Surviving the Aftermath

March 30, 2009

How can one think about football after a devastating weather event, such as a hurricane or tornado? In the wake of terrible tragedy, the loss of loved ones, an entire city turned upside down, how do you think about football?

You think about football because you need to. You have to. Anything to grant a temporary escape from the thoughts of loss and tragedy. Anything to take your mind away. The focus, commitment, and energy that football takes is a welcomed retreat, offering up a break from the painful memories. Any opportunity to feel a sense of happiness, of accomplishment, to be able to be there for your teammates, those are the dressings that begin to heal the wounds.

There are many examples scattered throughout the country of heroism, perseverance, and true courage. In a 2009 article by Molly Maloney on TakePart.com, she profiles G.W. Carver High School located in the heart of the Ninth Ward in New Orleans, the area most devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Maloney spoke with 23-year-old teacher and athletic director Brian Bordainick, who is determined to not only resurrect the football stadium, but inspire the entire community. Bordainick, was placed at G.W. Carver through the Teach for America program, which places recent college graduates in inner-city schools all over the country.

Maloney learns that after Carver was all but destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, including their athletic field. With their football team finally playing a game in 2008, the team was forced to practice on an abandoned lot. That concession alone says enough about the football players eagerness to get back on the field. Give us a sandlot, we’ll play some ball. It brings us back to our childhood days, where all we needed was a front lawn and a football, and we’d play well into the night, ignoring the fact that the streetlights went out hours ago.

Bordainick has established the Field of Dreams project, which is seeking to raise enough money to build a football field with a surrounding track, open to all public schools and community members free of charge. That last part was the most important. Bordainick is hoping to motivate and energize the entire community to rally behind the Field of Dreams project. By involving the entire community, Bordainick is seeking to galvanize and inspire the local citizens to use athletics to impact their area in a positive way.
According to Maloney, Bordainick has received many contributions from outside sources, and the national support has been great, but it pails in comparison to the efforts of those living in and around the Ninth Ward. His passion is contagious, and he cannot speak enough about the strength the community has shown in taking this tragedy and turning it into opportunity.

Not only do the high school athletes want to put the past behind them and focus on the future, they want to restore the winning atmosphere many were used to. Playing the game is great, winning can make all the wrongs in the world right again.

One such example of a high school football program attempting to restore their winning attitude is related by Neal Anderson in an article on Beliefnet.com. He tells the story of John Curtis Christian School and their coach J.T. Tucker.

Following the aftermath of Katrina, Coach Tucker evaluated the state of his program. He knew one thing: We have to press forward. Less than three years later, the Patriots of John Curtis Christian School were headed to Shreveport to play for the state championship.

In Anderson’s talks with Coach Tucker, his mantra was clear. “We can’t use the storm as an excuse.” Despite what his players have been through; the loss of possession, homes, and friends, Coach Tucker has not allowed these players to dwell on the past. He instead has chosen to steer these boys towards the future. Focus on the things they can change, not the things they can’t.

That seems to be the attitude among all the schools affected by events such as these. There is no one asking for pity or sympathy. No one looking for handouts. No one pointing blame.

There is only hope, unabashed determination, and faith. Faith that this has happened for a reason: To make those affected stronger; to bond the community and perhaps the country; to make these athletes better people, which is one on the great underlying benefits of sports in itself.

There is no doubt that the destruction caused by these events will be felt for decades to come, some say forever. However, because of people like Coach J.T Tucker and Brian Bordainick, the painful memories fade a little quicker, and the moments of peace and happiness come much sooner and are much more common.