Okay Boys, Tap the Breaks There.

Okay. It's Winter Vacation and I've really enjoyed not thinking about school. It's hard to believe, but I really haven't thought much about it. I'll probably start working on entering grades soon, but other than that, this is my time. Last night however, I thought about school and was reminded that even adults act like children and not in a good way.

It was after the drubbing "The Boys" received in Philly and I was watching the press conferences of the players. I will leave the players nameless, but I will say it was two big players that I would have expected more out of. At some point in each of their interviews, these two players insinuated that it was the play calling that was poor and that they thought it was not up to par.

Okay, tap the breaks there. I immediately thought of all of the students that I've worked with over the years (and their parents) who no matter what blame someone else. I understand it's human nature to blame others, but I don't like it one bit. I've tried to teach my kids that if they should have done better and they didn't because they didn't try then there's no one else to blame but themselves. It's a hard lesson to learn, but my mom taught it to my sisters and I and my husband's parents taught him and his sister. I know many people who, even though it's tremendously difficult to do, accept the consequences of their mistake and learn from them. Then they try not to make the mistake again.

I didn't hear any of that last night. The fact is, they MESSED UP ROYALLY. Who's to blame? THEMSELVES!!!! I mean, coaches call the plays but who in essence carries them out? Oh yeah, that's right THE PLAYERS!!!! It's like teachers and students: I can teach them what they need to know and how to think for themselves, but who in the end carries it out? THE STUDENTS. If they don't try as hard as they should and can and then stumble, who's fault is it? THEIRS. To get them to admit it and learn from it is hard, but if their parents aren't going to do it then who is? I've got nine months to work with them and plant the seed that will hopefully grow later on, but the nurturing is out of my hands (as it should be).

I understand that plays can be figured out and covered, but that's why many plays in football have several options. There's a main go-to guy, but there are several Plan B options available in the same play. I mean, okay, I'm not a football player so I'm not familiar with all the fancy "code names". BUT, I do know that if the other team is going to blitz, then by goodness gracious the other players need to alter their routes so that their quarterback can throw them the ball. Don't run your normal route of 20 yards, because the quarterback is going to have to get rid of the ball sooner than that. I didn't see team work last night from many of the players. Of course you did have Witten and Crayton who tried, but they're only 2 out of 11(that's about 19%) of the players on the field (sorry, slipped back to thinking about teaching - we left off at ratios and percentages).

So here's to a team that's really good at one thing right now - The Blame Game. Happy New Year and Off Season.