Roll Wildcats Roll

Welcome back to the blog of Mr. Rosser, the school teacher, the coach, the mentor, the role model.  This is blog is an update on the season of the Oak Ridge High School Wildcats and our results from this past Friday night and our progress as a team.
The Oak Ridge Wildcats took our show on the road this evening against Harding Valley High School, a team that beat us last year and just about put a damper on our playoff hopes last year and our senior night last season.  Needless to say, we were out for revenge and looking to show that we were the better team in this "Battle of the Bridge" as its called by locals on week 8 of the season.

As you can we had a pretty good showing for our 3 consecutive district win beating the Harding Valley Hawks 42-7.  It was a game in which we went in to slightly battered and bruised but were looking to get out to a fast start and that we did.  We had a 14-0 lead at the end of the 1st quarter and extended that lead to a 35-7 score at halftime.  Our offense was clicking on all cylinders as it has for the 3rd straight game and we never had to punt thee entire night.  We put the nail in the coffin on our 1st drive of the 3rd quarter with a 3 play 60 yard drive that gave us a 35 point lead and started the running clock rule.  Due to this rule, the 4th quarter went by pretty quick but the result was another win for the Wildcats which gives us a 5-3 overall record (5-1 in district play) putting us in sole possession of 2nd place and hopefully a likely position in the playoffs.  

Me and my Oak Ridge parents (Naomi and Phil) after the game

Next up, we have a short week of practice because we have the game of the week this Thursday and our cross town rivals the Clinton Dragons are coming to town.  We are very happy to be coming back home after a month long road trip during our season.  Our kids are extremely pumped about this game and will come out the shoot, at home, ready to go to battle.  I for one, will be very excited coming off this win and knowing what is at stake for us and will keep practice for the next two days very intense and focused for our kids.  My parents are coming into town for this game and my dad's birthday is coming up this weekend, so Mr. Rosser (me) will be looking for his offense to have a spectacular performance in front of the home crowd and continue to be on a roll as we have been for the last 3 weeks.  

Also, we have one more week of school until Fall Break, which is a week off from school and even though we still have football preparing for our last game of the season, it will be a much needed break from at least one of my professions for a moment, LOL.  

Hope you enjoyed this small yet precise update and look for another blog coming later this week with pre or postgame insight to our team and the season.  As usual, thanks for tuning in and as always STAY THIRSTY MY FRIENDS.  

Battle of the Bridge Trophy which is exchanged between schools to the winner each year

Yours truly, B. Rosser

Signing out, PEACE

Friday Night Lights and School Days

So, it is about that time again.  This time tomorrow we will know part of our destiny as a football team and in what direction we can possibly go as we come down the stretch to this 2011 football season.  Tomorrow night we will be going on the road for our final district road test after a month on the road agains Hardin Valley Academy.  Both teams are currently tied for 2nd place in the district behind Powell H.S. and with a win either team can just about sure up a playoff spot for the first weekend in November (just about).  This will be a very evenly matched game with a few athletes, opportunities for big plays and a chance to continue our season.  Due to weather this week, including today, we were forced to be inside for practice which meant more film time, more specific drills and more insight on our gameplan and how we will like for it to work.  Sometimes not going outside is not always a bad thing.  We got some good work in and feel good about what we have drawn up for tomorrow night.

Last week's game was full of big plays by us and we jumped out to a big lead and are hoping for a similar start tomorrow evening.  We come into to this game mostly healthy, with injuries at key offensive and defensive positions, we believe we have the right combination of kids and talent to execute the task at hand.  We will look to a strong showing from our big boys up front in the run game and will expect the discipline of our defense to keep a talented running back for them at bay.
We understand what this game means to us and our season and we will come out ready to go to war, do what we plan to do and hope for the best.  Weather should be fine, a lil cool and a damp, moist field and it will be a great October night of football.  Make sure you stay tuned for an update this weekend from the game or check us out on our school website or radio station.

FOR MY EDUCATORS OUT THERE

Often my colleagues and I over at GW Elementary School discuss how taxing, tiring and just hard our school year has began.  With tomorrow ending the first nine week grading period, we feel as though we have already ran the good race and are barely keeping our heads above water.  Between pow wows in the hallway, meeting each other up at the school on the weekend and supporting one another through observations/evaluations, it has made for a very stressful first two months of school.  And if this is any indication of the rest of the year (which it is) all we can do is continue to help one another, pray for another, laugh with one another and ENDEAVOR TO PERSEVERE.  Sounds like alot?  Well, it is and we are doing everything we can to do the best job we can with these students in making them responsible citizens and able students for this year and the next.  If you know a teacher, tell them you appreciate the work you do. We don't get enough money or enough credit for what we do and it is ashame the way the world views our profession as a business when it is the foundation of civilization.  Anyways, as I could talk about this forever, my devotional today gave me a great word which I wanted to share on my blog.  Read it, take it in and apply to your life in which ever way seems best. Enjoy.

