High cchool football is back in full swing throughout B.C. after the labour dispute between the provincial government and teachers pushed back the start of the season.
Students, coaches, parents and fans of the game are just glad to have it back. Football season is a sprint, as it lasts only four months, and this results in bonds between players being forged fast and friendships that last for life.
Recently, I talked to Matt McGarva, current BC Lions player; Brandon Klein, current captain of the Langley Rams junior team; and Spencer Huot, former high school football captain, about high school football. Questions from me are in bold, their answers follow.
First of all, what do you miss about high school football?
McGarva: “I miss the interaction between all the student body and sport. Representing a school (especially in college) is something that you can never replace, the pride you have is something special. Being around guys for such a large part of the day and having them experience the same daily schedule and routine is something that brings guys so close together and creates a real family.”
Klein: “I miss the camaraderie. It’s like no other level. You get to see your teammates everyday and then go to battle with them on a Friday night”
Huot: “I miss the feeling of being on a team with a common goal and struggling to get there together. I also miss how game day made me feel. I have never felt it since.”
Klein: “I mean, playing junior, I get that camaraderie thing as well, but it,s just not the same, plus the pride of fighting for your school’s honour was a big deal to me.”
McGarva: “You battle against each other and support each other so much more at the high school level because there are no egos or money involved.”
Did high school football shape who you are today in any way?
Huot: “It played a huge role on who I am today. It taught me how to be confident and mentally tough, how to deal with adversary and made me a better leader.”
Klein: “Football gave me something no other sport did, that one major thing was discipline. I was in a pretty rough state with my anger management before football came into my life, and at the high school level it came at the right time. When I was really able to grasp it and hold on to it, to the point where it meant a great deal to me. Respect for others and people in a position of a leadership role and confidence also in myself rose as well.”
Matt, was high school the most pivotal step in getting you to where you are today?
McGarva: “High school is probably the first of three or four major steps. It’s the first step that can’t be missed at least. One cannot play previous to the latter part of high school and may never miss a beat and won’t miss out on each opportunity that can come later. It’s the first real taste of complete commitment and teaches you the time management necessary for the further stages of football and schooling. Along with that it’s a huge part in developing discipline and encourages hard work to kids during a stage where they want to be lazy and give in to other social pressures.”
And finally, would you guys like to coach high school one day?
Huot: “I would like to coach, one day.”
McGarva: “I’ve coached at Lord Tweedsmuir the last two seasons, so yeah. Not sure how much longer I’m going to be able to do so full time but as long as I’m able to I would love to coach high school, especially at Tweedsmuir because it was a huge piece of me becoming who I am now and I owe tons to all the parents and coaches who put in time back when I played.”
