Winning takes every Burnet football player

When the Burnet High School football team earned its first victory of the season, a 31-28 thriller against Little River Academy Sept. 12, Bulldogs head coach Ben Speer emphasized it took every player on the sideline to get it done.

And that includes those Bulldogs who may not be on the field as much under the Friday night lights.

“I got to talk to some of those guys,” he said. “I just really love on those guys. Some of those seniors and those guys, they keep showing up. Our whole team model this year has been show up. I’ve got seniors out there, and they don’t see the field, but they’re still here.”

This win was during the homecoming contest and Speer indicated he and his staff had wanted to substitute freely throughout game to spread the minutes around more.

But the Bumblebees (0-3) had other intentions. Because of how close the game became, starters stayed in until the outcome was certain.

So as Speer reflected on how his Bulldogs won the game, he pointed out a big part was the encouragement the Bulldogs spread around, no matter who was on the field.

“It’s hard to show up in the morning when you play 80-70 plays,” Speer said, pointing out players’ bodies are bruised and can be sore after a physical contest. “If you’re not getting in, you’re like, ‘Oh, I still got to go up and run. I still got to lift weights.’ It’s homecoming, you got the win. But how about those guys that show up every practice and practice hard, but they don’t get the opportunity to get in and run, and they still show up?”

He noted “the showing up” is easier for those who get the reward of playing under the spotlight that is Texas high school football. And the program’s rules of attending position and team meetings, studying film and scouting reports, practicing hard and staying on top of school work doesn’t change for anyone. Speer noted that players have the option of quitting since sports is a choice.

“Yeah, they can,” he said. “But what does it say about a young man? ‘I’m still a part of this. I’m going to sit there.’ I have one man, a young man this morning. He was so hoarse.”

That’s because that Bulldog made it a point to cheer on his teammates from the sideline and celebrate great plays with them as the game played out.

“And I just told those guys, ‘Man, I just want you to know how much we appreciate you as a team, as a coach,'” Speer said. “There’s no doubt that every single one of those guys want it. When they cheer on their teammates, sometimes they have to understand the role they have, and it’s still, it’s up to us as coaches to make them feel valued — teammates as well — to understand that. And I wanted to brag on them in front of their teammates and make them realize ‘wow, coach is right. They can quit and go to work or just go to school. They still choose to get up there, get out here, give it their best.’

“And when maybe mom, dad, the world or someone says, ‘It’s all right if you don’t show up if you didn’t play – it’s OK to go away,” he added. “But they keep coming back. We know that they may not see the field. We hope to be in a situation later down the road where they can, we can get them out there. I think those are exciting moments. Guys get to get out there and do something, and their teammates just love that because they understand the value of the hard work they put in. It’s one thing to do it all week all the time and get out there and be a part of it. It makes it easier for you. But it says something about their character and staying part of the team. I think that’s going to carry them down. It’s the lessons they’ve already learned. They’re showing their peers and even us as coaches that they’re still here and they’re still showing up and they’re still working.”