There were no expectations, no immediate requests from the coaches, simply preseason was for our bodies to feel worse than you could ever imagine and for our stomachs to take on the form of black holes. Seriously though, it was the time for those who had prepared to thrive and for those who sat on the couch all summer to suffer. I always looked at myself as one of those guys who just did enough, not particularly working out all the time or running miles a day, during the summer to keep themselves prepared for some tough times. The mental part of the game started to become evident in those with the required toughness and durability to take a hit, regardless of physical or mental, and keep going, regardless of the challenge ahead. As the two weeks of hell began to come to a close, the team started to come together. The coaches started to delegate positions to those who showed promise, and the players came together as a cohesive unit, a team. We had senior captains, guys with experience and leadership beyond their ages, along with natural team leaders, who although not titled and recognized, became focal points and key parts towards the success of the team. Not one person was the team, and it was early on that each and every
There were no expectations, no immediate requests from the coaches, simply preseason was for our bodies to feel worse than you could ever imagine and for our stomachs to take on the form of black holes. Seriously though, it was the time for those who had prepared to thrive and for those who sat on the couch all summer to suffer. I always looked at myself as one of those guys who just did enough, not particularly working out all the time or running miles a day, during the summer to keep themselves prepared for some tough times. The mental part of the game started to become evident in those with the required toughness and durability to take a hit, regardless of physical or mental, and keep going, regardless of the challenge ahead. As the two weeks of hell began to come to a close, the team started to come together. The coaches started to delegate positions to those who showed promise, and the players came together as a cohesive unit, a team. We had senior captains, guys with experience and leadership beyond their ages, along with natural team leaders, who although not titled and recognized, became focal points and key parts towards the success of the team. Not one person was the team, and it was early on that each and every