Keep Things in Perspective

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

EAST TEXAS – For the vast majority of high school athletes, dreaming of making it to the next level is a part of every practice and every game. Unfortunately for most, the dream remains just that – a dream.

That’s not to say if an athlete puts in the work, strives to do their best on every play, has a little luck, avoids injury and excels in the athletic arena they won’t have a shot at playing ball in college or even possibly at the professional level.

However, fans and parents of these young athletes need to keep things in perspective. It is a rare thing indeed for a high school football star to make the leap from a Class AA, AAA or AAAA school in East Texas to the DI level or the NFL.

Palestine High School is the largest high school in the area and the Wildcats have sent less than 10 players to play in the NFL. The Wildcats have been playing football since 1910. If an average of 30 kids per year played football in Palestine that would equate to over 3,000 players. If 10 made it to the pros, that’s still less than one percent.

Keep things in perspective.

Parents – while your son may be the apple of your eye, the odds are he will not be the next Adrian Peterson. Yes, he may be good and yes he may be the best player on the field but truthfully if he can’t crack the five second barrier in the 40, he’s probably not going to get a call from Nick Saban in Alabama.

Encourage him to do his best, console him when things don’t go well, but above all, be honest. Do not set your son up for failure by setting unreachable expectations. Because if you do – and the scouts from A&M, UT or Baylor never show up – you will have created the potential for a bitter young man at the age of 18.

Keep things in perspective.

Two-a-days started for most schools in the area on Aug. 7. Some kid probably came out of nowhere and turned a few heads during the first weeks of practice. Then, he exploded on to the scene in Week One, Week Two or whenever.

Unfortunately, the budding high school superstar will make a mistake. Excuses will be made on his behalf such as “He’s only a freshman,” or “He’s so young and he’s still learning.”

Fortunately, most will learn from their mistakes. There are those select few, however, who learn their athletic prowess will allow them to – literally – get away with murder (see O.J. Simpson).

Regardless of a person’s abilities on the gridiron, they should be held to the same standards as everyone else.

If the returning all-state safety and the third string quarterback of your high school football team are equally culpable of breaking the law or violating team rules, both should receive the same punishment.

Say the punishment requires being kicked off the team, both should be cut. If it merits a one game suspension, both should be suspended.

That’s not always the case. Often times the all-state safety is given a slap on the wrist while his figurative “partner-in-crime” – the third string quarterback – is given his walking papers.

Keep things in perspective.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].