Touchdown Club newsMarch 2008

Blue Valley Tiger Football

TOUCHDOWN CLUB Blue Valley High School6001 West 159th StreetStilwell, KS 66085-9204

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Tigers turn the pageTough season comes to an end

Blair Kerkhoff, KC Star columnist (and Tiger dad), writes about football and the BV community

For so long, we’ve written about Tiger domination in this newsletter…how the fur and feathers of our opponents littered football fields after we ate them for dinner. This season it was us who found ourselves a bit scabbed and scarred. Some time has passed since we wrapped up the 2007 season; by now, we’ve had a chance to lick our wounds and reflect... We eked out wins over Manhattan and Hays. Maybe they weren’t perfect, but we still had the magic. The one point loss to Bishop Miege was a fluke, wasn’t it? We were better. Everyone said so. Then came the Aquinas game – and the rain. The downpour was prophetic. We struggled that night and found out that our Tigers were merely mortal. Our players rode home with wet uniforms and soaked spirits. The following week we faced Blue Valley

North at our house. We knew they were far better than their 0-3 record, and they had a dangerous running back that could do serious damage. But the home crowd cheered life back into our battered souls. Abundant touchdowns and raging defense were the order of the night. After two consecutive losses, the Tigers were back in high style with a 41-0 shut out! Then Blue Valley Northwest came to our place sporting a big win over Aquinas the week before. They could move the ball through the air, and they were playing with confidence. We played fairly even, but the game eventually slipped away from us, much like air escaping from slashed tires. Huskies 17, Tigers 14. District play began, and the Ottawa game appeared to be just what the doctor ordered. The chances for a win were good against a weak and understaffed opponent. And win we

did! There were big smiles and high fives all around as new Tiger stars were born and a record number of points were scored. A victory to be sure (76-32), and it was the first step inproceeding to the playoffs. Next up were the Gardner-Edgerton Trailblazers who had been somewhat inconsistent all season. If Blue Valley won this District game, it would assure us a spot in the playoffs. But the Blazers went for our jugular. They had us back on our heels the entire night, and that’s where we stayed. Gardner won 21-12. Even though our playoff chances were not entirely dead, there were rumors during the week of the Blue Valley West game that theTigers’ spirits were very low. It was disturbing to think that our team might not rally for the fight against our neighborhood archrival.

72008 Varsity schedule

Downpour during the September 21 game at Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Lots of photos

POST-SEASON HONORS - CONGRATULATIONS TIGERS!

KANSAS CITY STAR 2007 ALL JOHNSON COUNTY TEAMSecond Team

Offense – Ryan MillerDefense – Jay O’Dell

Honorable MentionOffense – Matt Otterstedt

Defense – Tyler VanGerpen

2007 ALL EAST KANSAS LEAGUE TEAMFirst Team

Offense – Ryan MillerDefense – Jay O’Dell, Tyler VanGerpen

Second TeamOffense – Matt Otterstedt, Luke Rampy, Parker Runyon

Defense – Matt Wilson

Honorable MentionOffense – Anthony Abenoja, Brice Barnard, Conner Combes, Chris McDermott, Michael McIntire

Defense – Christian Ensz,Travis Hyde, Brett Newell, Parker Scafe, Danny Schons

(continued on page 3)

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I often get not-so-friendly correspondence from folks who assume they know where I attended college based on something I’ve written as a sportswriter for the Kansas City Star. Missouri fans believe I attended Kansas, or KU fans are sure I went to Kansas State, and others think I’m a Nebraska or Oklahoma guy. It’s a good sign when everybody’s griping and nobody knows that I went to Appalachian State. When pressed about my rooting interests on the job the standard answer is “me.” As in early starting times, fast games, interesting story lines and anything else to make my task easier. True story: While fans were marveling at Ohio State’s incredible upset of Miami, Fla., in a see-saw game to win the national championship about five years ago, the press box became unhinged with maniacal sportswriters having to write, then rewrite and rewrite their stories. One fellow nearly flung his laptop out the window. Nobody cared who won, just that somebody needed to win. Now. The point is, I couldn’t imagine living or suffering through the fortunes of a team in my job. I get enough of that in real life. We all do as parents of high school athletes. Our sons and daughters won’t understand we think about the games or get as nervous about competition as much as they do, or that, in our own way, celebrate successes and are saddened by defeats like them. No, our kids won’t get that part until they watch their children participate, and here’s hoping mine will someday share the same joy and pride my wife Karen and I feel when we watch ours in Blue Valley uniforms. At football games, I usually stand at the top of the bleachers, on the north side of the press box. I suppose that’s the sportswriter in me, wanting to see the action from the highest possible vantage point. But that bird’s eye angle offers some great views of other things. From there, I can see a family cheer when their son’s name is announced for making a tackle. A chance to cheer for your kid, that’s a great moment. From up high you can see coaches interact with players, players trying to figure things out for themselves and whether we got enough yards for a first down.

