Do Your Job: A Lesson Learned from High School Football

As a sophomore in high school I got inserted into the starting varsity line up as a Sam (strong side) linebacker. Injuries had taken their toll on the roster and I had the opportunity to make a name for myself. I had the game of my life, racking up 14 tackles (most on the team) and forced and recovered a fumble. Most importantly our team won the game and I had indeed put myself on the map with the coaching staff. 

The next week at school I was showered with compliments about how well I played. I was on top of the world, even the Junior and Senior girls were paying attention to me. During film session, my coaches informed my that once again I would be skipping JV practices and games this week and starting varsity. I was so excited to continue my dominance I couldn't contain myself. 

There was one slight change in my role, I would be switching from Sam linebacker, to Will (weak side) linebacker. Throughout the week of practice a lot of attention was given to me by the defensive coaching staff to ensure I understood my new responsibilities. We were facing off against a team who ran a Wing-T offense and very rarely ran the ball to the weak side. My role had switched from defensive star to containment specialist. Throughout practice I didn't think too much of it, but once game time rolled around I wasn't as excited to be in a new position.

Throughout the first half the ball hadn't been run to the weak side even once. I had no stats and in my mind I had lost the momentum I had gained the week before. Towards the end of the second quarter I started to forsake my containment assignment and started cheating down the line. By the end of the first half I had made 3 tackles. It was a far cry from the 14 tackles from the game before, but I knew that if I kept cheating down the line I could get the stats to be the star again.

During the halftime comments the coach who was in the box called me out in front of the team. "Bailey keep your containment, if you keep cheating we are going to get burned." My containment? The ball hadn't come to my side the entire half what containment was he talking about. He grabbed me again before me ran out and he pleaded with me to stay home.

As the second half kicked off I took the field in my spot on the weak side and continued to contain. The third quarter passed and the score was tight throughout the fourth quarter. The ball had made it's way to the weak side on a counter once in the second half, so my frustration with "containment" continued to grow. In the final two minutes we had a 3 point lead and the opposing team had the ball on fourth down. If we stopped them we would win and I knew that this was my time to make the play I had longed for all night. I knew they were going to run to the strong side and I was going to storm down the line and make the game winning tackle.

I timed the snap perfectly and sure enough the ball was handed off to the running back heading to the strong side. The back was slowed up by his pulling guard and I was in place to be the hero. As I charged up to make the tackle I saw the little used receiver running back towards me. The running back flipped the ball to the receiver on a reverse. Suddenly my stomach sunk. I reached out with one arm in attempt to make the stop, but it was in vain. The receiver scampered 70 yards into the end zone and my team was now losing. 

I laid on the turf not knowing what would happen next. Would my teammates hate me? Would the coaches cut me? What would my dad think? I was helped up and I ran to the sideline with my head hanging. The coach had made his way down from the box. He was waiting for me. He grabbed my face mask, pulled my head up and said, "do your job." He let me go and we cheered on the offense as they attempted to regain the lead. 

Luckily for me the team marched down the field and scored with 20 seconds left. The defense retook the field and I anticipated that I would spend the end of the game on the benched. Coach put his arm around me and repeated his advice, "do your job." The defense held serve and we won the game. I will never forget that game and the lesson that I learned. When you're part of the team don't try and be the hero. Be a part of the team and do your job.