Football pads popping at MHS, but there is more to it

Walt Mares Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci High School head football coach Joseph Garcia points to diagrams of various plays during an after-practice session in the War Room at Lawson Stadium.

Ogas: What happens off the field is most important

By Walt Mares

The popping sound of shoulder pads was familiar. So were the sounds of coaches’ whistles. There was the smell of wet, freshly cut grass. What was different this day was the overcast sky blocking the intensity of the hot afternoon sun. 

While the sun was hidden, the intensity this day was on the Mrenoci High School’s Lawson Stadium football field. The Wildcat grid squad, led by head coach Joseph Gracia, was at it again, working hard during a practice session. Sweat from physical efforts dripped from beneath helmets on to players’ faces. That involved effort and more effort as the squad went through various drills focusing on blocking, tackling and other fundamentals of football.  

The word intensity again came to mind after the Wildcats left the field. Garcia, his staff and the team met in the War Room located beneath the stands at Lawson. The room is normally the trainer’s room where players are prepared for games with the wrapping of ankles, knees, elbows and other preparations needed by players to do their best while in battle.

Walt Mares Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci High School football players listen intently to head coach Joseph Garcia in the War Room in a post-practice session. The room, which is also the trainer’s room, is located beneath the bleachers at Lawson Stadium. Just prior to game time, at half time and after the game the team congregates in a different location – the traditional locker room.

The Wildcats sat and listened intently to Garcia as he wrote diagrams of various offensive and defensive plays on a large whiteboard. The coach had his players’ total attention. There was not a sound from any of the players as they watched and listened intently.

While football involves a great deal of time and tremendous effort, there is much more to football practice than many people are aware of. There is indeed much more to being on the football team than coming to practice.

That is something MHS Athletic Director Frank Ogas emphasized in a recent interview with the Gila Herald. Ogas, a former head football coach at Morenci, He said it is what happens off the field that is most critical to success. 

 And what might that be?

Ogas said some of that is off-season training, such as in the weight room. A positive attitude and all-around dedication is a big part of success. Another important aspect is achievement in the classroom. A positive attitude toward and caring about others are part of the equation for success.

 As the athletic director points out, there is far more to being successful on the field than showing up for practice and putting on a helmet and pads. There is also much more than the physical challenge of practice and working up a hard sweat. 

 From what Ogas says it becomes evident that achievement takes effort and dedication in all aspects of sports n general and more so in life beyond the practice field and after graduation from high school.

Walt Mares Photo/Gila Herald: The entrance to the Morenci Wildcat Lawsome Stadium are greeted by a fierce-looking Cat that symbolizes the tough determination of the MHS football team and its supporters.