The Spartans would make Deion Sanders proud as they are “looking good, feeling good, and playing good” this past season. photo by @SnapBack Photography on Instagram.
Despite not getting their desired final results, the TJ football team had a great season, uncovering a deep connection and new strengths.
This year, the Thomas Jefferson football team ended up with a record of 6-4. This ultimately led to the players missing the playoffs this year; however, their hard work and successes as a united front are still worth celebrating. Despite being a young team, the Spartans have never failed to put up a fight, averaging 34.0 points per game in their 2024 season.
The team demonstrated great resilience throughout the entire season. They faced a setback halfway through the season, when the boys went on a four game losing streak, losing their starting quarterback to an injury. Still, the Spartans battled back, ending the season with four outstanding games. Football is not always focused on winning or losing; the sport can also be about the relationships teammates build with each other, and the way coaches and players all connect on and off the field. The brotherhood that comes with football is a key factor to success as a team. Junior captain and starting center Gavin Vasquez says the best part about football at TJ is, “the family and the brotherhood that you grow with it.” Something special happens when the team comes together and finds a bond. This can eventually build chemistry on the field and the team can work even better together.
Offensive coordinator Mitch Griebel hopes more students will give football a shot. Many people are scared to step into the unknown, but the unknowns in football makes it increasingly more fun. Griebel hopes that football will, “make them into respectful young men, and not just good football players, but good people.” The opportunity for Spartans to come out and have fun is amazing, and finding the lifelong benefits that come with the sport is even better.
The biggest challenge the Spartans faced this year was the age of the team, since the roster was composed of more freshmen and sophomores playing on varsity than the typical program. Though this could have posed a large struggle, Griebel said that getting the young players in the game and giving them playing time on the varsity field is “a huge advantage for us, especially going into next year.” By allowing younger players to engage in a varsity game, this can help build up confidence for the young players. Giving them the experience on varsity will benefit the team in the upcoming seasons ahead. It is very beneficial that the foundation of the team is built upon younger athletes, as there is more time to shape them into the leaders and good men that the coaches aspire them to be. Football can shape students to become more disciplined and make them want to keep growing with their football family.
Football can and has inspired Spartans to become the best version of themselves. Through taking the time to participate in the entire season, players can discover what it takes to be a football player. Football is a hard, fun, competitive, and unique sport, but many people only view the hard parts of the game and don’t want to give it a shot. However, not only are the games fun, but the practices are as well. The practices teach students a lot about themselves, as there is something special about this aspect of football. Going into practice every day, performing in front of the people at school, being praised, and feeling respected can build up confidence in a player and help guide the way they perform in the future.
Football is not only about the players on the field, but also about how the team is shaped by the coaches, including head coach Mike Griebel. These coaches are role models who train the athletes every day, and push them to become the players they aspire to be, helping them to achieve their personal goals. One piece of advice that Vasquez wanted to leave behind for future Spartans was to “listen to the coaches, listen to them when they are telling you to give your all… listen to what you need to do, be coachable.” This is one of the most important factors of football, as listening lets the coaches teach new skills. When players not only listen to the advice on the field, but apply it off the field, the lessons coaches preach will help Spartans become better people.
During practice, the team has a chance to push each other. The Spartans actually have a set time every day of school before practice for players to study. This time set aside by the coaches aims to help the athletes to not only be better football players, but better scholars as well. This study hall time is also for the student-athletes to connect with each other, help each other out, and ensure eligibility will never be a problem for the football team.
The coaches do a fantastic job of supporting these Spartans, and the players do a commendable job of listening and applying their guidance. The football program will continue to push forward and work toward their goals as a team, while living up to the Spartan values, building relationships with each other and becoming the best humans they can be. Many Spartans want to build discipline while having fun, and this is the sport to accomplish this. Football is open to anyone, and the coaches would love to have everyone there. The bigger the program, the better the opportunities are for incoming Spartans.
