[Football1]

Been a tough year for the Diamond side of Panther Nation for sure. Started with a bang. Casey tossed 3 touchdowns in a half for a big team win. Rarely see that from a hs QB at any age never mind a Fresh. Then tossed another TD in game 2 and watched his fellow Fesh kick game winning FG. Break out the story book... LOL. Then Coach Russell made the decision to go with a different option - understandably when you are a run program facing a tough schedule and that is your wheelhouse. So be it - we agreed to disagree. And I stand in support of him despite that disagreement.

Then a kid launches himself headfirst into Casey's head. Boy did that change things for me. Seeing my precious son laying there. Face numb. Unable to move for fear of paralysis. Ambulance.... Backboard.... Prayers... CT scan - and good news - he walked to my car. I was never so happy. And still find myself giddy just watching him walk around. Today - I pray he walks away from this game - forever. Really. Of course I will support him no matter what.

Two years ago Codi (KC Class of 2011 / eldest Diamond son) lost 20% of his senior season when a TN ref ejected him for throwing a punch. He did not - but that is the refs job. Two D1 colleges walked away from the recruiting process. Big penalty to pay for nothing more than pushing a kid off you. Today, a player can launch himself like a missle at a kids head - head first - and all that can happen is a 15 yard penalty. I don't even blame the kid who did it nor the kids who do it every Friday night. They are coached for the big hit. Does a kid ever get pulled for taking an action that could end another kids life? Never. That is why in 10-20 years football as we know it will be gone. Lawyers, insurance companies, and parents with kids in wheelchairs will see to that.

So can KC beat Mercer? Don't know. I just pray that every kid who steps inside those stripes does so knowing that a helmet is designed for protecting your memories, your ability to add, your mom and dad's name, and the capacity to know your own children someday. It is not a weapon and a free license to take all those gifts into your own hands to make the "big hit". If that happens and we win - great. If that happens and we lose - so be it - lets train.

Dave Diamond
[email]cdavediamond@gmail.com[/email]