The name on the FRONT

When Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to their first Super Bowl with him at the helm they elected to do something different.  They decided to be announced as a team, as 'The New England Patriots', and forgo the individual entrances that are tradition.  They were underdogs, and won convincingly.

Recently, the Aptos JV and Varsity played Clovis East, at their venue.  During the JV game some parents realized none of the Aptos players names were being announced, so they took a roster to the press box.  The announcer told them it was their policy not to give individual credit to the opposing team.   Whether that was, or was not, school policy is irrelevant.  The reaction of the parents is what matters.

They displayed shock that their sons would be so blatantly "disrespected".  They displayed anger Friendliness and Hospitality the Aptos Sports Coalitions subscribe to.   And Clovis East kicked the crap out of both teams.

that their sons would not get the individual recognition they "deserved".  They were dismayed that Clovis East didn't adhere to the same principles of

Not one of the parents expressing concern had a son who didn't start.  Not one of the parents whose child sat on the bench got involved.
No one is entitled to respect, or recognition.  Both are earned.  They carry the most weight when paid to the team.  When we walk into an opponent's stadium we do it with the objective of leaving one name left on their minds: The Aptos Mariners.  

One of the primary reasons games are scheduled against teams in the Central Valley is the adversity the boys are guaranteed to walk into.   Those games are scheduled so the boys will learn how to bond, as a Team, against the hostility shown to any opponent, and they learn that by leaning on each other.  The Clovis East announcer didn't say "We won't announce the names of YOUR sons". He said "It's policy not to announce the names of ANY opponent".  That's not personal, even if the Aptos parents see it that way.   It's a tactic to give home field advantage.  And it worked.

Our boys will need to learn to surmount that adversity if they want to compete for titles larger than League.  They never will if Mommy and Daddy fight the battles for them.  They never will if Mommy and Daddy tell their sons they deserve respect before they've earned it.  You earn it by entering that environment a 'nobody', and exiting  victorious.  Watching Mommy and Daddy write emails to the Athletic Director doesn't accomplish that.  If you disagree, ask your son to write the letter himself:

Dear Clovis East A.D.

I think it's rude, and disrespectful,

that you didn't say my name every time I made a 

good play.  I really feel I deserve individual recognition for the things I do, even if my team lost.  You should change

your policy so the boys who play well on the opposing

teams are respected, and so our Moms and Dads can hear our names called, because it really means a lot to them.  More than it does to us."

If our sons want respect in those places they'll need to earn it through the effort they give as a team.  They'll need to decide they want it one way, and one way only, and that one way does NOT involve the intervention of Mommy, or  Daddy.  I know this because I asked the boys how they feel about the emails, and Facebook posts, that are being written around this 'issue'.  To them, it isn't one.

We tell our freshman running backs that if they get into the endzone untouched, they can't take any credit.  If they get in untouched it's because ten other guys (whose names will NEVER be announced) did their jobs, and executed their blocks.  We teach them to respect the team concept, because this is a team game.  If you want to fight 'disrespect', and 'injustice' ask that the boys who make the BLOCKS for those whose names ARE announced, be announced along with them.

This game is about the name on the FRONT of your jersey, not the one on the back.

We are the Aptos Mariners.

Speech from "Miracle": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nR3reKPE5Y

"Name on the Front"

*The NFL mandates that visiting team members are NOT to be announced on gameday.