“This job is too heavy…to handle…by yourself.”     Ex 18:18 NLT

…One Bible teacher writes: “One of our greatest challenges…is determing what God doesn’t want us to do!  We love God, we love His people, and we see many needs.  But sometimes good intentions cause more harm than good…When you becaome aware of a need, don’t automatically assume God wants you to meet it.  The only reason to perform ministry is when God clearly tells you it’s His will.  If you’re overwhelmed…you’re probably doing more than God asked.  Pray about the assignments you take on, so you don’t rob yourself and other of God’s best.”  Jon Walker adds: “Imagine if God created you to be the Michelangelo of this age but you stayed so busy doing all kinds of things – good things – that you never got around to paintin and sculpting.  You’d end up missing the best because you got distracted chasing the good.  What a disappointment…for God…and all the people who would have been blessed if you’d stayed focused on your original purpose.”  Learn to delegate.  Release the burdens God never meant you to carry, and focus on what He called you to do.  

Yet another episode of the life of Coach/Mr. Rosser.  A man just doing the best he can in this world of water and sand.  (Check the rhyme, LOL)  Thanks for checking in again and as always, STAY THIRSTY MY FRIEND.  

Pleasures and Pressures of the Week/World

Good evening/morning or whatever time you read this blog.  Thanks for taking the time to check back in see how Mr. Rosser is coming along with the season, school year and just life as a whole.  An interesting title to this blog, "The Pleasure and Pressures of the Week/World" is so fitting in my life right now I feel like I could blog on this topic forever.  It is not a title or blog in which I complain or just give up my heart, it is just insight into my crazy world and the way I see life right now.

First, I have struggled alot this week with confidence in my abilities as an educator, coach and a person and the effect I am having on those around me.  It is very easy to let your emotions control your world, which adversely affects the people around you and can have everything crashing down on you at once.  In the same token, having a positive outlook on life and just keeping a smile on your face can be the one thing that catapults another person's day and keep you believing and achieving.

As I stated previously, I felt as if my best wasn't enough and that I was in fact bringing those around me down with a negative attitude and outlook on life.  Now, most of this I believe comes from fatigue and not getting enough rest (which I am still struggling with staying asleep a whole night) and the other just from a lack of faith, which I know better.  But on three different occasions this week, I was confronted by some people in which I work with, see or just pass during my week and they all said, "Thanks for being such a great role model, man of God and positive influence for our kids."  WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I felt like this was my job, but I was not doing a great job at it and here are people that I work, interact and sometimes rarely see thanking me for having a positive influence on their kids and the community.  Needless to say, this definitely brought back up my spirits and had me thanking the higher power for keeping me during what I thought was hard times, but really was just him showing me that I was doing right and to continue doing the right thing (with HIS help).  I mean, they say 3rd times a charm and tonight when I heard it, it brought me back to the center and reaffirmed that I WAS doing what I should with the talents and abilities I have.  I am grateful for the opportunity and am just in awe that others recognize the influence I have in the community.  Such an honor.

Me and my starting quarterback doing our pregame prayer before the game last week.  Thanking God for his blessings and love over us and for our abilities.  Great pic.  

And as if that wasn't enough, my daily devotions continued to talk to me through the WORD and strengthened my faith in the Lord and to remember where my help comes from. Psalm 121.  Here are some excerpts from the following week that spoke to me and kept me going.  Hope they do the same for you.

Strength in Fellowship (this was an excerpt from my daily devotional for October 8th)

Those who are not teachable are trying to talk themselves into security and confidence.  They appear sure of themselves, but deep down they aren't.  Those who are teachable, however, hear from God.  There is no greater boost to one's faith than to know that however strange or countercultural the voice we've heard, it is the voice of the Almighty -- the invincible warrior God, the Sovereign who sways human affections, the Beginning and the End.  There's a calm assurance in the one who knows he or she is in fellowship with the Creator.  A heart sensitive to Him will go forth in intensely certain faith.  It has met with God.

"He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught."  Isaiah 50:4

Hope you enjoyed.  There is another to follow but this blog can stand alone about my week and where I am on so many levels.  Stay tuned for more to come.

ENDEAVOR TO PERSEVERE

Words to live by taught to me through a hard but fair process and restated to me by a good friend of mine.  Often said but never really implemented into our everyday life.  I said I would go back and review the last month of the season for those readers and followers that are keeping up with the team I coach, the Oak Ridge Wildcats.  It has been a very interesting and difficult month for Coach Rosser, coach of Quarterback, Wide Receivers and co-offensive coordinator.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
About 3 weeks ago we went on the road to play to district rivals, Powell High School, winners of the district last season and one of our two district losses last year.  There is quite the fire between these two teams and with it being on a spotlight Thursday night and the "game of the week", it was primed to be a good one.  We went into the game full of energy, a great game plan and ENTHUSIASM.  We broke out to a 17-7 lead at the half, squandering away opportunities to put this team away.  Unfortunately, one of the plays prior to the half, we suffered an injury to our 3rd year starting quarterback.  He is honestly thee toughest kid I may ever coach in my career, but this night, an injury of a kidney bruise would not bring him back to us this evening to finish the game.  We had to put in our backup quarterback, who is my starting slot receiver and main play maker, but there definitely was a timing and consistency phase that altered our progression as an offense.  Short story made long (Haha) trying to stick to the same game plan with a different QB we blanked out in the 2nd half and came up short losing 24-17 (hence the 4-1) in district play.  The status of our starter was unknown and we have to find a way to persevere through the adversity we had to face this season.

