Comments on: Don’t Know Much About Football… http://blog.kellirocha.com/2009/12/08/dont-know-much-about-football/ Random thoughts and ramblings... Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:14:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: mama wright http://blog.kellirocha.com/2009/12/08/dont-know-much-about-football/#comment-41 mama wright Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:09:40 +0000 http://kellirocha.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-41 jennifer i totally agree with you, Brian was just like Clint football was his life. I was so upsett when I went to Craig's first game and I saw another kid with #60 jersey on, I just wanted to go up to him and tell him to "play with your heart and soul" just like my son did. It is such a strange feeling to go back to CCHS Football, Gridiron or any other things at CCHS, it's just a different group of people. I kept looking for the Haglunds, Trinklers, Hogans, John & Dana., Marty Stokman, Faria's on and on... Change is good... jennifer i totally agree with you, Brian was just like Clint football was his life. I was so upsett when I went to Craig’s first game and I saw another kid with #60 jersey on, I just wanted to go up to him and tell him to “play with your heart and soul” just like my son did.
It is such a strange feeling to go back to CCHS Football, Gridiron or any other things at CCHS, it’s just a different group of people. I kept looking for the Haglunds, Trinklers, Hogans, John & Dana., Marty Stokman, Faria’s on and on…
Change is good…

]]> By: Jennifer Haglund http://blog.kellirocha.com/2009/12/08/dont-know-much-about-football/#comment-39 Jennifer Haglund Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:19:35 +0000 http://kellirocha.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-39 I just got done reading your post's about football and I have tears in my eyes. I know exactly what you mean. When Clint was done with football after 12 years I think I took it harder than he did. I love football I grew up watching it with my Dad and Mom who was a big fan too. We went to Stanford games and stayed home to cheer on the 49'ers and the Bronco's too because John Elway from Stanford went to Denver. Clint could not wait to play pop warner football. He only played soccer until he was old enough for football and then never looked back. I took him to every practice and stayed the whole time. Partly because we lived so far away and partly because I loved watching him. In about the 5th grade my Dad introduced him to Mike Glines, he had heard all the stories about him from Kirk and Dad and wanted to play for him very badly. We started going to Mikes first sunday clinics at some gym in modesto. When he started at Central he was in heaven and we began a 7 year journey that would be some of the best times of our lives. I won't lie it was great being a parent of one of the star players. He rarely was off the field and made us very proud. To this day people I don't even know when they find out I am Clint's mom tell me stories about how much they loved to watch him play. He wanted to go to a good football college very badly. But as you know with his size he didn't get many looks and settled for a junior college. He had two more great seasons but it was never the same as at Central. He told me soon after he started "It's sure not a WE thing here". Easton was never as passionate about football as Clint but loved playing at Central too. I'll never forget when we went back to the first game the year after Easton graduated. It was very strange you feel like you don't belong. There was someone else sitting in the seats I had been in for 7 years. I hate to tell you this but once your son graduates it's pretty much over, it is never the same. It sounds like Steel took the MC loss pretty hard. Nobody wants to lose their last game, but really only one team in every league wins their last game. It's nice Steel let you share his grief with you. I remember Steve's Dad died in the middle of the night on a friday night in Sept. When the boys woke up on Sat am we had to tell them. They had no idea he was even sick and Easton had seen him the day before. Of course Saturday was Falcon Football day and Clint still wanted to play. During the pledge they acknowledged that Don had died and dedicated the game to him. I don't remember if we won or lost but after the game in the team huddle with the parents gathered around the Coach said some really nice things about Don and gave Clint the game ball. My very strong and proud boy turned to me and cried in my arms for about five minutes. It was a feeling I will never forget and I don't think I have seen him cry since. Thanks again for your posts I try to keep up with them and thanks for letting me ramble on. And remember life does go on without football (at least untill we have grandkids hopefully). I just got done reading your post’s about football and I have tears in my eyes. I know exactly what you mean. When Clint was done with football after 12 years I think I took it harder than he did. I love football I grew up watching it with my Dad and Mom who was a big fan too. We went to Stanford games and stayed home to cheer on the 49′ers and the Bronco’s too because John Elway from Stanford went to Denver. Clint could not wait to play pop warner football. He only played soccer until he was old enough for football and then never looked back. I took him to every practice and stayed the whole time. Partly because we lived so far away and partly because I loved watching him. In about the 5th grade my Dad introduced him to Mike Glines, he had heard all the stories about him from Kirk and Dad and wanted to play for him very badly. We started going to Mikes first sunday clinics at some gym in modesto. When he started at Central he was in heaven and we began a 7 year journey that would be some of the best times of our lives. I won’t lie it was great being a parent of one of the star players. He rarely was off the field and made us very proud. To this day people I don’t even know when they find out I am Clint’s mom tell me stories about how much they loved to watch him play. He wanted to go to a good football college very badly. But as you know with his size he didn’t get many looks and settled for a junior college. He had two more great seasons but it was never the same as at Central. He told me soon after he started “It’s sure not a WE thing here”. Easton was never as passionate about football as Clint but loved playing at Central too. I’ll never forget when we went back to the first game the year after Easton graduated. It was very strange you feel like you don’t belong. There was someone else sitting in the seats I had been in for 7 years. I hate to tell you this but once your son graduates it’s pretty much over, it is never the same.

