It is what it is. What can you do?

When I started writing this column, I thought of the name “Teed Up” because it has more than one meaning in the sporting world.

It can have a relaxed connotation, as if playing golf. It can be the beginning, like in a football game.

The third thought behind the name is in baseball. I spent hours hitting the ball off the tee in batting practices, so to me, it means hard work.

The final way of being teed up is in basketball. Normally it is seen as a bad thing, but you will occasionally see a coach catch a ‘T’ for standing up for his team. Today’s column is the latter.

I was at the state track meet last week and I heard a few people talking about the shift in districts for the high school football season next fall, and I heard the term “not fair” used multiple times, in reference to Red Oak moving up to 3A.

When I was playing, I had a coach tell me the only thing that is fair in life is what lands between the lines in baseball. Otherwise, we have to take what we are given, make the adjustments, and do our best to make the situation better.

Yes, the Red Oak Tigers are moving up to 3A. Yes, they are in the same district as state powerhouse Harlan, and will be facing stiff competition. And yes, those teams have absolutely no respect for the Tigers and the capabilities they have.

I know exactly how this feels. My senior year of high school, my team had to do the exact same thing. We were the smallest school in our class and we were put in the same conference as the pre-season number one, three, and seven teams in the state. My team played four Homecoming games that year. Zero respect.

The thing the community needs to realize is right now is when the season is won or lost. Over this summer.

The players need to work hard. Get in the weight-room. Continue the bigger, faster, stronger program, and hit it harder than ever before. Feed off of that disrespect and prove them wrong.

Parents, help your kids. 

Dads, go to the park and work with them, whether it’s catching and throwing a football, or just teach them how to lock down on a block. Wrestle with them in the back yard. Play rough. Get those competitive juices flowing. You’ll probably feel good afterward too.

Moms, keep your boys healthy. Keep them drinking a lot of water and help them with their diet. If they are working hard this summer, they are going to eat a lot, and show your boys the support that they need.

I also know from experience this is where these boys are going to learn the lessons they need to become men.

In the business world, whether it is in the big city or small towns, they are going to have to learn to compete. They will always run into tough situations, like this, to work through.

If they learn now to quit or that it’s acceptable to make excuses because it’s “not fair” then they will never understand how to fight through the hardest parts of life. The offseason, right now, is when titles are won.

Lance Fleming is the sports reporter for the Red Oak Express. He can be contacted at sports@redoakexpress.com.