Some of you may expect this column to be about how the Oxford football team was deprived of the share of the Flint Metro League title and a berth in the state playoffs by a referee’s bad call against Linden.
There is no question the referee missed the call. The extra-point kick was wide and Oxford should have won in the first overtime, 22-21, before losing in the third overtime.
However, to dwell on one game and one situation does a disservice to what Oxford football means to this community, to the young men on the team who work so hard and to Coach Bud Rowley.
I have had the enjoyment to be on the sidelines of every Oxford football game for the past six years. I’ve seen Bud in various stages of emotion and watched how his players have responded to his coaching and teaching.
And year after year some things are consistent parts of Oxford football.
The young men who play learn the value of hard work, discipline and come away with a camaraderie they may never know again in their lives. Bud instills these and other values like few coaches anywhere on any level.
During the past two years I’ve had the privilege to get to know Bill Keenist, whose son Billy, has quarterbacked the Wildcats for most of the past two seasons and is now a senior.
The elder Keenist is the senior vice president for communications and marketing for the Detroit Lions. He has been with the Lions for 21 years and is respected throughout the country as one of the best at his craft in all of professional sports, not just football.
So, some may think that Keenist, being around some of the greatest athletes in the world and seeing football played at the highest level, might look at high school-level football as something less than minor league. Think again.
‘I’ve told Bud he has the greatest job in the world. And I really believe that,? Keenist said. ‘Those kids don’t realize how lucky they are at the time but’they will eventually. To play for Bud and the tough love he gives those kids. The lessons they learn are not taught in a classroom. They are life lessons.?
Keenist said he and his son will always cherish memories from Oxford football and said the final game this season, against Fenton, was especially emotional.
Following the game, some of the seniors did not want to leave their locker room. Six of the twelve senior on the team had played together since seventh grade.
Keenist said he entered the locker room an hour after the team’s win at Fenton. There was Billy sitting with his friend and fellow senior Brad Grunewald, both still in full uniform.
Both had tears in their eyes and neither wanted to take off their uniform for the final time.
‘I gave him a hug and told him ‘the reason you feel so bad is because this has been so good. The reason you are so sad is because this made you so happy,?? the elder Keenist said.
Keenist said former Detroit Lions quarterback Gary Danielson, who played prep football at Dearborn Divine Child, and is now a broadcaster, told him his high school football experience was priceless.
‘He said the greatest thing about football as a team was winning and the second greatest thing was losing,? Keenist said.
Enough of what the adults think. Here’s what some of the Oxford seniors took away from their experiences playing Wildcat football.
‘The will to prepare,? said Nick Shufflin. ‘We learned to work hard and how to prepare for anything.?
‘Coach Rowley taught us to be accountable for our mistakes,? said Billy Keenist. ‘He taught me a lot about how to be a man, how to stand up for myself and stand up against adversity. Don’t back down and believe in yourself.?
‘We learned about camaraderie,? said Nick Murray. ‘How to value our team and our relationships.?
‘Always work hard and have no regrets because you’ve worked hard,? said Kam Mueller, whose sentiments were echoed by Sergio Schlak.
‘We learned how to believe in ourselves, have confidence in what we do and always do our best. Take pride in ourselves and take pride in what we do.?
It doesn’t matter who made the final comment because all of them were nodding in agreement, as these teammates do.
Many in this community are proud of the success of Oxford football. The team has had winning seasons for 23 consecutive years and Oxford obviously has a great tradition.
What you need to appreciate and understand is that as good as Oxford football has been, these kids and those before them are so much better as people because of the life lessons they have learned.