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12/5/2005 The MHSAA football championships are now in the books and the record will show that of the 256 teams that qualified for the 8-Division tournament, 248 will go home as losers. Not in the strict sense of course, but they’ll have the bad taste of losing their last football game. For seniors, it will be the last HS football game they will ever play. But there should be no bad taste, ever… Only cherished memories. Most of us are in the same boat regardless of gaudy records and great performances… We agonize over losing. But, the older you get, the more you realize you simply can’t define the privilege to compete as a situation that only relegates winning vs. losing. In fact, most dudes my age would love to suit up and play one more game. Just one more time. That’s why the story that took place in Texas last month blows my mind. Coach Herc Palmquist was sick of his Texas Christian HS and their 2-5 record, so because he was so desperate to win a football game, he managed to recruit a handful of ex-college players (honest) to suit up for one game against rival San Marcos. Later, San Marcos’ players admitted something looked fishy as their opponents took the field and many had tattoos, goatees, and looked ‘big as hell.’ Leading 18-0 at the half, Coach Palmquist looked like he was on the way to his much-coveted victory when he had a rush of consciousness. He ‘benched’ his college recruits in the 2nd half and ended up losing 26-18! He found himself answering so many questions about these mysterious players, he got cold feet. For the record San Marcos finished their season 7-4, and they too, lost their last game, with dignity. Winning will never make Coach Palmquist a winner. On the field of football, and in the game of life he set the example as one of a cheater, and a loser. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The privilege to play and give it your best makes you a winner, regardless of the outcome. Someday, you’ll be my age, and you’ll wish you could strap it on… just one more time, win or lose… Just as long as we don’t have to show up for practice the next day! (c) 2005 Novi
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