In the fall of 2011, our Mason County Royals finished the season at 2-8, on October 21st. Forget about Thanksgiving Day practice… we didn’t even make it to Halloween.

It was depressing. John Combs had just completed his freshman season of HS football. We had been spoiled by winning, and so this was tough to take. 

We decided that we needed to make it a positive. What was something that normally we did not do, that now we could do, because we had plenty of time on our hands?  I kept telling myself (hoping)…. ‘In the future, we will be busy in November. Now is the time to do something we normally would not be able to do.”

As long as I can remember, I have been a Notre Dame fan. My sons have become Notre Dame fans as well. We decided we wanted to see the Fighting Irish play. Dustin Grutza had played for Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly at UC. Dustin helped us to not only get tickets but to get to take the recruit tour on game day.  We got up there Friday afternoon so we could attend the Friday Pep Rally on campus.

We got to see the Irish defeat Boston College and it was one of the best things we have ever done. It was so good, we decided we would go back. As it turns out, we have attended the last Notre Dame game of the season, six seasons in a row. And, fortunately, our Novembers have been much busier. In three of the last five seasons, our teams have reached the state quarterfinals ( 2012 & 2013 at Mason and 2016 at Mercer).  

Trosper is still recovering from a football injury and travel is very difficult for him, so John Combs and I made the trip this past Saturday.  By the time we arrived, my brain was spinning. Our season had come to an end the night before. It had been a great November to that point with an outstanding group of kids & coaches.  I am very proud of the way our guys finished the season in the playoffs.  The emotions of the previous 24 hours combined with making that drive on 3 1/2 hours of sleep makes me look back on that particular game, and even the entire season, and think, “did all of that really just happen?”

Being on that campus and in that stadium is like being on holy ground for a football guy. It is overwhelming to think about the great teams, players, and coaches that have worn the navy & gold for so many decades.  The wind chill was 27 degrees and the snow was blowing pretty good in the stadium lights. It was very cold, and it was great. We stayed for every play.  We watched a great game, but unfortunately the day did not finish with an Irish victory.

We are already making plans to return for the 2017 Navy game. I am hoping that one day I will return from our Notre Dame trip and prepare for a semifinal game.  That would be the ideal November!

Whenever a coaching friend has a season end sooner than they expect, I share this experience with them. We took a miserable November, and turned it into a huge positive.

I think if Stephanie ever wants to get me out of coaching, she will have to put an end to these November trips to Notre Dame. The tradition I see before my eyes takes me back to being a little boy and watching the Irish on TV with my Dad. It reminds me of when my love for the game of football developed at a very young age. It reinforces for me so many things about the game of football that I love.  It helps me to appreciate the kids I have coached over these past 25 years and all the coaches & players that have crossed by path since I was first on a sideline at four years old.  It makes me very thankful I get to coach football and helps me get more excited about getting home and getting back to work.

Merry Christmas, Count Your Blessings, Go Irish!