Winning Doesn't Make You a Winner (Losing doesn't make you a loser)

The Carolina Panthers are 13-0 and Cam Newton is winning hearts all across the country.

The Alcoa Tornadoes won another state championship in impressive fashion, holding the previously potent CPA to -1 yards of offense in the second half and to .7 yards per carry for the game. 

The Maryville Red Rebels came up just one game short of a perfect season, picking a bad night to have a bad night.

Same thing for the Greenback Cherokees who overcame a lot of things (coaching change, playing against private schools with lots more resources) to make it to the championship game.

Heritage's football team, under Coach Tim Hammontree, was much more competitive than in recent years.  They competed with each and every opponent, going toe-to-toe with pretty much everyone on their schedule.

William Blount came to play every night. 

All this leads up to my oft-repeated mantra that sports are life lessons.  The scoreboard doesn't tell the whole story.

I'm going to quote my friend and MHS football coach David Ellis here a bit but first, let me give you just a little background.

Every year, Coach Ellis puts an offensive line on the field that is a cohesive unit.  Fundamentally sound, his squad gets the job done.  Each and every year. 

This year that unit featured a 5'7" 190 pound right tackle (Josh Wall) and a 5'9" 175 pound center (brother Jacob Wall) alongside gargantuan guards Lakin McCall and Wes Ferguson and long and tall left tackle Harper Rose.

Not exactly your prototypical offensive line but maybe typical of MHS and Coach Ellis.  Maybe more of the type that it doesn't matter about the size of the dog in the fight as much as the fight in the dog.

Now back to that winning and losing thing.  Quoting Coach Ellis:  "Losing on the scoreboard doesn't mean you're a loser just like winning on the scoreboard doesn't make you a winner."

David Ellis is more concerned with building good young men than he is in building outstanding football players.  He wants to build good fathers, husbands, sons.

He defines football success as

1.  How good a teammate you are

2.  How good a practice player you are

3.  How coachable you are

Isn't that what makes good fathers, husbands, and sons?  If your team is your spouse or your family, isn't it important to be a good team member?  Shouldn't you do your best every day?  Doesn't it seem a good idea to listen to those that have your best interest at heart?

Coach Ellis is a pretty special guy.  He's the kind of guy that you want your son to play for (mine did).