You can spot the empty parking spaces. Here’s a tip for late arrivers - there are always spaces available. Before the new locker rooms were built it was the best place to see the team march single file from the school to the stadium. They still exit that way, and I usually stayed at the top to watch the team accept back slaps from the students and parents. But I also saw something from the field level that blew me away. Blue Valley does Senior Day before the opening game, and when Karen and I walked on the field with our son Nate, I couldn’t believe the sight - packed bleachers, wall-to-wall black shirts, and a warm reception for each of the seniors.

It made you feel special and got me to thinking nobody does football around here like Blue Valley. Not just the on-field success, but the entire package. The support from the parents, the involvement from the Touchdown Club, and everything else that goes into making Friday night an event. In our suburban sprawl corner of the county, Blue Valley football pulls together the neighborhoods like no other force. Following our team on the road for the past few years, I didn’t often see this same sense of community at other schools. I started taking our children to Blue Valley games in the mid-1990s, and it became part of

our Friday routine. You get to know your neighbors who have kids on the team or in the band or are cheerleaders. Then it’s your kids in a uniform, and you realize how tightly woven you are in the fabric of the whole thing. Those are the meaningful moments I’ll take from Nate’s final year of football. The season didn’t turn out like we had hoped, but every experience provides a lesson. One year you ride the wave of a state championship; the next you deal with disappointment. Both cases prepare you for life.

Our family enters a new phase of Blue Valley football. No more wondering if our son is going to see action, make a play or get hurt. That last part will make Karen happy. Me? I plan to continue seeking out a spot at the top of the bleachers to watch the neighbor’s kids play and their parents cheer. It’s what a community does.

Football is the Blue Valley Community

“It made you feel special and got me to thinking nobody does football around here like Blue Valley. Not just the on-field success, but the entire package. The support from the parents, the involvement from the Touchdown Club, and everything else that goes into making Friday night an event.”

Reflections from a senior dad... 2008 VARSITY SCHEDULESeptember 5 at Manhattan

September 12 at BV Northwest

September 19 SALINA CENTRAL

September 26 at BV North

October 3 BISHOP MIEGE

October 10 SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS

October 17 at Olathe North

October 24 OLATHE SOUTH

October 31 at BV West

OTHER IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2008

SEASON

Pittsburg State Camp June 8-9-10

University of Arkansas July 11 & 12 7-on-7 Invitational Tournament (Varsity)

BVHS Tiger Camp July 21-28

More details about summer activities will be available at Coach Rampy’s Spring Football Meeting in mid-May.

The 2nd Annual Tiger Football Alumni Night was held on Friday, October 5, 2007. It was a beautiful evening for football and a great night for an alumni reunion. A tailgate party was hosted by Culvers, thanks to 1989 alumnus, Jon Clark. Former players from the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s were introduced on the field before the game and recognized once again for their contributions to Blue Valley football. Those in attendance included:

1970s - Chuck Jorgensen, Darrel Dougan, Johnny Ray, Mark Neighbors, Mike Keegan, Rick Lorimer, Bob Eldridge, Dan Kirk, Bonnie Lowe,Tom Lowe, Rick Souders, David Lowe, Greg Gillard, Don Hanna, Doug Stabenow1980s - Bob Svec, Scott Ready, Richard O’Keefe, Mike Gillard, Paul Shahrokhi, Thomas Meyer, Bernie Heffernon, Jim Kudlinski, Brett Round, Erik Miller, Mike Stang, Mike Turner, Bill Lane, Jon Clark 1990s - Matt Buzzard, Eric Driskell, Travis Worley, Tim Smith, Jason Duffy, Tony Kerr, Anthony Orrick, Nic Madelen 2000s - Robert Nitschke, Peter Brown, Becca Browar, Curt Alderman, Neil Hyde, Ben Ehret, Brock Souders, Drew Mikkelson, Hank Driskell, Jake Osmundson, Mason Haggerty, Matt Delair, Miles Jaben, Miles Owens, Nate Wiechmann, Ryan Heil, Scott Hill, Tyler Mikkelson, Will Conway, Zach Rampy.

