Winners

Firebirds,

I have been coaching youth football for many years, and you are without a doubt the best I have ever seen. You have set aside what is important to you as an individual, and have made the focus, success for a TEAM. I am only a fan, not a coach, not a dad, not anything but someone that enjoys the game. Thank you for bringing back what it is all about - setting aside fear, setting aside ego, playing with heart, playing as one unit, strong, and filled with pride. Well done!

As far as the display that the coaches of our opponents made today, let that be a testament to your success. It is only when you as leaders and athletes take apart your opponent that you will discover how weak the leadership is on the other side. Remember always, trash on the field is just trash, stand tall, remain strong, and respond to that with better play and harder hits - always let that do the talking for you.

I am proud to be a part of this program, at whatever the level.

What It Takes To Be Number One

The classic from Lombardi, worth sharing...

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Winning is not a sometimes thing; it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.

There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game, and that's first place. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don't ever want to finish second again. There is a second place bowl game, but it is a game for losers played by losers. It is and always has been an American zeal to be first in anything we do, and to win, and to win, and to win.

Every time a football player goes to ply his trade he's got to play from the ground up - from the soles of his feet right up to his head. Every inch of him has to play. Some guys play with their heads. That's O.K. you've got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more importantly, you've got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you're lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second.

Running a football team is no different than running any other kind of organization - an army, a political party or a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win - to beat the other guy. Maybe that sounds hard or cruel. I don't think it is.

It is a reality of life that men are competitive and the most competitive games draw the most competitive men. That's why they are there - to compete. To know the rules and objectives when they get in the game. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules - but to win.

And in truth, I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat.

I don't say these things because I believe in the "brute" nature of man or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man's finest hour - his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear - is that moment when he has to work his heart out in a good cause and he's exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

Vince Lombardi

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Wil, Jenn, and the coaches of Firebird Nation, thank you for such a great night Friday.

You all did an amazing job for this team, and it was a great time.

Anticipation

So I sit here watching the highlights reel from last year (yes again) and I just can't stop. Its really hard to turn it off. The anticipation for the year is killin' me. I suppose that means I'm living vicariously through my son. Ok, guilty as charged. :)

My son Nicholas (33) is softly snoring away in blissful rest after another great practice; tired as a dog. He wonders aloud on the way home about school starting next week and how will he possibly find time for homework and gaming (computer time) and football all in the same day? Anybody else have their son walk through the door after practice and say "Food?!" 27 times? Finally, after a sandwich, chips, a kid's boost, a couple cookies, a glass of milk and several glasses of water, the bottomless pit was satiated.

I revel in the fact that he's most concerned about not letting his teammates down. He tells me with meticulous detail about everything that went right and wrong at practice and how he's got it worked out now. And you know what? I believe him.

The focus level is remarkable for a 12 year old kid. Nicholas knows he's part of something special and I believe the team gets it too. The realization of just how unique this moment is, probably won't hit until much later in life. I suppose as parents one of our objectives is to help them make the most of this season and enjoy the heck out of it too. We're all on a good start toward that end, end zone dance anyone? :)

Remember the old ketchup commercial? Where you waited and waited and waited for the ketchup to come out? That has nothing on this sense of anticipation. Hang on everybody, this ride is going to be something special!

...clicks play...

...again...

...dang, when's our first game???!!!

Looking forward to the big team bbq on Friday. Put on a good show for the parents.

RAH! RAH!

Looking forward to a great and winning season! Thanks Coach Ron for the RED HOT Blog site!

RAH! RAH! love your Firebirdettes!

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GO BIRDS!

The Preseason

Hang tough. The efforts you put forth in the pre-season will have a huge impact on your success in the post-season. I look forward to watching another epic season of Firebird Football.

RON BROCK