As the Etowah football season slowly comes to a close, the school’s football players admit that they have been through a lot this year. Despite the blood, sweat and tears shed, football players claim that the positive factors by far outweigh the not-so-sunshiny aspects, giving them a happier outlook on their beloved sport.
Looking past the street credibility and popularity obtained from being on the Etowah football team, challenges surrounding the sport have put even more pressure on players’ backs. Players experience a notable decrease in sleep, influenced by early morning practices and staying at school far past bedtime. Paired with the constant soreness felt from intense workout sessions, football’s bothersome characteristics can sometimes put a damper on these young men’s spirits. Balancing the sport, schoolwork and extracurriculars, ‘you-time’ is rarely enjoyed. Though the coach’s demands for the team tend to be difficult both physically and mentally, the many hours players spend maintaining said expectations have helped to make them much easier to accomplish.
“Coaches expect you to be at a certain standard, but because [the team] has performed the demands so much, they are not as hard,” Kayden Powell, senior, said.
From the season’s start to finish, injuries have taken a major toll on the team. The team quarterback has been out for most of the season, with many players following his lead. Common injuries the team faces include things like concussions, though a torn ACL has considerably affected many athletes on the team this year. Bumps and bruises are pretty much unavoidable in football, but more intense injuries can and will wipe out even the best players, severely affecting the season for the worse.
“When one player got hurt, one could see the effect it had on the team and how they played,” Addison Newsom, sophomore, said.
Despite the rough and tough football brings, team members prefer to focus on something else: team chemistry. Players have noted that being on the team has allowed them to make wonderful friendships, as constantly being around each other during practices and games makes it easier to bond. By taking part in traditions including team breakfasts and group workout sessions, these young men have grown together as a true football family, their brotherhood growing stronger with each and every practice.
“I like the team chemistry; just being around [the team] Jan. to Jan. and getting to know them is great,” Brody Hendrix, senior, said.
Football players at Etowah have definitely had their ups and downs regarding the team. However, as their bonds with fellow teammates foster beautiful remembrances fit for a stroll down memory lane, the positive ‘no regrets’ mindset without a doubt wins over any negativity felt within the team.
