‘But words will never hurt us’
With the regular season concluding and the playoff season in full effect, the Reitz High School Panthers are ready for the competition.
However our boys have been getting a lot of unwanted criticism. But up here on the hill we know that our boys can handle everything that’s thrown their way.
“I just accept it and try to learn from the talk. Those words are there to help us and not hurt ,” said senior Darrion Fletcher.
Photo by Kyra Williams
“ I mean come on, stick and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me,” laughed Fletcher as he thinks about some of the comments.
In the last half of the football season the team has had a lot of criticism. Towards the coach and the team, criticism is definitely in the field house locker room.
“Some say we’re over rated and that we’re just going to be remembered as the team after the state champs left, but we have the determination and the drive to make this season our season and step out of the shadows of last year’s team,” said Max Carnahan.
“Criticism is something that I just take and learn from it. I don’t see it as someone trying to hurt my feeling or as them putting me down, I see it as them trying to make me better,” said Carnahan
“Last year’s team was amazing. But this year’s team is just as hard working, just as driven, and maybe even more passionate for the game (if that’s possible). Haters are going to hate,” said junior Alordo Bell.
While last year’s team won the championship, this year the Reitz team is more passionate for the game.
“Yes, they say we’re overrated but the people who talk bad about the Panthers before the game about how ‘overrated we are’ shut up after the four quarters are over and they look up at the score board and see who has the most points,” said Bell.
“I really don’t pay attention to it (criticisms), we just listen to it and try to learn from it,” said Junior Jeffrey Hudson.
Hudson has had a lot of criticism towards him lately. On the message boards some think that our all-star receivers need to live up to their all state potential.
“I don’t agree with that comment. I give 110% every game and just as long as we come out victorious as a team, it shouldn’t matter what one all star receiver does, just as long as the whole offensive line does their job, which as you can see from our stats we are definitely doing,” said Hudson.
This was proven to be true at one of the Panther’s biggest games of the year, the Mater Dei vs. Reitz game.
Our boys came out ready for a fight and to the unexpecting Mater Dei team; our boys of Reitz High School shut them down. With a final score of 26-0, Reitz was named the city champions and now are in position of the coveted West Side Nut Club trophy.
Walking in the hallway I heard Mrs. Harrington talking to some of he players from the football team.
“This is when it all counts. Lets bring home another championship,” said Harrington.
As the players shook there heads nodding yes and hurried off to class, it was obvious that the boys were ready and patiently awaiting Friday’s (10-24-08) game against Northview in the first round of the sectional championship.
“This game should be the start of a lot more games. We are driven to play all fifteen once again. I mean come on, my ring is lonely. I expect to have another from this years season,,” said Jeff Fentress.
