Like today, my tendency as an eighth grader was towards timidity, peacefulness, and reflection.  I feared conflict, I was generally non-aggressive. When my friend, John, encouraged me to play high school football, at first I was confused.  I didn’t consider myself particularly burly, fast or mean…you know, the football type, but he persisted.  As a football coach’s son, he already had a knack of finding football talents in those who didn’t think they had it.  He would later become a high school football coach himself (he was born to do it).  Anyway, I wasn’t alone on his recruiting list.  Once he recruited me, I helped him make sure that the talented prospects in our town came out and played some football.  During the years I played, our high school had some of its most successful seasons, due at least in part, to his recruiting and mentoring efforts.

However, let me return to my individual situation.  Continue reading →