Game Day again – this time it counts (last week was pre-season). Â Kick off at 1pm, players show up at 11am. Â I knew this would be different than last week. Â 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. Â 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. Â 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. Â 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. Â 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. Â We went on to win 55-0. Â 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. Â 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