The Boys of Fall

Both boys are starting Jesuit tomorrow morning, one as a sophomore and one as a freshman (Kiddo).  As I was driving in this morning, The Boys of Fall by Kenny Chesney came on and the emotions it brought on were surprising.

The sophomore is going into his second year of wearing the gold helmet on the field.  I have talked about Friday Night Lights before, until this year, he was who we were there to cheer for, there to pray for.  He is kicking butt and taking names, and comes home every night with new bruises that make me cringe.  But the next day, he is ready to go at it again.  This year, Kiddo started his newest chapter as the manager for Jesuit Football.  He is on the side lines, not in a gold helmet, but just as much a part of the team.  He is learning the plays, analyzing the films, watching his fellow players to ensure they don't lose too much weight during the practices, working out with them in the weight room.  He would love to be on that field but it's not his strength, his is in the knowledge rather then execution. Both my boys are Boys of Fall literally through the song and I couldn't be more proud of them.

However, that is not what moved me this morning.  Yesterday was Vos Parates where Kiddo picks up his name tag as is the tradition for freshman and both boys got their school pictures taken.  Imagine 700+ boys in white button downs and ties from the waist up and athletic shorts and flips flops or sneakers from the waist down.  That was the scene yesterday.  I got to see my boys interact in the halls with their buddies, new and old.  Laughing with each other, chilling out on the hall benches (there are benches everywhere for the boys to hang out on and even in the 10 minutes I was in the school saving their nice shirts & ties from the locker room they managed to 'chill'), running through the halls rowdy, and the new ones learning the ropes.  Each of the boys are the boys of fall to me right now.  They are starting a new year, a new challenge.  Some are just in the beginning of their high school dream while others are seeing the 4 years come to fruition.  

My brother spent 2 years in those halls, and now my boys are spending their four years there.  They are dreaming big and ready to take on the world.  They want the ball - whether it be the football, or just the challenge of new friends, new classes, new clubs, everything the year will bring.  Yes, they all have butterflies about what the year is going to bring, even if they won't admit it.  They all have each other's back - you mess with one man, you've got them all.  They are the Boys of Fall.

Good luck Jesuit Men - you are now and always will be Men for Others.