It's always tough for teary-eyed teenagers to field questions from reporters stuffing recorders, cameras and notebooks near them after losing the biggest game of their life.
The Black Hawk football team's 37-14 loss to Bangor in the WIAA Division 7 state championship game was a lesson in sportsmanship and winning and losing with dignity. The Warrior Nation fans from South Wayne and Gratiot were overwhelming. It was a lesson in a small town living, loving and embracing their team. In an age when cooperative football programs and eight-man football teams are growing at small schools, Black Hawk coaches and community members need to be lauded for treating their players like rock stars.
Black Hawk was the smallest school to run out of the tunnel at Camp Randall Stadium, with its enrollment at 107 students. The community and team embraces being a small fish in a big pond. It may not be as dramatic as the Gene Hackman movie, "Hoosiers", but there is a special connection between small towns and their football teams. It's a feeling of ownership and pride. That comes from having a big support group.
"Our kids themselves, they kind of have a chip on their shoulder when people talk about that small-school thing," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "In fact, we have a saying hung up in our locker room that says 'be big-school at a small school.'"
Having a big community support is a major reason many students want to play football for Black Hawk. In an era where some schools are losing players due to concussion fears and head injury worries, the Warriors, like many teams in Wisconsin, have high standards when it comes to being a supportive and educated fan. The parents of players are not the only ones who make a commitment when their son decides to play football. It's the parents who shuttle them to practices, games, wash their uniforms. It's the parents who provide team dinners that are full of memorable moments. Many players need to thank their parents and families for helping them with their fundraisers at the start of the season.
"What it does is it speaks to the level of support for the kids in the community," Milz said. "Our community makes them feel like it's worthwhile to play football and be a part of something like this. They play really hard because they don't want to let the community down."
As a former high school football player for the Sterling Golden Warriors in Sterling, Ill., I know how much team
dinners can mean to football players. They are some of the best times bonding with friends and establishing a culture of teamwork and winning. I can recall my senior season in 1994 when we lost in the state quarterfinals, the empty feeling and finality of playing the last game. For many parents, it will be their final football game they attend for decades and years. I'm reminded by this because my Sterling Golden Warriors are ranked No. 2 in the state, and will play Chicago Phillips in an IHSA Class 5 state semifinal game Saturday. My father, who was a longtime health teacher in Sterling, hasn't been to many games since I was in high school. I called him this week and asked him about going to the Sterling game Saturday.
The Black Hawk football players displayed their sportsmanship and showed how they can lose with dignity without becoming a disgrace. Despite a tough loss in the state championship game, Black Hawk players were not seen throwing their helmets, sulking or sitting on the sideline arguing in frustration. The Warriors took the lead from their head coach and assistant coaches - stay calm under fire.
There are many values to learn from playing a team sport like football. Teenagers can learn teamwork, self-discipline, respect, communication to name just a few. However, the most important value student-athletes can learn is winning and losing with dignity.
"This one stings because they are competitors," Milz said. "We always talk about being resilient. They are young enough that they will bounce back. In about hour, they will remember how good of a season they have had."
The Black Hawk football team's 37-14 loss to Bangor in the WIAA Division 7 state championship game was a lesson in sportsmanship and winning and losing with dignity. The Warrior Nation fans from South Wayne and Gratiot were overwhelming. It was a lesson in a small town living, loving and embracing their team. In an age when cooperative football programs and eight-man football teams are growing at small schools, Black Hawk coaches and community members need to be lauded for treating their players like rock stars.
Black Hawk was the smallest school to run out of the tunnel at Camp Randall Stadium, with its enrollment at 107 students. The community and team embraces being a small fish in a big pond. It may not be as dramatic as the Gene Hackman movie, "Hoosiers", but there is a special connection between small towns and their football teams. It's a feeling of ownership and pride. That comes from having a big support group.
"Our kids themselves, they kind of have a chip on their shoulder when people talk about that small-school thing," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said. "In fact, we have a saying hung up in our locker room that says 'be big-school at a small school.'"
Having a big community support is a major reason many students want to play football for Black Hawk. In an era where some schools are losing players due to concussion fears and head injury worries, the Warriors, like many teams in Wisconsin, have high standards when it comes to being a supportive and educated fan. The parents of players are not the only ones who make a commitment when their son decides to play football. It's the parents who shuttle them to practices, games, wash their uniforms. It's the parents who provide team dinners that are full of memorable moments. Many players need to thank their parents and families for helping them with their fundraisers at the start of the season.
"What it does is it speaks to the level of support for the kids in the community," Milz said. "Our community makes them feel like it's worthwhile to play football and be a part of something like this. They play really hard because they don't want to let the community down."
As a former high school football player for the Sterling Golden Warriors in Sterling, Ill., I know how much team
dinners can mean to football players. They are some of the best times bonding with friends and establishing a culture of teamwork and winning. I can recall my senior season in 1994 when we lost in the state quarterfinals, the empty feeling and finality of playing the last game. For many parents, it will be their final football game they attend for decades and years. I'm reminded by this because my Sterling Golden Warriors are ranked No. 2 in the state, and will play Chicago Phillips in an IHSA Class 5 state semifinal game Saturday. My father, who was a longtime health teacher in Sterling, hasn't been to many games since I was in high school. I called him this week and asked him about going to the Sterling game Saturday.
The Black Hawk football players displayed their sportsmanship and showed how they can lose with dignity without becoming a disgrace. Despite a tough loss in the state championship game, Black Hawk players were not seen throwing their helmets, sulking or sitting on the sideline arguing in frustration. The Warriors took the lead from their head coach and assistant coaches - stay calm under fire.
There are many values to learn from playing a team sport like football. Teenagers can learn teamwork, self-discipline, respect, communication to name just a few. However, the most important value student-athletes can learn is winning and losing with dignity.
"This one stings because they are competitors," Milz said. "We always talk about being resilient. They are young enough that they will bounce back. In about hour, they will remember how good of a season they have had."
