Why should they lift, you didn't...
By Rich Winter
On Monday afternoon, as promised, I went to have a visit with Todd County football coach, Bob Kornely. Asked him about some of the good moments during a difficult season and then tossed it out on the table, "What does this team need to do to go to the next level and be a serious playoff contender?"
Without hesitation - 'Weightlifting." was this year's reply, the same as last year, and the same as the last ten years I've asked him the same question.
One of the first people I got really close to when I moved here was Clay Colombe. Big sports guy, fantasy football and a walking encyclopedia of Falcon and south-central South Dakota sports. We've had this conversation just about each and every year after the football season about what needs to happen for Todd County/St. Francis to take that jump.
We keep floating out ideas like:
* An entire class needs to enter high school with the mentality they're going to lift weights and get stronger, together, the entire class.
While that's neat, and needs to happen, you're telling me the fate of a football program depends on youth coming forward and making the commitment to do it the right way even though generations and generations of people that have come before them didn't do what you're asking them to do?
I almost feel bad that I keep bringing up Winner and the terrific tradition of lifting weights over there and how it's once again translated into a state football title. Just one more reminder to the youth that they are where they are and we are where we are. It's easy for Winner...Every person that's ever come through the program has showed up for those legendary, toughness defining weightlifing sessions. Scattered about on the hill, during home Winner games, are countless fathers and community members that have done the work and know that the kids on the field have done the work because that's just how they do it in Winner.
And yet, we're asking the local youth here to start the tradition on their own?
That's asking a lot and as we exit one more football season, how's that plan working out?
Same as last year, same as the year before.
To be fair, there have been some exceptional lifting individuals and classes come through. Chris Rahn turned himself into a monster, All-state football player, third in Class a wrestling, and the group around Clyde Colombe's age-group did some significant work in the weightroom?
Been a lot of heart-felt comments and suggestions following a blog I wrote last week about the TC gym needing to be opened up during the summer. One Administrator asked me to go back into the blog and BOLD...
Safe Haven for the youth:
Another, fairly recently graduated youth dropped my jaw with his commentary on the need for the gyms to be open - Lol I'm down to do it i wanna see tc football in that dome and they finally have a schedule to lead them on that path and not get scared come semis because there playing a "big white school" I went to a home game and was heartbroken by how small the crowd was compared to what it was like when I was in high school and that sf game was the worst game I have ever watched besides Skyler no one came to play I mean there's one thing about being a tc football player and that's beat sf and beat them bad there is no heart on that team I couldn't believe what I seen out there them kids looked they have never seen the inside of a weight room I don't see any reason why ?? doesn't have that gym open even if it's a few times a week in the evening they always say we need to find something for the youth to do so they stay out of trouble but of all the gyms on the rez not one is open I mean talking about it doesn't do anything action does and the youth these days are lacking guidance and sports can teach them that I mean besides a select few these kids dream about the next level but don't wanna put the work in that the next level requires and even if they do 9 times out of 10 they can't get into a facility it's a system that sets these kids of failure and nobody's does anything to change that
Yeah, me too - TRUTH
Alright, so what if the gym gets open in the summer? What if it gets open in the evening? Will it just be one more non, well-attended things where a few but not all show up?
Tell ya this, if you want to build a tradition, you've got to do it together.
What if all the fathers of all the incoming 8th graders joined in on the weight-lifing?
Hmmmmm....show em don't tell em!
