Avon Football Makes if Back 2 Back State Titles: Coach Elder’s Pregame Quotes

Congratulations to Avon High School’s back-to-back Division II Football State Champions! They join Girls Volleyball and Boys Soccer in the state champion winners circle this season.

It’s a tribute to the student athletes, band members, cheerleaders, coaches and community for all their hard work, discipline and support. And also to their 12th man, Jeremiah Kelly, who is with this team now and forever!

With a 37-20 win over Cincinnati Anderson at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, the Eagles topped the Raptors for the second straight year in the Div. II OHSAA finals.

Finishing the year at 14-1 after last season’s 15-0 mark, Avon has built an incredible program, one that other schools can only envy. The Eagles have won 10 Southwestern Conference titles in a row and have advanced to the state final four in 8 of the last 10 seasons. In this year’s playoff run, Avon beat three undefeated teams in Medina Highland in the regional finals and Walsh Jesuit in the state semifinals en route to the championship game.

How do they do it? Take a look at Coach Mike Elder’s pregame talk before the Walsh game. It’s a glimpse at this program’s focus on faith, brotherhood and commitment that form the groundwork of its excellence.

“I hope – I pray – that when you look back on this ten years down the road you look at it as the best time of your life,” said Elder before taking the field against 12-0 Walsh in the regional finals. “You got to do something really hard with your brothers.

“Football is not easy. This started a long time ago, 6 days a week work outs, summer stuff, you’ve got to get out of bed and your friends aren’t. But you did it! You did it for each other.

“Every play has to have a life of its own. When the play is over, we cannot go backward. What we can do is go forward. For your brothers. For each other. For the investment what you have in this thing.

“I think we have a lot of tough dudes in this locker room. Dudes that are going to look and not blink. You’re going to play each play and not blink.” Avon won 38-7.

Photos credit OHSAA

Coach Elder’s thoughts before the championship game against Anderson:

“The WORD this morning was gratitude. I hope and pray that you took that seriously and reached out to some people you love and told them how much you love and appreciate them,” he said.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t stand in front of all of you and tell you how grateful I am for all of you. It’s about your journey and how hard you guys have worked. You’ve worked tirelessly since January.

“This journey is special, men. It’s really special. So I’m grateful for all of you. I’m grateful for the players in this program who wake up at 6 am in the summer while everyone else sleeps in, grateful for showing up every day at practice with a good attitude no matter what’s going on in your life. And I’m so grateful for our coaching staff. Coaches, I love you guys like brothers. I wouldn’t want to do this with anybody else.

“We’ve got such an amazing culture in Avon football. Culture is built by every single one of you…..I’m asking you to dig deep inside and ask yourself what your role is in this football game. If it’s to create juice and energy on the sideline, then that’s what you do. If you’re an injured player, your job might be to lift up one of your brothers when things aren’t going well.

“I promise you this, everyone has an important role. And many of you guys who won’t see the field tonight, you did your job. You got this team ready. So what I ask you to do tonight, please, is to understand that the reward will be the journey. That is the real reward.

“Yes, we’re playing for that last moment, and yes, I want that so bad for you guys. But the reward is the journey. This is it for us, guys! We can’t take this any further.

“What I want every one of you to do is enjoy it! Let all that pressure, all those feelings go and get out there and play with the dudes you’ve been playing football with since the first, second and third grades. Have fun doing it. Let it fly! Let it rip! And get after them four quarters TOGETHER!

“I know you will. I love you guys with all my heart!”

(Ed. Note: Visit OhioSportsNet1 on YouTube and you will find great Avon football videos that include game highlights and also Coach Elder’s pregame talks).