[Fly Like a Duck]

If I'm a upperclassmen and a freshmen starts over me because the coaches feel we are the same, well then what real reason should I continue to work hard when I am not thought to be any better than a freshman and I have busted my guts out for the team.

Tough. The same reason somebody coming into a company as a first year employee might make more than someone who has been there a couple more years. No difference. Part of it. Continue to work hard and let the chips fall where they may. Besides, while he might not admit it, that senior that quits his senior year will regret doing so the rest of his life. They don't admit it, bc they don't want the "I told you so's", telling them so down the road, but they regret it every time. Maybe that senior needs to "bust his guts", and try to play another position for the team. Because, if the team is what he's actually concerned about (and, not just saying it as a cop out), then that's what he'll do. After all, there is 22 positions on the field on the field.

I know a senior who went through this. He worked hard, but the fact was that he was very average. He was too small to play on the line and had younger guys ahead of him at his skill position. So, what's he do, asked the coach if could try playing other spots. He did just that, even though he didn't start. He ended up being a WR and working into that rotation, and was a full time special teams player. I mean, he played on every special team. Well, it didn't take long for that senior to figure out, that since he decided he wanted to "bust his guts for the team" and help in other areas; he ended up playing about 30+ plays a game (every special team and 25% of the offensive snaps). He'll never regret that decision, either. He'll also be able to look his son or daughter(s) in the eye one day, and when they are potentially facing the same hardships, he'll tell them his story and they too might stick things out. Life lessons learned.

If the senior truly wants to pull the "busted my guts for the team" card, then they should continue to do so. I'm guessing Rock is in the state of many programs across our state in the sense that most players (Seniors in particular) are one play away from starting, if they aren't already.