Have you ever noticed how some schools, especially small town schools, have a sports identity? When I was interviewed at Wheatland, I was taken on a tour that took me past a wall of trophies and pictures of state volleyball teams. “We’re a volleyball school,” I was told.
When I interviewed at Inman, and again at Hill City, I passed a similar displays and each time was informed, “We are a basketball school.”
Smith Center is football, Norton is wrestling. So on and so on.
This week, I had the privilege to attend the Kansas Association of Elementary School Principals annual Fall Conference. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Richard Ramsey, spoke about, “Meeting the Challenge of Change.” Dr. Ramsey had earned national acclaim for his ability to turn around several failing schools, and now he is a retired principal and active motivational speaker.
Dr. Ramsey was full of wonderful expressions:
“If you believe things can change, they will.”
“Care more than is wise. Risk more than is safe. Dream more than you sleep."
“T.E.A.M. – T.ogether E.veryone A.chieves M.ore”
“Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to achieve uncommon results.”
“Dream as if you will live forever, and live as if you will die today.”
“If you don’t like your day, try missing one!”
Dr. Ramsey was one of the most positive people I have ever met. I filled a page, margin to margin, with his positive message.
Afterwards, his talk got me to thinking about school sports identities, and, of course, about Ringneck football. (You’ll be happy to know that almost every principal I talked to was well aware of our recent grid iron success. We were a hot topic!). Dr. Ramsey’s point was that you have to believe to achieve.
While it is important to have good athletes, they have to believe they can be successful. Wheatland always had (at least while I was there) extremely competitive volleyball teams, even during years when the numbers were down. Inman and Hill City are usually competitive in basketball, regardless of who is on the court. Why? Because the coaches and players know the tradition and the expectation. Most of all, they believe they can be successful.
For that matter, Hill City is also usually very competitive in other areas, such as cross country, and Science Olympiad. All the years of doing well at the state level have our kids believing!
Now it is the time for the football team to believe. Dr. Ramsey’s talked about “Inch by inch – life is a cinch,” and “We may have to fight a battle more than once to win,” and “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.” These words describe the turn around of the football program, from five years ago when coach Shank was hired, through the losing, through the winning but not enough to make the playoffs, through making the playoffs but not advancing past the first game, to the big jump of making it all the way to the championship game this year.
And we are not done yet. Dr. Ramsey provided an apt acronym: “F.O.C.U.S. – F.ollow O.ne C.ourse U.ntil S.uccessful.” We are still following the course. Now, all we have to do is believe to achieve.
So believe, boys, believe. And know that your hometown believes in you, believes with you, and believes for you. Go Ringnecks!
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