Remember the Alamo!

Finally had a chance to get out of "Dodge"... well, out of Kansas City. I'm sitting at the River Walk in San Antonio enjoying a Texas steak. I've visited San Antonio a number of years ago and really enjoyed it and being here again I remember why, it does not disappoint. 

I am not a native Texan but I do love Texas, ever since I read James Michener's novel "TEXAS" I fell in love with this state. What a great history this young state has... belonging both to Mexico and the United States and at one time they're own nation. The one piece of history that San Antonio is probably best known for is "The Alamo", the mission where some of Texas' bravest men fought. They fought to keep and hold it from Santa Anna, the Mexican general determined to get the state of Texas back into the hands of the Mexican government. Although the battle was not won, in fact, it was a massacre it became the battle cry for the rest of the state/nation. 

It seems a day has not gone by that I have not re-evaluated this past volleyball season. There were many highlights along the way and I am so very proud of all the girls and coaches within the club but there has been a disappointment as well. I expected us to get a few teams to qualify for "Nationals" this year and it did not happen. I am blessed to be coaching and doing what I love for a living so this is in no way a complaint... just an evaluation of what I did and could have done better.

As I sit here in San Antonio and think about "The Alamo" and how in its defeat it sparked this small nation (Texas) into action... enough to defeat one of the largest armies of it's time and become it's own nation. I believe we must take these moments in our own lives to accept the defeat but use it as a battle cry... "never again" will I let the chance to make it to Nationals slip by. 

In the midst of this disappointment and sadness I have begun to rebuild, in my own mind, how I will begin again. What steps I will take and how I will develop players and teams, how I will help our coaching staff to reach their success... "never again" will I come that close to a National bid without achieving it.