An Open Letter to the Washington High School Football Team
The scoreboard doesn't tell the whole story
Dear Washington Panthers,
When I read the article about your football team in the South Bend Tribune, I was inspired.
You might find that surprising. Many of you are probably disappointed with your record this season. And honestly, you have the right to be. Losing isn’t fun. Nobody practices all week and walks onto a football field hoping to lose.
But what inspired me was your hard work. Your teamwork. Your positive attitude. Your willingness to keep showing up despite the score.
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| Rashad Taylor, from South Bend Tribune. |
"When we’re around each other, everything gets better. We don’t lose our focus, and everything stays together. We’re just one big family going against anybody.”
Rashad, I hope you and your teammates understand how important that is. What you described is about so much more than football.
I grew up playing sports, and now I’m a parent of kids who play sports. I don’t remember the scores of most games I played, or most games my kids have won or lost. But I remember the experiences, the teammates, and the lessons.
That’s what I want my kids to remember. It’s what I hope you remember, too.
We don’t play sports just to win or lose, especially in high school. We play because of what they teach us. And sometimes we learn a whole lot more from losing.
When we win, it’s easy to assume everything we did was right. We overlook mistakes or excuse bad behavior because we came out on top. Losing makes us stop and pay attention.
So pay attention to what you’re learning right now.
You’re learning that showing up matters because you gave your word and your teammates are counting on you. Being part of a team means being responsible for more than yourself.
You’re learning how to get knocked down and get back up. Believe me, that will happen at work, in relationships, and with your family. If you walk away every time life knocks you down, you’ll miss opportunities you never knew were there.
And you’re learning to reach out your hand when someone next to you falls. To remind them they’re not alone. To help them prepare for the next play.
That lesson will serve you long after football ends.
I’ve been fortunate to accomplish things I’m proud of, personally and professionally. But those accomplishments came after failures. I’ve made mistakes, let people down, and had people let me down. If I had quit during those moments, I would have missed some of the greatest things in my life.
Today, much of my work involves helping small business owners. The most successful ones aren’t the people who always get things right. They’re the ones who get knocked flat on their butts, get back up, and say, “Whew! Well, let’s not do that again.”
Then they figure out another way.
They ask for help and offer it to others. They have a bad month or a bad quarter, and they adjust. They learn. They try something different.
That’s what you’re learning to do.
Washington Panthers, there are people in this community who see you. People who recognize the courage it takes to walk onto that field every Friday when things haven’t gone your way. People who understand that your record doesn’t define you.
Years from now, I doubt you’ll remember most of the final scores. But I hope you remember that your teammates counted on you, and you were there.
When you walk onto the field for your next game, remember the young man standing shoulder to shoulder with you. The teammate counting on you to do your job. The guy who might need your hand getting back up and who will offer his when you need it.
Long after the final whistle, those are the lessons that will matter.
From where I’m standing, you’re already learning how to win at something much bigger than football. Life.
Keep showing up, Panthers.
People are watching. And some of us are inspired.
Sam Centellas
Edit: Extra pictures from Bryan Ayala
