This weekend, I sat down and watched what I could of one of the best football games of the year. The two teams consisted of young men that played for the love of the game. They played for the competition. They played for the pride of their university, and their country. Saturday the 113th meeting of Army versus Navy took place.
Navy has had a decade of dominance; they had won ten in a row heading into Saturday's matchup. Army hadn't had a particularly good season, entering the game with a record of two wins and nine losses. Navy, on the other hand, had had a decent season, entering the game with seven wins and four losses. However, the game was ultra competitive from start to finish. We'll just cut to the chase...
With just over a minute left to play and Navy leading 17 - 13, Army's quarterback, Trent Steelman, handed off to running back Larry Dixon inside the Navy twenty yard line. Something went wrong with the exchange and a fumble resulted. Navy recovered the fumble and Army lost for the eleventh consecutive year.
Trent Steelman is a four year starter at quarterback for the Army Black Knights. He has been the starting quarterback for four consecutive losses to the Navy Midshipmen. He could see victory just a few yards away; he could sense the chance to get the proverbial "monkey" off his back. He could see the chance to beat a rival in his last collegiate game. However, it was not to be.
I felt for Trent Steelman. On the sideline, after the game, during the singing of the Alma Maters, he was inconsolable. Who can blame him? When you put your heart and soul into something like that, when you give everything you have to accomplish your goal, when you try with all your might and come up short, it is devastatingly heartbreaking. Some may say, "Well, here's a young man that may lead our troops into battle and he is crying on the sideline." I say, "Show me someone without passion and feeling and determination, and I will show you someone I don't want leading our troops." Trent Steelman is a real man.
Today's word comes from Proverbs 23:12, NIV, which reads, "Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge."
Trent Steelman will be a great leader of men because he has been through adversity and learned from it. He will use the lessons he has learned on and off the field to be a better person out in the world. While Saturday was full of disappointment for young Trent Steelman, he has a solid future ahead. Yes, disappointment will come, but don't miss the lesson. By the way, with no disrespect intended, GO NAVY!
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
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