Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
Outside, underneath the cover of clouds, the air is thick with the heat and humidity of a late June morning. Inside, it is hot and almost stifling, despite the running of fans. The weight room clangs with the sound of metal plates hitting the floor. The groans and shouts of young men can barely compete with the blaring music, there to take one's mind off the pain that builds character and a will of iron. Then there is the smell. The heavy, pungent fragrance of sweat that gives evidence of the effort being exerted. Above are photos from the past. Photos of those Cowboys who have come before and have endured the same struggles and more. Cowboys who have earned the highest mark of achievement through the same sweat, pain and toil. This is not a time or place for those who are faint of heart or weak of character.
According to the rules of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) these summer conditioning workouts cannot be mandatory for those wishing to play football. Yet, every summer, dozens of young men voluntarily show up to push their minds and bodies to the limit in preparation of the upcoming football season.
The mental preparation that takes place during the summer workouts is just as important, if not more, than the physical conditioning. “It's controlled chaos,” says Madison County High School (MCHS) Head Coach Mike Coe. “We make it much more chaotic than during games so when game time comes around, the guys can handle it.”
Building endurance in these young bodies is crucial to the long-term success of the program. One can see evidence of that during games in late October and November when other players are spent and winded, the Cowboy players are still fresh. This conditioning regimen is instrumental in preventing injuries as well.
These young men of summer realize that goals are not met and championships are not won under the bright lights of November on Boot Hill. They are won under the blazing sun of June and July.