LETTER: Kids need to hear positive comments

To all you Fremont High football fans (also to all you negative bloggers): I just wanted to voice my opinion on all the blogs and letters being written.

As I stood on the sidelines in North Platte a couple of weeks ago with a lot of disappointed fans and, most importantly, kids (kids that means 18 years or younger) and with my son; both very emotional.

As I stood there, I thought back on the last nine years of watching my son play football. Most of the kids out that night started playing with my son in third grade. It is unbelievable that it is all over with a blink of an eye.

Sure, there were some calls made by the coaching staff that were questionable. Sure, there were kids that didn’t play with all their heart. Sure, there some seniors that didn’t get to play the whole last three or four games. But all in all the kids played well together and, most importantly, they had a lot of fun together.

Twenty years from now these kids won’t remember their school record or how tough the coaching staff was on two-a-days. These young men will remember the friendships they had through the years and laughter on the sidelines.

It all starts early in their life; it starts with the attitude of the parents. These kids need to hear positive comments at home, which will influence the attitude on the field on Friday nights.

I personally want to thank Coach Meyer and all the other fine coaches on a job well done the last four years - it’s been a blast.

We all need to take a step back and take a deep breath and be positive this coming year. Stop with the negative talk at home, on the street and, most importantly, in the newspaper and blog columns. The kids are watching and listening.

Vince Lombardi once said, "Winning isn’t everything; wanting to win is."

Thanks again, coaches. Also a special thanks to all the parents who worked very hard before the games raising funds on the grill.