The School of Block
There is Honor on the line.
There is Glory in the trenches.
Honor in the protection of what’s ours and in the destruction of what’s theirs.
Honor in the 50-79 numbers, invisible to all but the coaches and the blood relation.
Honor in aggressively getting in the defender’s way. Line it up, tear them down, repeat.
Glory in a facemask decorated in turf and mud. Hands bruised. Fingers battered. Knuckles bloodied.
Glory in watching the backside of your running back move down the field.
Glory in crushing the will of the opponent.
The School of Block
Coach Hays, September 2010
I love blocking. When most football fans watch the pretty boys (the QB/RB/Receivers), I watch the line. Every play, whether in person at a game or watching one on TV, I watch the line play first and foremost. I played the line, I coached the line and, my favorite story, PLATTE RIVER by Rich Bass, is about a lineman. I guess I just view life through the lens of a lineman.
The SCHOOL OF BLOCK is my tribute to the boys in the trenches. It is my interpretation of what it means to be a lineman and my attempt to represent the feel of being a lineman. As football coaches, we know the vital importance of winning the game at the line of scrimmage. As fan, I hope this inspires you to watch the line play more often and come to appreciate the Bubbas.
THE COACH HAYS 