Raiders coming off a loss...now the Raiders are ready to take on the Raiders!

****First, I would like to say one thing about last week's game that I was SOOO impressed with:
Our Fans. WOW... I was SO happy and we were LOUD! I loved it. And for a 3 hour trip- we traveled VERY well! It was cold, but a lot of fun

Last weeks game didn't end so great for us Raider, with a 35-21 loss to the Boerne Greyhounds. But we are ready to bounce back and now our Rouse Raiders are ready to take on the Sunnyvale Raiders at Waco ISD stadium, tonight at 7pm

Like Rouse, Sunnyvale is a new school that has 1 Freshman team and 1 Varsity.


I couldn't find much about their team, but here is the website in case you would like to see for yourself!
http://sunnyvalefootball.com/web/?p=footballschedule

I hope that we can travel tonight, as well as we did last week and I hope that we can be as loud as we were last week also!
We only have 2 games left- lets make the most of it and see who can lose their voice faster:) ha

For those of you that travel- be careful and for those of you staying at home (shame on you:)- listen to www.huttofm.com!
Go Raiders!!!

Boerne Confident that they will beat the Raiders

The following link is courtesy of Jim Potts!! Thank you!

Prove em wrong and lets go beat some Greyhounds!!!!
www.boernestar.com/articles/2009/10/20/sports/boerne/doc4ad7773aa094d866746647.txt

Raiders Beat Eastside Memorial Varsity!

Raiders beat the Eastside Varsity Panthers 28-20 on Thursday night. (By the way- it was REALLY cold)

Eastside Memorial is a "new school" so to speak. It was the old Austin Johnson school that got shutdown a few years ago. They have 4 full classes, but they are a smaller school. They have Juniors and Seniors on their team. 16-18 year old boys.

I say this because I am about to make a huge point.

In our game this week, we were missing 12 starters... 12 STARTERS- that's more than one side of the ball.

Do not get me wrong, or misinterpret my words, I am paying a compliment to our players.

We were missing 12 Starters... this means that we had 12 kids that are either backups, or kids that have switched positions, or they were Freshman that have moved up, OR they were last years B team kids.

12 new kids that helped make all of our plays.
Another shinning week for Jacob Gomez. I couldn't be prouder of that kid.. maybe because I know his parents, (and got to meet his grandparents! Another highlight of being a coaches wife) Jacob went both ways this week. I know that is tough and you get gassed quick, but he didn't show it.
Austin Herring, got 2 tackles- he is a Freshman
Ryan Henry- shined as well- lots of big plays
Charlie Stewart has been shinning all year and gets better by the week. I know his parents must be proud.
Brady Stewart made a big play.
I know that I am missing so many other players.

I am just incredibly PROUD of our team. With 12 new players: Freshman and B teamer's- and they played and WON against a VARSITY team. That says so much.
Football is really the only TEAM sport that their is. You can't win without EVERYONE on the field doing what they are supposed to do against a good team. Eastside Memorial had a LOT of speed, but our guys managed to do what they needed to do to get the job done.

I think I HAVE to be the proudest High School Coaches wife right now, and just when I think that I can't get any prouder- you guys go an do something like you did this week.
Congrats Guys!

You are about to face your toughest challenge yet. You are about to play a team for the 2ND time that you have already beat.
It is the toughest thing in the world to beat a team that you have already beat.

Never underestimate your opponent- they might surprise you.

Good Luck and go kick some Greyhound Tail!!!!

Jay Sevier Update

I (along with several others!) received this email from Coach Sevier's mom and I was wanting it!
I thought this was awesome and I am so happy for the Sevier family!

All,
Today I was lucky enough to attend a memorial service for Jay Sevier at FT Bragg, NC. After the service, one of the Colonels in charge of Special Forces training at FT Bragg presented his parents a certificate designating Corporal Jay Sevier a Green Beret. For those that don't know this is an enormous and unheard of honor. When it was initially proposed the commanding General dismissed the idea out of hand. However the COL persisted, encouraging the General to look into the matter further. After learning about Jay's life and talking with those who knew him best, the General received permission fromthe Secretary of the Army
to posthumously award Jay the Green Beret. The Army held a fantastic memorial to Jay and demonstrated true brotherhood.
JB

Raiders Get a WIN over Vandergrift 17-14

Friday night at 7:30 the Raiders played the Vandergrift Vipers. We won 17-14 and while the score looks close- let me just say that it wasn't nearly as close as it appeared to be.

