Go Friday Night

A Tradition of Success

By Lew
November 28, 2005

Dear Class of 2006 Sweetwater High School,

I'm sure you are aware of the strong traditions of everything that is Sweetwater.

I also know that it is very common to daydream about the future after high school graduation.

I wanted to post here that this moment that you are in, right now, at this very instant is historic for you and your class.

I just want to mention this because I don't want it to pass you by. It has been about 35 years since I roamed the halls of SHS. I have seen a lot of life since then. I won't bore you with all of my details, but I have been around the world and just about every state in the US.

Yet after 35 years, and all that has happened since high school, I always come back and visit Sweetwater. In this very small part of the World Wide Web, I can go back to Sweetwater every day and talk about football, or anything else related to life in Sweetwater.

As turbulent as life can be sometimes, I think it's calming to go back to Mustang Bowl and yell for the Mustangs. There seems to be consistancy at the Bowl. We always know the Mustangs will be successful. We always can count on certain things when it comes to Sweetwater and the Mustangs.

I laughed to myself the other day when someone mentioned one of the players on the team. I wasn't thinking about the player, I was thinking about Robert and Donnie Clark. Back in school Robert and Donnie were just average kids. I worked with them at the Village Supermarket. Donnie and I sacked groceries for crying out loud. That was so much fun. It's fun to go back and visit also. Just the other day, the day before Thanksgiving my mind drifted back to what days were like at the Village Supermarket the day before Thanksgiving. The busiest day of the year! Customers were always in a great mood because it was Thanksgiving. The little old ladies didn't have to remind me not to squash their bread...people were just nicer the day before Thanksgiving.

Our football team was undefeated going into district in 1968. Lot's of people said this may be the best team that Sweetwater had ever had. There was Benji Kemp, Ricky Baker, Brian Lewis, David Redwine, Terry Boley, Mack Reed, Barry Davis, Frank Gomez, Kent Boatright, Aubrey McCain..a whole cast of superstars.

Far down the schedule was a new team in the district. Lubbock Estacado. They were also a team that appeared to be strong. All season we kept hearing about how good Estacado was. We were undefeated and so were they. Finally, the game with Estacado would be played in Mustang Bowl. The Bowl was absolutely packed. I won't give you the play-by-play here because it isn't relevant. Lubbock Estacado 7, Sweetwater 0.

Estacado went on to win state that year. Some call that Mustang team "the best team to have never won district." Later, several Estacado players told us Mustangs that the game with Sweetwater was the hardest fought game in any of thier careers.

Sweetwater earned much respect that night. The reason the Mustangs earned that respect is because they gave it their all. The reason the Mustangs earned respect that night is because they gave every single ounce of effort they could muster.

Now, 35 years after that season, I can honestly tell you that that is what success is. When the other team says you were the toughest foe that they ever played, that you were the best sportsmen that they ever met, that is success.

I have no idea how this game will turn out Friday. All I know for sure is....and I know this is over-used today, but I know my Mustangs will give it their best. I know in my heart that my Mustangs will play to the best of their ability and give it their all.

Mustangs always have,
Mustangs always will.....

I can count on it.

Lew

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