Chris Stonebraker
MaxPreps.com
High school football is a sport in which 14-18 years old boys are taught life lessons outside the classroom. It teaches them trust, commitment, hard work. It helps them grow into outstanding citizens in the community, and gives them goals to strive for. Football is not just a game, but a tool that, in the right hands, can build something everyone can be proud of.
The right hands are the six coaches in this week's CIF State Bowl Games. They are men that impact the lives of these boys in the most dramatic of ways during the most crucial of times in a young man's development. They give a father figure to those with none, they give guidelines to those that have never had them, and they give opportunity to those that might not get one elsewhere. They have worked seven days a week, for the past sixteen weeks, and this weekend their teams will be in the first state championship games in California in 79 years.
Coach Bob Ladouceur of De La Salle, told us yesterday that if he could give any coach some advice it would be, "Remember that you are out there to educate, you are out there for the kids." He also told us that he wants his players to, "Understand what it really means to play on a team." These words are coming from a coach that has led his teams to 15-straight section titles, and at one time a 151-game winning streak, making me believe that these aren't just words but a reality in the De La Salle program.
All these coaches have a great understanding of the fact that there is more to their job than winning football games. They recognize the importance of teaching these kids how to become "capable young men" as Coach Welch from Canyon stated. Coach Hansen wants his players to know that hard work pays off, and if you do things right and help others you will be a productive and important part of our society.
Coach Kunau of Orange Lutheran tries to serve the long term welfare of his kids and build champions for life by pursuing four core objectives. He tries to: help nurture and develop their faith, develop great character, achieve academic success, and lastly an excellence in competition. Cardinal Newman's head coach Paul Cronin wants his players to have all of this, while on top of it, leave with some great memories and leadership skills.
The games this weekend are going to be a great catapult to high school sports in California, but the real difference makers this weekend are the men that are on the sidelines. If you are a player, parent, or friend please tell them thank you for everything they do in the lives of our future leaders. Hope you all come back for the highlights of the game and commentary of the games from Mike and I.