I am going to touch on the Positives and the Negatives, starting with Negative:

1) Our Fans/Crowd
The number one thing that I (and Josh) was absolutely dissappointed in was how few traveled with us. Our side of the stands were pathetic compared to theirs. We had very few that came and if it weren't for the band and dance team, the amount of fans that came would have only filled up 1 section of the stadium.
I hate to harp- but when you come to a game- especially a BIG game- we need to be cheering. We have a few parents that cheer the entire game, but other than that small group and the coaches wives, we don't cheer much unless there is a big play.
My biggest pet peave is when the players are on the sidelines looking into the stands and they are lifting their arms to get the crowd to cheer.
That is not their job- so they shouldn't have to do it.

One of the best things that I have ever heard Mack Brown say in reference to a football crowd:
Fans are a huge part of what makes a football game. The players on the field can't nessassarily hear you, but those on the sidelines can and it keeps their motivation going to hear people in the stands cheering for you.
If we win or lose, they are a large part of the game.
and I quote: "You can question/ blame the coaches and the players, but did you do your part as a fan and SHOW UP to the game, and CHEER while you are at the game?"

I have a lot of respect for Coach Brown, he does a lot for the high school players as well as a lot for the HS Coaches, so I listen when he talks- and that made a lot of sense to me.

*Our fans are important and we need you and when you come, we need you to cheer. Right now, we will just settle for your body. We will teach you to cheer once we get you there!

2)Our Special Teams

There was not one person in particular, but our Special Teams just weren't clicking. We missed a lot of great opportunities and the Vipers only scores came from our mistakes on Special Teams. Its ok though- for now, we will need to get those mistakes fixed and we will need to work on that before November 4.

3) Concessions
--I was REALLY dissapointed in the fact that I couldn't get hot chocolate. I mean literally EVERY time I went to the concession stand to get a hot cup of warm chocolate- they were out. EVERYTIME! My brother in law mirraculously was able to get HC 3 times.
WE were definitely the stepchildren because you had to walk onto the other side of the stadium to get the good stuff- chik fil-a and a McDonald's Big Mac. Our side had sliced pizza- but were out by the end of the 1st quarter.
--The home side of the stadium was as mean as can be to our Coaches Wives. They would not allow them to go through the Home side and walk to the visitor side. EVENTHOUGH, the visitors could walk from our side to the concessions. Didn't make sense and 3 of our wives missed the first few minutes because of this.
--They didn't allow wives onto the field after the game. Ok- so this always makes me angry- infact at Georgetown, I was almost in handcuffs over this issue (long story and NO it wasn't my fault).
Anyhow- the thing that makes me angry is the fact that it is an LISD school stadium and (Bible allows their wives to go onto the field) AND that the Viper wives were allowed onto the field.

Now for the positives:

Our Team, I mean wow- we played lights out. So many kids had great games. All the usual ones like Ed Butts, Micheal Botello, Dorian McNeil. Ryan Henry had a great game. But one in particular that I was impressed with was #52. He is a new starter- but not a new Raider. #52 would be Jacob Gomez- who also happens to be my neighbor:)
Jacob started out in the game a bit rough- he was probably nervous, which is to be expected. I normally would NEVER point out a flaw that a kid had in a game, but I wanted to make sure that you all knew that the kid that started out our game with us gritting our teeth, is also the same kid who had 7 tackles and the sack at the very end of the game.
This was his first game to be a starter and wow did he give us a show! He was a B team kid last year and is now a starter for our JV.

I point that out because it goes to show that any kid on the B team can contribute big for the Raiders in the future.
Way to Go #52- Coach Mann and I are VERY proud for you!

Our defense their offense to 131 yards and our Raiders outplayed them everywhere except for special teams.

Raiders- I get more and more proud of you each week. I am not ready for the season to end- but I am so ready for Friday Night Football that I can hardly stand it.
I can't wait to see you out at Bible (our HOME stadium) playing with the big boys! Everything you are doing now is to prepare you for that moment!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COACH MANN.....

Dear Coach Mann,
Just wanted to say that I hope you have a wonderful birthday today. I hope that you get a big Freshman win over Vandergrift and I hope that you get your big JV win over the Vipers tomorrow.
You are an amazing husband, father, coach and mentor and I thank God every day for bringing you into my life.
We just celebrated 6 years of marriage and now we are celebrating your 32nd Birthday!!
We love you SO much,
Brandi, Jace and Judson

Lots of Raider Action!

This past week the Raider JV played Pflugerville Hendrickson's JV at home. The game was called during the 3rd quarter due to lightening, but we were up 34-0, so I was ok with that! I am just happy that we won considering all of the unhealthy kids that we have!

