Real Heartbreaker

Real Heartbreaker.  That was the headline in Marcus Hood's article in Saturday's Temple Daily Telegram describing Temple's loss on Friday night against Harker Heights.  While the article did an excellent job of summarizing the game's events, it was only one of a few heartbreakers that night.

Following the game, I made my customary trip over to the locker room to visit with the coaches and players to try to provide them with a little encouragement.  After making the rounds, I stopped to briefly visit with Coach Brad Gunn before heading home.  While talking with him, one of the Wildcat players asked Coach Gunn to go back out onto the field to get Joseph Pickett, the Wildcat kicker who had missed a 45 yard field goal as time expired.  Walking out of the locker room, the scene looked like something from a movie.  There, on the half lit turf of Bob McQueen field, was Pickett, kicking field goals from the spot that he had misfired from at the end of the game...He had been kicking for over half an hour.  Watching him continue to pound football after football toward the west end goal post, my heart broke....then swelled with pride.

To be sure, no one is going to confuse the 2010 version of the Temple Wildcats with the 79 or 92 squads, but they do have something in common.  They are great kids who play hard and want to win.  They just haven't yet.  This lack of victories has caused many to not only question everything in and around the program, but more importantly, to quit coming to the games to support the team.  That is the real heartbreaker. 

Wildcat "mystique" is often spoken about in the community to describe Temple's ability to pull out victories when faced with seemingly impossible circumstances.  While the former players and the coaches deserve a great deal of the credit for this "mystique", the great Wildcat crowds certainly contributed as well.  Anyone who has ever competed knows the feeling and adrenaline that a big crowd can provide.  Occasionally, it is even enough to give a team that is struggling, or out manned, a little extra push that could mean the difference between winning and losing a game.....like last Friday night. 

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." - Thomas Edison


We could all learn a lesson from these Wildcats in determination and perseverance.  I thank Joseph Pickett for reminding me of this.  They haven't given up and neither should we.  I encourage all Wildcat fans come to Belton Friday to support your Wildcats...and bring your "mystique".