Coupeville HS/MS Athletic Director Willie Smith has some words of wisdom for you. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Everything is in flux, with Coupeville jumping to the new North Sound Conference next school year, after being denied a chance to drop from 1A to 2B.
Into the fray wades one man, a gleam in his eyes and a deep burning commitment in his heart.
Wolf Athletic Director Willie Smith is here to kick you in the rear, pull you up by your bootstraps and calm your frazzled nerves.
A word (or three) from the big man himself:
Do what you can’t!
As we move into a new middle and high school league, together again with familiar schools such as King’s, Sultan, Granite Falls, South Whidbey, and our newest school, Cedar Park Christian, I believe this statement strikes a tone which rings very true for us.
What do we believe about Coupeville athletics?
Do we believe it’s an unfair advantage to pit public school athletes verse private school athletes?
Do we complain because we are the smallest 1A school, not only in our conference, but in the state?
Do we make excuses for not working out, attending summer camps/clinics, or not playing because (fill in the blank here)?
Is it the coach’s fault, other player’s fault, “we don’t win, so what’s the point of trying or turning out?”
What do YOU believe about Coupeville athletics?
As I’ve moved from player, coach, Athletic Director, retired coach, and back to Athletic Director, I’ve experienced possibly every league configuration, various levels of competition, equity in school size and disparity in school size.
I’ve heard every excuse in the world as to why we can’t compete, don’t win, don’t have good coaches, have poor support, yada, yada, yada…
The one thing that rings true throughout the entire span of my association with athletics is that no matter what the situation, good teams have the same intangibles: work ethic, leadership, commitment, and the ability to overcome adversity.
Do what you can’t.
1996-97 girls basketball team: lose two starters prior to districts, enter districts as #4 seed, play Lynden Christian, ranked #1 in state.
Down by two at half, they’ve taken off the press because it doesn’t work, end up losing by 12.
Play three loser-out games in a row, winning two, face King’s in loser out/winner to state, up 10-0 after 1st quarter, end up losing by 10 to eventual state champs who play Lynden Christian in championship … all with eight girls on the entire team.
Do what you can’t.
1999-2000 girls basketball team: new school in our league named Archbishop Murphy.
Playing with two seniors, one junior, a sophomore, and a freshman starter, win league, beat Murphy by 24 on home court, beat Murphy in loser-out to get to state tournament on a shot hit by 5’8” player over two 6’0 girls.
Down 15 at half in game two, loser-out, at state, storm back to win first-ever state tournament game in Coupeville girls athletics.
Do what you can’t.
2007 football team — down 12-0 in fourth quarter, score twice in last six minutes of game to win, and get to within one game of state tournament.
The 2007-08 track and field team that captured fourth as a team.
2007-08 baseball team, win-less in previous season of Cascade League play, finish third, take first in sub-districts, first in tri-districts, state appearance.
Do what you can’t.
2013-14 baseball, after going 0-fer freshman year and having the ten-run rule in effect for 10 of 16 games, finish 16-10 and a state appearance.
Do what you can’t.
I don’t mention these because I’m patting myself on the back as the coach.
I mention these teams, and I could go on with many other teams and individuals, but because I know, firsthand the work, the effort, the commitment, and their ability to handle adversity.
People will often say that those teams and individuals that won league titles, made it through districts and participated/placed at the state tournament had a lot of talent.
True, but what made them successful wasn’t the talent they had but the way they worked to raise their talent levels.
Our high-achieving teams and individuals don’t leave on vacation during the season, they don’t miss workouts in the summer or spring, they don’t make excuses as to why they aren’t being successful, they don’t take the easy road.
They work, they fight, they push themselves and others, they’re coachable and they’re committed.
They believed in what their coaches were teaching them, they trusted the process, they understood that you can’t beat somebody just because you’re more talented, and they certainly didn’t care who it was they were playing.
They were sure, they were confident, they believed, and they put the work in without question and without reserve.
Do what you can’t.
I keep repeating this and this is why — our sports programs are at a point where our community, parents, and kids need to make a choice, the same choices that our coaches have had to make.
Are we willing to commit to our programs, our coaches, and each other?
Are we excuse-makers or are do we accept accountability?
Do we work as hard as we can, every day, to push ourselves and our talent to the highest level or are we afraid of failure?
Failure isn’t a bad thing, in athletics and in life it should be accepted as a means to reach our goals.
If we choose not to fail then we choose not to excel, learn, or grow and we will never reach any height other than the one we are currently at.
Our coaches have dedicated themselves to providing opportunities throughout the spring and summer to help reach our goals.
Our current coaching staff understands commitment to our athletes, they are willing to give up time to help make our kids better people, teammates, and players.
They are determined to make an impact in our new league and beyond.
Are we ready to join them?
You will see “Do What You Can’t” on t-shirts worn by every coach and every athlete next year; it will be posted in the weight room, around the gym.
Take a risk, join a team, be part of something that is bigger than ourselves and you just may find out how rewarding, how strong you are, and how far you can actually go once you let go of all the self-imposed guards you’ve put up.
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