Our poor Freshman were so banged up from the flu that they actually had to combine the 2 teams into 1 to even play. They played Del Valle and unfortunately came short by 1 touchdown. 12-6 Del Valle was the final score.

In other news, I am VERY, VERY proud to announce that for the 2nd year in a row- we SMOKED all of the LISD schools in the area and brought in more money than any other LISd school for the Chili's St. Judes Charity event!
We brought in $1438.00. The closest to us was Vista Ridge who brought in $1100.
We beat them by $338.00, which is pretty dang impressive if you ask me!!
Thank you to all of you!!!

Raiders for St. Judes Children's Medical Research!

I just want to send a big huge thank you to ALL Raiders!
Parents, teachers, athletes, student body, Coaches and their families!

Josh and I went home last night with chills.
#1- We knew we had a great Raider community, but it was proven last night. We hosted the event at the Chili's on the other side of town and we had MORE of our OWN people show up than any other school. That says a LOT.

#2- Yesterday Josh went into the cafeteria at school, with a decorated jar and told the students about the Charity Event. In a matter of 2 lunch periods, the Raider STUDENT BODY filled the jar with $210 and some change. One kid pulled a $10 bill from his wallet and said that the Children's Medical Research was more important than anything else he would do with that $10. We are talking about Freshman/Sophomores.

#3- With your help, we raised more money in 1 night than all 4 of the LISD schools.
2nd year in a row!!!! We totaled a little over $1200. Close call with Vista Ridge who totaled $1100. Josh is competitive, so I knew we wouldn't lose.

I really wanted to point out something about Chili's. Most companies adopt a charity, but Chili's is really not only genuine with the community, but they are good to their employees. Josh worked there in college. He played football and they kept him on and gave him good hours during the season. They also would send him home with a sack load of food so that he was fed well!
Also one of our coaches on staff has a sister that worked at Chili's and she got cancer while working there. Chili's paid for almost all of her medical costs associated with her cancer and kept her on as an employee, allowing her to work when she could.
I know that the Chili's we choose to use for this event is further away and we have one about 5 minutes from the school, but the managers at the one by Lakeline are so wonderful and PASSIONATE about this. They have fun and are grateful for everything anyone does. Toni Donohoo is the manager and she has a very supportive husband who is as passionate about the charity event as she is. He is actually the one that we call to make plans for the St.Jude's week!

So your money really does go to a cause that is genuine.

Thank you Raiders for making this a huge success, This says so much about us and our character. It was a lot of fun seeing all of you outside of the school or athletic field.

And THANK YOU coaches for taking the time out of your free time to give back to the community. If I have said it once, I will say it until I am blue in the face: We have the MOST amazing Coaches that I have ever been around. As a whole- they are the best of the best. Thank you!

Doc and the Trainers!!

Yesterday, I was at the top of the stairs and I looked down into the living room and was watching Jace and Judson playing football. All of a sudden Jace is down on the ground and "can't get up". Judson takes off his helmet, moves it off the "field" or rather my carpet and then stands over Jace. Helps him up and helps a "wobbly" Jace to the couch to lay him down.

I was rather confused by this as I knew Jace was not hurt.

Then all of the sudden, Jace is moaning and Judson is lifting his leg up in the air. He yells for me to get bandaids. I yelled to him " Judson, we are NOT waisting bandaids"

To which he replies "My name is NOT Judson, it is Doc. Now please get me some bandaids for my injured player."

Wow. I mean, I knew the boys paid attention, but to the Trainer??? That's awesome!

I was a trainer in High School. Actually, I was technically a stat's keeper for our defensive coordinator on the sideline, not really a trainer during the game. But I had the same responsibilities as all the other trainers and it is a HARD job. I never thought it could be hard, but it was. It taught me a lot and I am proud to say that I did that.

I loved the head trainer at Rider, but I had been around a few that I couldn't stand. They each have a unique quality, but I have to say that our trainer, Doc is exceptional.

He takes pride in his job and will do anything for anyone. I cant begin to tell you what he has done for me and my family!

We are ALL very lucky to have him at Rouse and I certainly hope that you all take the time to thank him at some point and not take him for granted.

And you know- the student trainers work long hours. They are all there before practice and then stay longer than the players- sometimes even the coaches. And they do not get any glory!

They do not get the privlegde of winning games or competition to get recognized, so if you get a chance, meet a trainer, meet Doc and tell them how much you appreciate them taking care of our athletes. These are the guys that keep our players healthy and who hydrate them.

We all think the world of Doc!!!