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Peoria Patriots Win Big, No Thanks to Me

Game Day again – this time it counts (last week was pre-season).  Kick off at 1pm, players show up at 11am.  I knew this would be different than last week.  Last week I got a lot of playing time as the starter was willing to swap between each series – I actually played about half the time the offense was on the field.  This week would be different.

The first half, my team dominated the game.  I watched from the sidelines as we scored six touch downs (two by our defense) and a field goal.  Even though we missed two extra point kicks, we went into the half leading 43 to zero!

As we take the field for the second half, I know I’m going in and I’m excited.  The defense is lining up slightly different than we practiced, but the starting guard explained the differences to me and what to do in each situation.  I thought I understood what I needed to do, but when the ball snapped I blocked the outside linebacker into the play instead of away from it.  A few plays later, we punted the ball away (our first and only punt of the game).

When I came to the sidelines, I knew I messed up that play, so did everyone else, and even though we were well ahead on the scoreboard – the starter went back in and I ‘rode the pine’ for the rest of the game.  We went on to win 55-0.  While most of the team walked off winners, I felt more like a player on the other team.

On the way home, I heard Adam Lambert’s “Whataya Want From Me” come on my iPod.  A portion of the song spoke directly to how I felt and the message I want to give my teammates regarding my performance:

Just don’t give up I’m workin it out
Please don’t give in, I won’t let you down
It messed me up, need a second to breathe
Just keep coming around…

Just don’t give up on me
I won’t let you down
No, I won’t let you down