I have always loved the movie 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'. The premise of the movie, in short, is that the characters realize they have gone through life and have never really lived. So, that being the case, they decide to call in sick to school and then just take the day to make the most of the moment. Because, in the end, moments seem to fade away very quickly. And the great ones only last a short while. And, such is the game of football. It is, for but a few teams, something the participants will never forget. You have to be willing to sacrifice your body. You have to be willing to sacrifice your mind. You have to be willing to sacrifice your goals for that of the greater good - aka what is best for the team (or your life). At West Branch, there have been so many different moments that fit the aforementioned definition(s) of sacrifice. You almost lose count. But, I will focus on one. In 1990, the Bears entered the season with very high hopes. Having just claimed the program's first ever (played) state title trophy, the target of everyone rested solely on the back of each West Branch player. The team was hit heavily by graduation that May, but returned many key players from the championship squad. Sean McCarty, fresh off of a second consecutive individual and team state golf championship, returned as the team's top rusher. He was an all-state selection the year before, and was on every preseason all-state squad known to man (in Iowa). Also returning were a couple of offensive linemen in senior Tony Luneckas and junior Scott Stout. Throw in the Chads - McCarty and Fiderlein - and the Kevins - Braddock and Stout - with a Graham (Tony) of Kessler (Jayme), and the prospect to repeat looked quite good. The team would battle back from an early season loss at West Liberty to play well enough to make it to the state semifinal game against Parkersburg. That game was nip and tuck the whole way. With the Bears trailing 16-12 late in the game, and driving deep into Falcon territory, a defining moment presented itself. Bear quarterback J.D. Grimm rolled out to his left and looked into the end zone to find a wide open Braddock waving for the football. Grimm laid the ball out softly and Braddock looked it in... The unfortunate part is that he looked it in, but it didn't stay there - falling to the turf, and ending the hope of playing for a second consecutive state championship game. Many people would just let that eat them up. But, in life, when a defining moment comes along you can either: a) define the moment, or, b) let the moment define you. Fast forward just one year, and throw in 311 yards rushing with five total touchdowns. Braddock defined that moment by bouncing back in a record breaking way. Those two totals (311 and 5TD) still stand as the record for Iowa state championship games. The 311 rushing yards - which took just 23 carries, an amazing 13.5 yards per carry - are also a West Branch single game record. Only one player since then has reached the 300 yard plateau (Cole Kelly vs. Bellevue, 33 carries, playoffs 2009), and very few will ever approach it. The work the 1991 team had to put in to erase Kevin Braddock's memory of that 1990 contest is a complete testament of hope and excitement. He could have sat back and sulked. But, that is just not how things are done at West Branch. However, in the blink of an eye, those wonderful days are just a memory. Twenty years go by and you think about those times and remember how great it was. Now, just a few days away, is another one of those moments of grit and sacrifice. Before the season, Coach Pedersen, among many, would have probably told you it would be tough to duplicate the accomplishments of the 2009 team. When you lose 16 starters, and two all-state players (Kelly and OL/DL Jack Rummells), I, too, might have agreed. But, that is the art of Bear football. When you think they are going to fall, they get back up again. It all began last spring in offseason route running in the gym. It also began the day after the loss at the UNI-Dome to South Winnishiek when the Bears were hitting the weight room. The next phase in the reloading process was the Captain's practice sessions over the summer. Then came two-a-days. Then came West Liberty...and Lisbon...and Alburnett...and Pekin...and Wapello...and Highland...and Van Bur.., well maybe not...and then Cardinal of Eldon. They all came and went the same way - down in defeat to a Bears team...that was not supposed to win...that people predicted to be mid-pack in District 6...that lost too many people to be a good football team...that did not have the horses in the stable to stay in the race. But, here we are again. At a defining moment. Do the Bears continue doing what they have done 15 times in the 21 seasons and win a district (or conference) championship by beating very highly touted North Cedar? A team that has given up less points on defense than games won (7 to 8). A team that most have already figured will be the one to knock off an 'over-rated' Bear squad. A team that has at least three kids with over 500 yards rushing. And, a team that plays defense so well their purple jerseys actually make you see black and blue. Well, just like in 1990, we are at that crossroads. Adversity is upon West Branch Football again. Will the team, and coaches, find a way to win against a very impressive opponent? Or, will they play just well enough to lose to that same opponent? The Bears have been here before. So many great memories of triumph and accomplishment: state titles....district and conference titles...63 regular season wins in a row (which was longest streak in the nation at that time)...so many Dome visits it seems an annual thing...great players...great coaches...great victories...great things to remember for the rest of your life, as a player and alumni. All of those moments, those sacrifices, lead you to understand one thing: Life moves pretty fast. If you do not stop to look around (and take it in) once in a while, you could miss it. - 2 www.westbranchfootball.com - 'The Bear Facts'