Dear Editor:

Friday night, Nov. 14, 2008 will forever go down in Callaway High School history as the night that their Cavaliers made “The Stand”.

I have played the game of football at high school and college levels, I have watched the game of football for in excess of 40 years and I have never personally witnessed the imposition of one team’s will upon another as I saw Friday night. Greater Atlanta Christian High School football team was one of the best coached opponents that I believe Callaway has ever faced. The entire game they pretty much ran the ball at will between our tackles, thanks to a well coached and motivated offensive line. Callaway matched G.A.C. at every turn, yet once again went into the locker room at half time down 14 to 12.

What the Callaway coaching staff did with the team and what that team did in the second half will pass on into Callaway football legend. We as fans did not see two football teams compete on the field, what we witnessed was one football team against a family. Yes, the Callaway football team has achieved what most other sports, military and business leaders dream of and strive for…a family atmosphere, an atmosphere where the whole is much more important than each individual part.

This is achieved through inspired and selfless coaches/mentors. What we witnessed at Callaway Stadium on that Friday night was the emerging of the “Callaway Nation” . We owe this achievement to some young, motivated and selfless coaches and players. Those of us who have children on this team and under the tutelage of these fine young coaches are seeing our young men grow up before our very eyes.

Who else could take a young man that wanted to play quarterback and turn him into a proficient signal caller? Who else could put the fire down deep in this one young man’s soul so that when he took his first snap, fumbled it away pounded the turf in frustration, jumped up, ran off the field and told his coach that he wanted back in? How many of us would have tried to blend into the background after that failed first attempt? I, for one, probably would have.

How then does this young man become one of the quarterbacks that is part of an undefeated Junior Varsity Team, the same team that was down 19 to 0 against Pike County, also undefeated, and comes back in the second half to soundly claim victory, thus setting the scene for the varsity team on that Friday night. This is but one example of how this group of young, determined coaches has had such a positive impact on this group of young men.

These young men are rapidly progressing toward manhood through the efforts of the fine and honorable coaches, teachers and administrators who currently reside at Callaway High School. There is more to life than football, but the lessons learned out there on the field, competing day in and day out with a group of young men that come from such a varied background as to define the very essence of the United States, will stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.

Not only do we revel in their accomplishments currently on the football field, we look forward to “The Rest of the Story” as these young men leave high school and make their mark on our nation in the future.

Each and every one of these young men, coaches and players alike, need to understand how much we love and cherish them. Their continued high level of commitment, and continued sacrifices make us proud to be part of the “Callaway Nation”.