6-1, 0-7

I went to a high school football game tonight. It was painful. Our local high school team lost for the seventh time this season. They are still winless. The team played well in the first half and had a double-digit lead at halftime. The third quarter was not pretty. This team is not an offensive juggernaut, so they must master the little things. This is not a team that can lose the ball on turnovers and still have enough margin to overcome its challenges. Our college team, on the other hand, is 6-1. The team lost its only game, in overtime, to the number one team in the nation. Since their opening loss they have been beating every team they play like a dirty throw rug. Football is just a game. I was reminded of that today when I heard about a high school player in Oklahoma who died earlier this week. But I believe that if you are going to play the game, you should take it seriously and strive to win. There are many life lessons we can learn from both teams. I remember speaking to our high school team prior to a game 20 years ago. I took someone with me - my young daughter. I talked to the players about overcoming the challenges they would face on the football field and in life. I had overcome challenges related to my daughter, who was born with Down syndrome and a heart defect. This was a challenge because before she was born I was the kind of person who would walk as fast as I could to another aisle in the store so I would not have to see people with mental or physical disability. I felt so guilty because I was so healthy. It was all I could do to cope. When our daughter was born, I had to change. I had to overcome my challenges very quickly. Some days were more difficult than others. The message to the team that night, and to this team next week if I were delivering their pre-game speech, was to keep working hard. Work through the trials you are facing. And believe me, there are plenty of trials in an 0-7 season. We can also learn from the college team. This team wins nine or 10 games each season. I don't know if they are feeling any pressure, but expectations are higher for them because all they do is win. To this team, and to you if you are having a winning season in life, I would encourage them to not get ahead of themselves. Stay focused, do the fundamental things better than anyone else, don't take your success for granted. You are as good as your last game. Today's Winning Thought: Whether you are 6-1 or 0-7, work hard and do not forget the basics. They will serve you well.