Clay and Senior Night

I knew this night would be emotional for my son the minute I heard him tell me about Thursday's practice where the coach took the seniors into the stands under the press box and told them that this was what they would be seeing next year...they only have a couple more months and they would be watching in the stands...their high school years would be over.  I was so excited because my grandparents were going to come watch for the first time!  And to top it...when I heard our assignment of writing a letter to Tyler (from Ben and I) to give to him when we would be announced on Friday, I knew the tears would be flowing.  I could barely compose myself to write the first couple of sentences!

Senior night...filled with much emotion and tradition...I tried to take in all the sights and sounds that I would miss the most and even tried capturing some on my camera during the game.  Not sure I succeeded with getting all of them, but I got some.  You see, Coach Curtis made a new tradition that the boys write their parents a letter as well to give them on senior night...so we started senior night out with an exchange of letters :)

Clay was rough, a very good passing team that came back in the second half with a vengeance.  Mishawaka won 28-21.  Tyler felt like he had an off night...probably because of Clay's offense they run, but I am sure emotions were high as well and coming off a big win from last week was sure to interfere with concentration this week.  Tyler made some good tackles and missed some this week...but he made up for that with making the "Hit of the Night" on Fox 28 news!!!  His sack was pretty awesome!!!!

The boys fought hard.  I can't say I was any more or any less proud of Tyler than I am EVERY week.  He came out of the locker room in tears - obviously from reading our letters and hugged me very tight and sobbed.  It is a moment I will NEVER forget.  He and his closest team mates went and sat on the field in Steele Stadium knowing it was the last regular season home game.  They sat, they read their letters from their parents and they cried.  They sat, they looked around to take it all in, they were quiet and still, they walked and they talked together.  An awesome sight to see.  Something I will always remember.