This is so well written and so poignant I had to repost this! Thank you Kris Cumnock for the beautiful words! What should a high school football season yield? I pondered that thought as I reflected on the 2013 Titan season during the drive home from AT&T Stadium on Thursday night. My conclusion is…this was actually a perfect season. Now, before you dismiss me as knowing nothing about football, hear me out. I understand the 2013 Titans didn’t go 16-0 and win the 4A Division I Championship. I was at every game, so I know the statistical results. But, despite a 9-3 overall record, I think there were many aspects about this football season that made it “perfect”. If we step back and look at the “big picture” of high school football, we realize just how much of a collaborative effort it is. I’m a drill team dad (as well as the Executive Director of the Tom Landry Classic that Centennial will open the season in the next two years) and I can’t tell you how much I look forward to watching Abbey perform each week – what an amazing blessing it is to see your daughter’s hard work on display each Friday night. We also get to host the drill team members at a squad dinner each season. Memories that will last a lifetime! I know most of you reading this also go to games to watch your kids cheer, dance, play, march, etc… Can you think of a better way to spend a Friday night AND won’t you miss it when next Friday arrives? It is also fun to watch the kids who make up the large student section (sans the baby powder) each week. Its great to see this peer support, first materialize, then grow throughout the season. This segue’s nicely into to the Titan Nation, that group (of which you are a part of) that provides unmatched support, week in – week out. The Titan Nation has been built over time and consists of current students, former students, parents of current students, parents of former students, and people in the community who simply support the local school. Not every school has a “Nation” of support. In fact, very few do today. It’s a special feeling attending a Titans game – a family-type feeling that is absolutely a key ingredient in the success this program has enjoyed over the past four seasons. Make no mistake about it, the Titan Nation is special! Lastly, the life lessons learned from athletic competition helped make this season “perfect”. Not many predicted CHS to win a third straight district title – not after losing a multitude of players to the ranks of college football. The 2013 Titans were predicted to struggle to replace those all-district performers with inexperienced and unproven players, including sophomores at cornerback and center, a quarterback who was a receiver in 2012, many players starting for the first time on varsity, and some players who moved in just prior to the season. This group couldn’t possibly uphold the legacy of past Titan teams…but they did. Along the way to that third consecutive district title were some great stories. When the Titans top receiver (Stoney Hawkins) went down with a pre-season injury, first year varsity performers Jackson Grimes and Devin McCord stepped-up to catch 103 passes for 1,344 yards and 12 touchdowns. Speaking of injuries, the Titans had five all-district level players miss significant time due to injuries. But each instance was seen as an opportunity, not an obstacle, and others stepped-in and performed to the standard of Titans football. When we had fears a heart-breaking overtime loss (Lake Dallas) would devastate this inexperienced group, they came back to outscore their next four opponents by a combined score of 155-59. When one loss (Wakeland) was followed by a top-ranked opponent (Frisco), the Titans banded together and made sure there would be no losing streak. And when their hopes of a third consecutive district championship appeared gone (down 11 with 4 minutes to go against The Colony), this group stood up and refused to surrender it. Perseverance, leadership, character, and desire. These traits are all forged when a group of people come together in pursuit of a common goal. Special kids, led by a special group of role models – who are also some of the most highly respected coaches in Texas high school football, created a legacy they can be proud of. We, the Titan Nation, were fortunate to be a part of this collaborative experience for the past 13 weeks, but now it is over. We will miss all of it, but we will forever have the memories of the 2013 football season, that in many ways (beyond just the win-loss record), was perfect. We will see you all on Saturday, August 30th at 7:00pm as the Titans begin the 2014 season against Highland Park in the Tom Landry Classic. Until then, remember all of the things that made this season special to you and your family, and be thankful you were blessed to be a part of it. Release the Kraken! Kris Cumncok
Posted on: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 21:47:00 +0000