Don’t mess with Texas
A fellow coaches wife and I always smile when we remember the year our team made a run at the state championship. With each passing game, we piled on one more sweater and moved 10 yards down the field because of the growing crowd (winning does that 
). By the time, we played in the state final game, we were on the 5-yard line, 20 rows up and five sweaters deep. Last week, we were involved in one of those “end-of-season-both-teams-must-win” situations to make the play-offs, which meant a huge crowd. Normally, the huge crowd would have boosted my enthusiasm, but all I could think about was - that meant more trash. In an effort to teach my kids “how to work” I volunteered to clean the stadium (we did get paid). It was a humbling experience - that’s all I have to say. So, in an effort to educate crowds heading out tonight to support their teams, here are some hints to make the cleaning crew happy come Saturday morning. 1. Throw out your trash 2. If you can’t throw it out, leave it in the stands. Sliding it through the bleachers so you don’t have to see it anymore is death for cleaning crews. There are ants down there, licking their chops waiting for their next soggy bowl of nachos to make their way down and who are still there Saturday morning when someone reaches down to pick it up and throw it out! And, they hurt! There’s also a great number of metal bars that get in the way when you stand up and unwittingly smack your forehead against, and you subsequently blurt out something that you have to explain to your 10-year-old who you originally signed up to teach a lesson. 3. If you are trying to quit smoking, good for you! However, since you will be chewing nicotine gum or something similar, and I imagine, you will be chewing a great deal of it, find something else to do instead of wrapping it up in the 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch wrappers they come in and chunking them over the stands. 4. Sunflower seeds, peanuts — I love ‘em. They are an exception to rule no. 2. All kidding aside, as I looked at the field Saturday evening (I finished the last game by myself — basketball scrimmages and birthday parties) I took pride in my work. The long day gave me time to think, time to exercise (bending, bending and more bending) and it gave me time to think of the fresh start. A season completed, also means that its time to look forward to the next season. And that always brings hope. Losing is the pits. And putting away the equipment for the year always depresses the Coach. But he always looks forward to pulling it out again next year. It’s what keeps him going. Good luck in the play-offs, but remember not to mess with Texas (or a Texas Coaches wife)
What a memorable description! I could feel each reach and bend. What a good way work through the yucky feeling of a loss. I'm excited for your children who will have these memories too. They will tell their children ("You wouldn't believe what Mom had us do").Thanks for putting it all into words.
Just wanted to say "GO GIRL!" Nothing drives me MORE CRAZY than a coach's wife and her family not picking up their trash. HELLO! Talk about getting on the bad side of the custodians, volunteer parents and other school board members who have to clean up at the end of the night. And, of all the people in the stands, we need to take pride in our field and our school.
You are setting a great example and your children, although maybe not midst the actually chore, will appreciate that you have instilled in them great values!
Thanks for your kind words. Last night as we were leaving the basketball game, the coaches wife mentioned at the beginning of the story, nodded at some nachos on the floor and asked if we were cleaning this up too? I told her, 'no, we were through.' Also, no. 2 son, asked the same question earlier. I think he was relieved.