WE ARE.....T.J.

I say “WE ARE” and you say “TJ.” “WE ARE…..”
I think it’s funny how you said TJ out loud even though you are reading my blog!!!!

But that is the chant I kept hearing over and over Friday night as my kids charter school, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, played their first ever home football contest. Headmaster, Joe Maimone and Head Football Coach, Tony Helton, were walking on air. I am sure when they walked up to that field and those lights came on, they had one of those moments like Rudy’s dad had the first time he walked into Notre Dame’s Stadium, “this is the most beautiful site these eyes have ever seen.” I'm sure Joe Maimone asked Coach Helton the old Field of Dreams line, "Is this Heaven?" and Tony replied, "No, Avondale."

Every game Coach Helton could give the We Are Marshall Speech. (Click Link)

Every team we play is bigger than us, faster than us, stronger than us and much more athletic than us. They all have twice as many players as us and have years of football tradition and feeder programs that just make their programs over power us. But Friday night was special. Even though we quickly fell behind 41 – 6, when we recovered a fumble, the crowd cheered like we were about to win the super bowl.

And we had a crowd. The typical 120 parents and students at a game turned into well over 1200 people. Many of those were kids from the lower school, all wearing uniforms of their hero TJ players. These kids sang the national anthem and it was more inspiring than a Blue Angels Jet fly over.

Not even aware that their heroes were being dominated, all they saw were these great young men in the burgundy and gold. I saw one little girl crying because her dad was making them leave at half time. “There will be more games sweet heart.”

“But they need me to cheer for them.” she cried.

I overheard a fan from the other team mention, “I don’t think I have ever been welcomed to a stadium like this before.” TJ fans are awesome. In all sports when our teams are getting killed, I don’t hear much grumbling about referees (except for me). I don’t hear comments about crazy head coaches (well maybe me again) and I don’t hear cries about the other teams bullying us (OK so I have some issues). What I hear from most parents is all of this encouraging, “keep your head up guys” “We are proud of you” “Great job men.”

Again we are down 35 points and our crowd breaks out into the chant, “WE ARE…TJ.”

We may never be a football factory. But we are a community of families that care deeply about helping guide our children through life and helping them reach goals and dreams that they never thought possible. We are a community that believes in character and values and honor and duty. And when you meet a student from Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy you feel good about the future of our world.

WE ARE (TJ)! WE ARE (TJ)!