Truer words have never been spoken about our little Bantam Raider.
That's him in the picture above....an open field tackle on the quarterback by a small but very skilled #44. On this play, Winston broke through the line and chased down the Redskin QB for a sack. If you'll click on the picture for a closer look, you'll see he is completely air-borne....he needed some extra height to get the advantage....so he leaped for it. You better believe this picture's a treasure in our house!
We are 3 games into our 2nd season of tackle football and while Winston would tell you first and foremost, his team is currently undefeated and one win away from a playoff berth, his very proud Mama would tell you that already on more than one occasion he has shown his signature sheer will to "get it done" regardless of his challenges.
The fact is Winston is small in stature. Playing for the 2nd year in this division, he's still one of the 2 smallest players on the team. He weighs 50 pounds on a good day. To give you some perspective, we have a player on the team who weighs in at 172 pounds and this my friends, is NOT an exaggeration. It's on the roster - he was weighed by football "officials" on draft day. That's over 3 times Winston's weight. You can imagine my concern as his Mom, the potential for injury to Winston playing tackle football in a sea of enormous boys. Because Joe is a coach and goes with Winston to practice, I am not up against that "potential" day in and day out at practice but I do see the collisions on game days...and wow, sometimes they are a bit too much for me.
Do you see the size of those brutes coming at my boy?? Thank goodness small also means agile and quick...he can usually outrun the beasts heading straight for him.
Sometimes I watch through my fingers covering my eyes but ALWAYS I say a prayer for his safety on the way to the game and I follow that with a prayer of praise when I am delivering my boy home after a safe night on the football field.
We are a football family through and through - if there is a football game on, it's on our TV and at least three (poor Lilly) of us are watching and discussing. I cheer for those hard hits on the tube.....but I cringe when it's my boy!!!
I cringe allot...as you see - my boy's helmet is the first in the lineup there...that's his nature, he's usually the first in position and the first to cross the line when the play starts...he loves to be in the thick of things and make something happen.
And when he makes it happen, he's the first to run off the field all puffed up and proud about what he and his team accomplished.
So I digress....back to my point....
#44 is small but let me tell you this - he's not small in heart or in confidence or in his ability. He's had some huge plays this year, averaging almost one big play a game - plays that get your attention and everyone else's too....even the referees have commented on Winston's abilities despite his size. He's been carried off the field by his Coach twice after game-clinching saves for his team -- Joe and I have been brought close to tears watching him receive the praise and accolades from his teammates and his Coaches. When people ask if I am #44's Mom, I proudly say "YES, I am"...a few times it's been followed by a comment like "That boy leaves it all on the field" or "He plays with heart".....truth be told, a win is great but I'll take perseverance and will over wins and loses any day.
So you don't think we might be disillusioned....we are definitely not idealistic about Winston's football career -- he's smart, fast and is naturally athletic but we aren't waiting by the phone for football scouts. We are simply enjoying this season in life, watching him have great fun in a sport he loves.
The rewards are great for us all
For Winston - it's the fun on the field and OF COURSE getting a big win
For Joe and I - it's the frequent glimpses of hard work, determination and spirit of our small but oh so BIG boy.
Winston's latest celebration -- he was carried off the field by his Coach....after he forced a fumble on the final play of the game against a very stout Vikings Team. (and if you're keeping track, it's the ONLY time I'll cheer against the boys in purple and gold!)