With a full week of practice, extra film study and work with my back up, the offensive staff was able to put together a good game plan that had us a little restricted in the air but put up almost 400 yards rushing to get a win on homecoming night against Halls High School. This was our 2nd district win on the season keeping us 2nd in the district at 2-1 and overall 2-2.

The following week, we took a confident yet battered Wildcat team back on the road to face a very strong Maryville High School team.  State ranked in our region and known for winning multiple 6A championships in the last decade.  With our back up QB still in and another week of practice under his belt we felt good about the game plan and what we had coming into the game.  Unfortunately, this talented team with several division 1 commits put a beating on us giving us our 3rd overall loss and leaving us emotionally beat down but happy to be looking forward to only district games from this point on.

Me and my QB doing a pre-game prayer

Starting our road trip of the next 3 district games on the road, we went into this game, having our starter back at about 75% but yet a game plan and positive emotional state that we felt would give our team a boost.  As we were yet another team's scheduled homecoming, we took our show on the road to Anderson County in which we came out and put up the most point we have scored since I have been here and only in 3 quarters (49 points).  We were party busters on homecoming and got another big district win of 49-20 I believe giving us an overall record of 3-3 and having high hopes of going on the road for the next two weeks and being in control of our own destiny as it pertains to the postseason.

THE SYNOPSIS' ARE GETTING SMALLER AS I CONTINUE ON BECAUSE OF FATIGUE, LOL.

Anyways, moving from the past to the present, we took our show on the road once again to district foes, Karns High School in which we were looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season.  With a completely healthy quarterback back and packages within our offense that made us extremely explosive, our high powered offense were out to make a statement.  And that we did, scoring 35 points in the first half with two turnovers (which should have made it 49 points) and causing a running clock for the remainder of the game.  We got yet another district win, 35-14 and continue to be in the driver's seat of our destiny at 4-3 overall (4-1 in our district).

We are very happy with our progress at the moment and are hoping that our team continues the hard work they have put in and the trust they have in their coaches.  With this mindset and winnable games in place we will continue to ENDEAVOR TO PERSEVERE and do what it takes to make this season what we want it to be and continue our hopes to a postseason.


This should have me caught up from the past month.  Thanks for reading this.  As always, if you get a chance please share with someone else, choose to follow this blog or just continue to check it out.

Thanks for tuning in and STAY THIRSTY my friends.

Been A While

Almost a month and a no blog, no update, no nothing.  I am truly slipping on the blog tip and for those that were keeping up with me and the season I apologize for the lapse in updates.  Because of the time and fatigue this will be brief but there will be more to come in the near future and that is a promise.  Anyways, after getting a win this evening on the road against district woe, Karns High School, the Oak Ridge Wildcats are now 4-3 (4-1 in the district) and are looking to roll on and continue success for a shot at the postseason.  It has been a bumpy road for our team with key injuries, like our 3 year starter at quarterback, to tough games lost, to just a bad night by us against a really good team, to back to back convincing wins on the road the last two weeks.  Similiar to last year, the team is starting to play together and our best football at the right time of the season.  Kids are believing in the coaching, coaches are busting our tails to watch film and have the kids prepared and the results are us winning games when we need to.
From here on out we have district games which have a huge influence on your selection for the weird TSSAA playoff system.  If we continue to roll and win out, we could be looking at a great opportunity at the postseason and possibly a home playoff game at that.  Which would be SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEET.  As is, we will continue the work, do our part and let the cards fall where they may.  Stay tuned for a more in-depth look at the last month on the next update.

As for the school year, it is getting off to a rough and turbulent start.  The evaluation process of teachers is quite an experience which does nothing but stress out the educators and puts more on our plate than what can already fit.  My students are settling in well, they are getting used to me and me to them with a few minor behavior adjustments to be made, but overall, I can say that I have a good class.  They are a smart bunch which makes teaching them a thrill and challenge, but the overall growth of them as responsible citizens is a continuous process we will thrive to achieve.

I am staying in a strong mental state, continuing to eat, exercise and live healthy and staying grounded in knowing that "I  can do all things who Christ who strengthens me."  I am really focusing on not letting life stress me out, especially during the season and I continue to strive to make a difference and be a positive role model for my students, players and community.  With this attitude, I can't lose.

Thanks for tuning in and check back soon for another update to come. Thanks again and stay thirty my friends.