TRADITIONS

The Senior Football Yard Signs started the season of 2024-2025. The idea began with our new Coach (Smitherman) who felt it would be a special touch to recognize our Seniors. The football board President (Cheryl Devine) brought up the idea of starting a permanent tradition using wood versus personalized, plastic signs that need to be ordered every season. The Club purchased the wood with a company ready to create them. At the last minute, the company decided they could not fulfill our time sensitive order.

During our first GWOC game of the season, one of our Senior Varsity Captains (Cohen Nelson) made an incredible play causing Northmont to fumble the ball with a Creek recovery. However, Cohen wasn’t getting up from the play. He was hurt. The Drs. told him he tore his ACL for the 2nd time. He was out for his Senior year. Our hearts were broken.

Cohen continued to show up for every practice, every game and was on the field coaching the team, uplifting them and cheering them on to their 1st GWOC win in 7 years against Miamisburg!! He decided he could not miss this. He came back to play through the pain with a torn ACL. He helped lead the team to their 1st qualifying season to enter the playoffs ever! His constant resilience and motivation was admirable.

The Robinette family decided to donate their time and money to complete the Senior yard signs in dedication to Cohen in honor of the love of the game that he demonstrated the entire season regardless of his condition. The quote on the back was chosen by Cohen and is a reminder to every player that displays their sign “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift” – Steve Prefontaine.

At the end of each season the Seniors will sign the back of their sign and will pass it down to an incoming Senior at the Recognition Ceremony. They will choose a current Junior who they believe will fill their shoes. The Seniors will write a brief note with all the best advice to their chosen Junior. If there are more Juniors than Seniors, the Captains will write a note for each additional player. After the ceremony, the signs will be collected to be touched up and prepared for the next season. At the start of each season, the sign will be posted in the Senior’s yard.