Preacher James Vandiver gave a powerful speech last week at the Rotary Club of McMinnville where he stressed the Power of 1 and talked about the ability of one person to make a lasting impact.

With positive words or consistent determination, one person can indeed make a difference.

I think of Vandiver’s words when I hear people talking about last week’s Warren County High School football game against Woodbury. It seems a large contingent of local residents are eager to classify the game as The Worst Loss Ever In Warren County History.

When I hear that statement, I wonder what it’s meant to accomplish. The only thing I can gather is it’s meant to demean our local teens who are out there practicing in 90-degree heat when most of us complain about having to walk outside to our cars.

It was just last year when there were serious whispers that Warren County might have to forfeit a game, or games, because the Pioneers didn’t have enough players to field a team. Fortunately, that didn’t happen and new coach Matt Turner was a bundle of energy during the offseason in an effort to recruit more players. His efforts worked and varsity participation has increased. 

What a misguided way to greet these new players, many of them brand new to football, as to try to slap a derogatory label on their performance as the worst ever. In this day when there’s so much talk about bullying in school, it sounds to me like the adults on the sidelines are the real problem.

Some of these kids are 15 years old. The oldest player on the field is only 18. Do we really think our best way of supporting the Pioneers is to call the loss to Woodbury the worst in program history? Is that our cruel notion of encouragement?

I’m sure no one associated with WCHS football is turning backflips at losing to Woodbury. It was not expected.

But it’s been said if you’re not working toward a solution then you’re part of the problem. If identifying the game as a low point in program history is what it takes to make some folks feel good about themselves, I guess that’s where we’re at.

A more productive response would be to find a way to help WCHS football improve. Trying to make teenagers feel bad seems woefully counterproductive.

In remembering Vandiver’s message, I firmly believe one person can make an impact and one person can make a difference. We should keep that in mind when we talk about Pioneer football. Let’s build up the players who are out there making an effort.