It sounds like Steel took the MC loss pretty hard. Nobody wants to lose their last game, but really only one team in every league wins their last game. It’s nice Steel let you share his grief with you. I remember Steve’s Dad died in the middle of the night on a friday night in Sept. When the boys woke up on Sat am we had to tell them. They had no idea he was even sick and Easton had seen him the day before. Of course Saturday was Falcon Football day and Clint still wanted to play. During the pledge they acknowledged that Don had died and dedicated the game to him. I don’t remember if we won or lost but after the game in the team huddle with the parents gathered around the Coach said some really nice things about Don and gave Clint the game ball. My very strong and proud boy turned to me and cried in my arms for about five minutes. It was a feeling I will never forget and I don’t think I have seen him cry since.

Thanks again for your posts I try to keep up with them and thanks for letting me ramble on. And remember life does go on without football (at least untill we have grandkids hopefully).

]]> By: Kathy http://blog.kellirocha.com/2009/12/08/dont-know-much-about-football/#comment-36 Kathy Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:42:10 +0000 http://kellirocha.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-36 I just completed your poll last night. I have to tell you I was moved to tears by your two latest postings...."I don't know much about football" and the other blog you wrote about Steel's last game. They were both so moving. I have known since my RCIA days that you truly have a gift with writing and words and I would hate to see you give that up...at least for my enjoyment :). I saw you and Steel at the edge of the field last Friday and it was one of the most touching moments I have ever witnessed. The love between you was palpable. I wanted to capture it for you with a photo but did not want to interrupt your special time. I know this year has been a difficult one for you and I want to thank you for being so open about sharing much of it with people like me. I am so blessed to know you and your family. You inspire me. I want to thank you, also, for all of the time you have spent with our kids on the sidelines taking photos and including the cheerleaders in that. These photographs are priceless. I am sure as Steel moves on to college next year we may not see you as much at the games and such and I will miss that. Please call, email, text me anytime. I would love to have coffee or lunch, dinner, etc any time you are free. Take care and keep writing and taking pictures. You are so great at both! Kathy I just completed your poll last night. I have to tell you I was moved to tears by your two latest postings….”I don’t know much about football” and the other blog you wrote about Steel’s last game. They were both so moving. I have known since my RCIA days that you truly have a gift with writing and words and I would hate to see you give that up…at least for my enjoyment :) .

I saw you and Steel at the edge of the field last Friday and it was one of the most touching moments I have ever witnessed. The love between you was palpable. I wanted to capture it for you with a photo but did not want to interrupt your special time.

I know this year has been a difficult one for you and I want to thank you for being so open about sharing much of it with people like me. I am so blessed to know you and your family. You inspire me. I want to thank you, also, for all of the time you have spent with our kids on the sidelines taking photos and including the cheerleaders in that. These photographs are priceless.

I am sure as Steel moves on to college next year we may not see you as much at the games and such and I will miss that. Please call, email, text me anytime. I would love to have coffee or lunch, dinner, etc any time you are free.

Take care and keep writing and taking pictures. You are so great at both!

Kathy

]]> By: Dana http://blog.kellirocha.com/2009/12/08/dont-know-much-about-football/#comment-35 Dana Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:06:25 +0000 http://kellirocha.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-35 Wow, Kelly! That is so insightful and expressive. Thanks for sharing so much with us all. Every week I felt better knowing you were down there taking photos. It was like a ritual and it meant everything was in order on the universe. On sat or sun afternoon Tyler and I would go through the pictures together. It was a joy to hear him describe the game as only the players on the field can know, all prompted by the snap of your camera. Your photography was a way for me to share the game with my son. I cherish those moments. And I did learn what holding was! Also, because you unshelfishly posted the pictures for free, I was able to download many amazing photos for Tyler so that these memories can stay alive for us. All I can say is thank you for all your passion for the game, for your generous spirit, and for showing us all what a great family is all about. Forever grateful, love those Rocha's, From the Lee's. Go CC Raiders!!!!! Wow, Kelly! That is so insightful and expressive. Thanks for sharing so much with us all. Every week I felt better knowing you were down there taking photos. It was like a ritual and it meant everything was in order on the universe. On sat or sun afternoon Tyler and I would go through the pictures together. It was a joy to hear him describe the game as only the players on the field can know, all prompted by the snap of your camera. Your photography was a way for me to share the game with my son. I cherish those moments. And I did learn what holding was! Also, because you unshelfishly posted the pictures for free, I was able to download many amazing photos for Tyler so that these memories can stay alive for us. All I can say is thank you for all your passion for the game, for your generous spirit, and for showing us all what a great family is all about. Forever grateful, love those Rocha’s, From the Lee’s. Go CC Raiders!!!!!

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