I always enjoy my summers, and I’m always happy to see them end! I’m usually on the road for 8-12 weeks straight living out of a suitcase. I love the fact that I get to see new places and meet new people, make new friends and spend time with the guys that work camps with me.
I’m also tired of living out of suitcase, eating fast food, getting lost in new places, waiting on delayed flights, finding missing luggage and spending time with the guys that work camp with me! They know I love them all, but we all know after riding in 15 mini vans, eating instant egg omelets and frozen sausage patties, we’ve spent enough time together and we are all ready to get back home.
I mean, we’ve been on crop dusters and jumbo jets. Driven Suburbans and Kia Rios. Been offroad in Altimas and Chargers. Took a train from CT to PA. Even had to put a coach in a trunk one time! Had to land in one airport in Dallas, take a taxi to the other just to get to Amarillo on time! And every summer I lose at least one cell phone to some form of liquid- pool, toilet, rain- you name it! Our travel truly is Trains, Planes and Automobiles!
For the most part we do eat well- I don’t necessarily mean in terms of healthy, but in terms of taste. Seafood in CT, Italian in NY, cheesesteak in Philly (back to back Geno’s and Pat’s wid whiz), steaks in TX, more seafood in Seattle and Pensacola, BBQ in TX and NC (that’s another whole blog in itself), ribs in NE, calf fries in OK, salmon in OR- the list goes on and on! You’d think being on the go and working 12 hour days in the hot summer heat, I’d lose lots of weight during the summer- not so!
Don’t get me wrong, we find ways to have fun along the way- boating in TX and NC, casinos and the strip on Vegas, golf at Lake Tahoe, go carts in OK, Times Square, Philly, and the Big Texan steak challenge in Amarillo (congrats to Yenser and Hamilton!). And there’s lots of stories to be told about any one of our numerous trips during the summers. Again, I love these guys- couldn’t do it without them and wouldn’t do it without them.
What I enjoy most about these times is watching these young coaches grow and excel in their profession, but more importantly as men. I’ve witnessed them go from rowdy college players to humble husbands and fathers while still maintaining their passion for the game of football. I’ve watched as they’ve graduated from high school then college and now calling plays for their alma mater on Friday nights. I’ve been able to watch them move from job to job (as we all have), getting better and learning along the way. Heck, one even fulfilled his lifelong dream and is coaching in the NFL now. Many now on very successful high school and college staffs, and many are at struggling programs testing their faith in themselves and football. Above all else, they are all the better for having been a part of the game they love.
I always enjoy my summers. I’m always excited to get together with this bunch of coaches and am always proud of how much they improve each year- not only on the field, but off as well. As some are already home now that their seasons are done, some still in the playoffs, some regular season and some already bowl eligible. I’m proud of each of them and enjoy being around them every summer! Have you got a player or coach story you’d like to share?
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