Former Tigers Return for Alumni Night

Thank you to the alumni who attended and especially those who traveled to join us. If any of your contact information has changed, please contact Cathy Schons at jhawkcathym@att.net with updated information. Please pass on this information to any other teammates with whom you may be in contact.

by Blair Kerkhoff

TOUCHDOWN CLUB2008 Board and Committee ChairsChairs Sue Rassette 851-0421 Cathy Lodes 402-9626Co-Chairs Debra Crouch Megan Marr Secretary Pam Wilson Treasurer Janice Specht Membership Marrissa Hyde Social/Physical Needs Kathie Stang Spirit Decorations Trish Rusnak Sponsorships OPENEvents/Fundraiser/Banquet Kimberly Gearon Historian OPENNewsletter OPEN Webmaster Don RunyonMerchandise Beth Cox Concessions Lori Siebert Public Relations Susan Conway Voice Mail Cathy Lodes Class Reps Senior Gail Ensz Junior Linda Chesley Sophomore Brenda Smith Amy Briley Freshman Margaret Gibson Heather Heizman

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Obviously, something happened before game time to ignite the Tigers’ spirit. Our players exploded through the pre-game banner with a passion and intensity we hadn’t seen for a while. They played tough. Never gave up. Never played like it didn’t matter. Although we eventually lost the game, we had found our Tiger pride again. Life is full of ups and downs, and we don’t always win every game. Maybe what we learned from this season is that we have the ability to persevere in the face of loss and disappointment. Starting now, it’s a new season. For the players coming back next year, get your best Tiger game face on and get back on the gridiron to shred some fur and feathers! It will be a great year to be a Tiger!!!!

Tigers turn the page (continued from page 1)

To be a Senior Mom is to be both the most proud and most sad person at the stadium each week. Most of us have supported our little men since grade school when they resembled bobbleheads dashing onto the field. We’ve hollered and cheered for our boys no matter what the score was. We’ve washed mud and grass stains out of pants and jerseys thousands of times, and more recently picked little black rubber turf pellets out of our cars, entry halls, dryers and socks. We’ve held our breath while our hearts sank as our son was the one that didn’t get up after the last play, trying to resist rushing onto the field to “mommy” him in front of the team. Then we’ve iced, bandaged, elevated and healed them well enough to go back out to that field to battle the next opponent. Being a Senior Mom is a tough place to be. You’re so very proud of that varsity player giving it all under those Friday night lights, all the while knowing that a chapter of your life and his is coming to a close. Most of our sons will not go on to play college ball, but they will think fondly of all their BVHS football challenges, accomplishments and memories. Some may even be sitting in that college classroom next August, smile, then groan as they remember “Wow, I could be doing two-a-days right now!”

Senior year is best and worst for momsReflections of a senior mom

by Kelly Braathen

This year’s freshmen had a really good season. We had a total of 82 freshmen that played with us this fall. We decided the best way to handle that many players was to have three freshman teams. We had our A team and then we had a Black team and a Gold team. The Black and Gold teams were divided up evenly and each had a successful season. The Black team had a record of 5-3. In each of the three games that we lost we had the ball with a chance to win at the end of the game. The Gold team finished with a record of 6-2 and won their last 5 games. The A team finished with a record of 8-1. They had a very successful season that was highlighted by a big win at the end of the year against a Gardner team that had not lost a game since they were 5th graders. Overall, we finished with a record of 19 -6 and played a lot of football! We are very excited about what this group of players will do over the next three seasons.

comments by Coach Larry Lindsay

Valuable lessons were learned by this season’s JV team. We as coaches challenged the JV squad each and every game to improve, and that is exactly what they did. Our defense, offense, and special teams showed tremendous improvements each week. One powerful experience this season was an exciting come from behind victory against Saint Thomas Aquinas. The guys had to put their hearts and souls into the victory. After the game the smiles on their faces were priceless. Nothing can replace the feeling of leaving everything you have out on the field and walking away proud and victorious. The JV team finished with seven wins and one loss. Winning is a great habit. This team has internalized the habit and tradition of winning games. However, the greatest lessons were learning to earn victories by playing together with great passion, emotion, and enthusiasm.

comments by Coaches Eric Driskell and Greg HouseJV learns to reach deep for wins

Victory is a habit for three freshman teams

The next Touchdown Club meeting will be

Monday April 7, 2008

7:00 p.m. BVHS Library

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Blue Valley 14 BV Northwest 17

Blue Valley 41 BV North 0

Blue Valley 3 Saint Thomas Aquinas 23

Blue Valley 12 Gardner 21

Blue Valley 76 Ottawa 32

Blue Valley 9 Blue Valley West 28

Many heartfelt thanks to the talented and generous photographers who have contributed to this newsletter this season: Jim Ehret, Kelly Braathen, Mike Mikkelson, Mickey O’Dell. These photos have been enjoyed by players, coaches and parents and will provide all of us great memories over the years.