Playoffs

The playoffs. What an achievement they are. Teams play their whole season striving to be in them. The playoffs are the "extra" games a team gets to play; the important ones. In football the playoffs are a one and done deal. You win and you move onto the next round, but if you lose, the seasons over. In baseball a series of either five or seven games is played to determine who goes onto the next round. The higher up a team gets the more pressure is put on them, and the closer they get to their ultimate goal.

This year in football we are 8-0. Off to the greatest start in school history, but we know that if we want to succeed and have the year we are hoping for; then we are only half way done. In Iowa in order to win the title you would have to play fourteen games, which brings you to the end of November. Playoffs bring a whole new sense of the word pressure to a team. Our team especially has a lot of pressure on it now because we haven't lost. When we win out the rest of the regular season, that much more pressure will be added to our plates because we no longer can "lose." In the regular season a loss isn't good, but a team can bounce back from it and learn from it. Our team might not get that this year meaning we will have to continue to get better week by week; otherwise that first loss might end our year. The playoffs are also very hyped up by media sources and newspapers. Once the playoffs are set everyone pays attention because it's a big deal for both cities and supporters.

The playoffs also bring a new challenge. All teams that make them have earned it and have been successful in their season, which brings a challenge because every team is good. Every week that advances brings on a better and better team forcing you to prepare more, and play at the best of your ability. Along with each week becoming more challenging each week also becomes more rewarding. The farther your team gets the sweeter each win becomes. A win is a win, whether playoffs or not, but a win in the playoffs also seems to feel better and make fans more excited. The thrill of being one of the only teams left, and the school spirit behind that is incredible. This year when my team takes the field during the playoffs you can guarantee that we will be prepared for our opponent and give everything we have. This next month is going to be exciting and I hope everyone is going to be a part of it because you wouldn't want to miss it.