials as if their comments are really going to make a difference.

We turn our heads in disgust as a player vomits on the sideline only to run back out on the field for the next play. We share genuine concern for player and parent alike when a player is carried off the field wondering if their season or career is over.

We love the halftime shows and the amount of beautiful music that is created by such a small number of band members. We laugh when someone comments that “the band members could get places faster if they would just take bigger steps.” We are amazed when we see two or three boys marching in football pads.

We love traveling to away games as it’s a chance to go out to eat before the game. We love seeing the other teams facilities and comparing them to those in tiny Celina. We laugh at away games when the announcer tries to pronounce “Arogunmati” or “Lavey,” and we wonder where the extra vowels and consonants, or Louisiana/French accent came from in the pronunciation.

We love the drive home as we discuss all the intricacies of the game only to realize that everyone but you is already asleep and they haven’t heard a word you’ve said for the last fifteen miles.

We love the unashamed pregame prayer over the loud speakers as it proclaims the faith of our community. Win or lose, we love watching the boys circle up in prayer with the other team after the game as it proclaims their character and sportsmanship.

We love football. We love football for its tie to Americana and tradition. We love football for the feeling of community we experience every week. But, most of all, we love football for the escape it provides.

When times are hard, we look forward to Friday night and watching the boys. When the economy has us down, we look to Friday night as a time for joy and escaping the constant fretting of money and house payments.

When our life feels like a rat race, we enjoy being in one simple place for a few hours with friends and family as we root for our boys and our team.

When we are discouraged and worried about our changing lives, we look forward to the unchanging constant of Friday Night Football in Texas. These boys, and this game of football, provide our escape.

The boys on the field are our escape and we should be thankful. We should be thankful for what we see, and what we don’t see.

What many of us don’t see are the boys getting up at 6:00 am every summer morning to head to the field for their difficult IAP workout. What many of us don’t see are the boys playing 7-on-7 every Monday and Tuesday night as they try to prepare for all the teams who will be throwing the spread offense at them during the season.

What many of us don’t see are the 7-on-7 tournaments on Saturday mornings when the temperature is well into the 100’s as the boys not only battle the other team, but they also battle the heat, dehydration and cramps.

What many of us don’t see are the 2-a-day practices in early August when the boys are laughing at each other because they can tell what someone ate for breakfast or lunch as they recognize undigested food in the vomit that seems to line the entire perimeter of the field.

What many of us don’t see are the exhausted boys drenched in sweat lying under the bleachers trying to get some shade and relief.

What many of us don’t see is once the school year starts the boys still getting to the weight room every morning at 5:30 for their pre-school workout. What many of us don’t see are the boys falling asleep as they lay on the living room floor at night with ice bags on their sore backs, necks and hamstrings.

What many of us don’t see are boys whose arms are so bruised and tired that they have trouble putting their shirts on in the morning because they can’t raise their arms.

What many of us don’t see are the boys limping home at midnight or later on Friday nights and asking “where are the ice bags, ace bandages and ibuprofen?”

What many of us don’t see is the following morning when they are so sore they can hardly take any steps without holding on to the couch or kitchen counter just to be able to walk.

What many of us don’t see are the boys reading the newspaper to see how all the other teams in district 9-3A did the night before as they look forward to they day they go to battle. What many of us don’t see, understand, or fully appreciate is the 20 week season these boys endure, and the uniqueness of it all.

Here is something to think about. In each of the last four years (2005, 6, 7, 8), these boys have played 16 games, plus four weeks of two-a-days. That’s twenty straight weeks of total physical, emotional and psychological dedication and stress.

The last four years, the Celina Bobcats have played in an amazing 64 football games.

Over the last four years, these boys have played in four State Championships, winning two. Over the last four years, they have played more football games than ANY other high school team in the State of Texas.

Over the last four years, they have played more games than ANY college football team in the country (That includes Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, LSU, USC, etc...) Over the last four years, they have played the same number of games as the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and San Francisco 49ers.

These boys have done all of this while still going to school and staying academically eligible.

These are amazing 15, 16, 17, and 18 year old boys who have been tremendous ambassadors for our school and the Celina community for so many years.

They have provided us with joy, excitement and a much needed escape from our daily lives. Now that the playoffs are here, each week could be the last of THEIR careers and dreams.

I hope you would all agree that we owe these boys our unconditional and unwavering thanks, gratitude, respect and full support for their exhausting work in these years of unparalleled success.

Please go to the playoff games and be “loud and proud” and support the Boys of Celina!

GOD BLESS.

Gary Stephenson


:clap: :clap: :clap:

[NTFan]

Originally posted by Sittin & Fishin
Do you know what schools are offering, and what position he is being recruited for?

He is being recruited at CB by most schools and at QB by one. He is currently being recruited by: Air Force, Midwestern, Abilene Christian, Tarleton, and Hardin-Simmons. Texas State has also shown some interest as of late.

[Sittin & Fishin]

Originally posted by NTFan
He is being recruited at CB by most schools and at QB by one. He is currently being recruited by: Air Force, Midwestern, Abilene Christian, Tarleton, and Hardin-Simmons. Texas State has also shown some interest as of late.

Does he prefer QB or CB? It sure would have been nice to have had his speed on defense some this year to stop some of the big plays Celina gave up. Has his shoulder healed completely?

Good luck to him.

[orange machine]

Cody wanted to play qb, but he would have played anywhere they put him