Waverly Football Gains New Perspective
Sheridan Parker
Staff Writer
Some people would find it unusual to see a basketball coach giving the football team a pep talk before a game. It’s even stranger to see a math teacher doing the same. However, head varsity football coach, Tim Williams, just calls it beneficial.
The football team has hosted what they are calling “honorary coaches”. The athletes nominate inspiring faculty members to encourage the players before they go under the Friday night lights.
Williams adapted the idea, and used it for the team.
“It’s not my idea. A guy that I know that used to be ahead coach did it at another school, did it to get the staff more involved which is why I did it,” Williams said.
The team chooses the honorary coach each week, and the choice is solely up to them.
“I believe the players like it because they talk about who they think should be the next one [honorary coach],” Williams said.
It lets players look at their teachers in more than just the usual way.
"It allows the players to see teachers in a different light, as opposed to what they see in the classrooms every day,” Williams said
Anthony Harms, a strength and health teacher, gave a heart-touching speech on sacrifices, a couple of weeks ago.
“I wanted them to understand the importance of team and what that stands for. A team is like a family and family sacrifices for one another. Many sacrifices have to be made during the season,” Harms said.
However, the players are not the only people to benefit from this new program. The teachers can learn from it also.
“I learn from the players all the time when I watch them compete,” Harms said. “I learned that we have some very high integrity kids on our team, by watching how they reacted to heart breaking loss after the game.”
The lessons the athletes are learning from the teachers extend far beyond the football field, and into the real world.
“They are motivating and have got a great message, and not just a message geared towards football, its geared towards life which is exactly what these kids need to hear,” Williams said.
Endured struggles inspire these “honorary coaches” with what subject they will breach with the players.
“Fritz talked about how he lost his leg, and he talked about how he wanted to play basketball and how it was the hardest thing he had ever had to do," senior Jon Murray said. "It was just interesting. We are allowed to play, and we are privileged to play, and he couldn’t play and he hated that so he worked hard.”
The "honorary coaches" speech can also be relatable.
"I came up with my speech from personal experience and thought it would fit well with where the team was at and who they were playing,” Harms said.
The players continue to look forward to the future “honorary coaches”, and what they will have to say.
“We’re going to have more female teachers speak, and I think it will be interesting to see what they have to say,” Murray said.
This new tradition has been over the entire season, neverless it is now wrapping up.
“I really enjoyed the experience of getting to talk to the players. I wish them a successful end to the season,” Harms said.
We can’t wait to see what an impact these “honorary coaches” will have on the rest of the season.
