The MBA tournament draws together a who's who in the debate world each year. It also draws the leadership of the NFL. This weekend I had the pleasure of extended conversations with the executive director, his assistant, the Vice President and the President of the NFL. Late today, the President of the NFL pulled me aside during LD awards and, in Billy Tate style, says "lets talk." What he told me is something I want to share with all of you after our amazing weekend at State and at MBA.
Billy confessed that he know our program had grown and that we had gotten a rebuilding job done. But he said wasn't until he saw the extemp awards here at MBA, he didn't fully figure it out. He said the in the 1990s Roosevelt under Dave Huston was an amazing program and won an LD national championship. Dave's accomplishments were known throughout the country. Roosevelt was in it's debate prime. When Dave left in the summer of 1999--it died quickly. Roosevelt overnight went from national prominence to nothing.
Billy went on to say that the new Roosevelt program (our's) had accomplished even more and had done in a period of time when Roosevelt's demographics had changed and had done it in all areas of speech and debate not just in an area or two. He said watching Lily and Nathan blew him away.
Another NFL representative this weekend told him how solid we are becoming in Policy and that we probably have the best speech program in Iowa. Tim Sheaff of Dowling told someone on the phone that our kids and coaches had done this with a huge amount of class. That Roosevelt kids and coaches had earned the respect of every single coach in Iowa. The values we demonstrate in and out of rounds consistently are about friendship, leadership, courtesy to others and respect for most everyone. The President of the NFL is telling me this stuff.
Well to make a long story short, I had tears in my eyes. To have the President of the NFL compliment our program in the manner he did says a great deal about you, our students--who you are as people and as competitors. This was an amazing conversation-one I will not forget.
I know you are in high school I know all the things each of you have to learn about competing, winning and losing, learning that team matters more than individuals, etc. It isn't easy learning this stuff--its hard. These are life lessons not just for you individually but for all of us.
This conversation starts out complimenting us on how we rebuilt a program and how successful it has become. But it ends complementing EACH OF YOU for the real things that matter--what we want you to learn from competing at such a high level.
Always remember people do take note and pay attention to even how the team functions in a cafeteria between rounds. Are we fighting with one another? Are we supporting one another? Are we being ethical? Are we friendly to everyone? Are we leaders? Do we strive to get better and not lose our values in the process? Billy Tate used a phrase--"I hear good things about Roosevelt, Harry." He said it several times.
You all work your butts off for yourself and your team--we have more work to do but this team, right now, has an opportunity to accomplish what no Iowa team has ever done. Last year we were so close to winning all three state championships. I think this team, young as we are, is in a better place right now than last year's team. I essentially told you at the start of this season--you couldn't do it--repeat as state debate champions. I did it to get you motivated. You did it and did it convincingly.
How bad do you want it? Can you write yourself into the history books? I think you can but I don't want you to do it if it means we sacrifice what Billy Tate praised us for...our values and ethics. Respect for one another--respect for our opponents--winning with grace and losing with grace. Most of all don't forget who you are: Roosevelt Riders. Maybe our efforts will end in tears. But, just maybe, we can do this.
The reward of this State championship is that EVERY SINGLE STUDENT who competed for Roosevelt earned sweep points! That is teamwork. Everyone was well prepared and did their jobs for the team. That is teamwork. It takes those who are your close friends on the team and those you might dislike at some level. It takes you, individually, striving to be the best you can be--and setting a positive example for everyone else. It takes you praising each other when good things happen and not beating each other up when bad things happen.
Billy Tate's conversation with me today made me realize how special we are together as a team. Don't lose that specialness--it is what makes us successful. No matter what lies ahead, good or bad, always know your coaches are so proud of each of you and what you have done!
These next 7 weeks are going to be a real challenge...but together, with all of us working hard, we have an opportunity that no other team has--to win the trifecta of speech and debate championships.
No doubt it will be a hard road--but we are one third of the way there. You can make Roosevelt and Iowa history! Is this the Roosevelt team that will do it? The first weekend of March is coming up! All Iowa Finals will be here soon!
