[FBALL]

I agree that there is a lot to be happy about when looking at the big picture. We just get off on a few negative tangents every now and then by posting what we are thinking on here. In reality, all of our comments mean little and we will all still be cheering for the team to win every Friday.

What some would see as "spoiled", though, others would see as "high expectations" that I think have to exist for a program to continually be good. I would think these players would have high expectations of themselves. After all, this senior class has won 1 state title game, played in another state title game, and lost in the quarterfinals once. The record they have seen Russell accumulate since their names have been on the roster has been 44-7. Granted, not all of them got playing time as freshmen, but that is where the expectations have been set. Those should then bleed over to the next generation and the next and so on and so on.

No doubt, I think Drew Abrams is a terrific running back and deserves to be commended for getting 1000 yards. That will be 2 seasons in a row for him going over 1000 yards and I am glad to see it because he works as hard as anyone. I also think it is great that we may come away with another district championship. However, is it being "spoiled" or is it having "high expectations" for me to expect that we should have a 1000 yard back every year given the offense we run? Is it being "spoiled" or having "high expectations" for me to expect that we shouldn't stop at a district championship?

I think Russell should have "high expectations" every year. Some years you might not live up them though. This is where the spoiled part comes in. Some Russell fans, not all, expect a blowout win every game and if they don't get it is always the players aren't good enough or poor coaching or some kind of excuse. They cheer during the high times but don't really back their team when things don't go our way. I'm not against being critical of the team or coaching staff. I have criticized some of the things I have seen. But I will always contiune to support and try to turn the negatives into something to learn from.

There is a big difference between spoiled and high expectations.