When thinking about Rock Island Football, the sport is more than just an extracurricular activity. Football is a way that some people grew up, and it’s a part of their identity. This is true for two people involved in the Rock Island Football community, for player Davonte Conner this sport has grown to be a very important time when the following school year starts. For Coach Fritz Dieudonné, the sport of football is part of his whole life, and has always been since his early years in life. From players to coaches and parents, football is a lifestyle, having these months of the sport brings people together as one community.
This is year 125 in Rock Island Football, which means lots of time to make many memories. The statement, ¨Pride, Passion, and Tradition¨ is something that comes with a lot of meaning, like the fact that every year this statement is reused to explain the values that the Football team comes with. For Dieudonné, that statement “Pride Passion and Tradition”, ¨represents what this program has been for years,¨ he explained, and the coaching staff plans to ¨reestablish pride, passion and tradition for another year.¨
Along with that anniversary it is also the 95th anniversary of the Almquist Stadium, which has been around for longer than the school itself has been there. This stadium has held many memories over the years. Rock Island gets lots of praise for this stadium with it being named one of the best stadiums in the nation, which seats over 15,000 spectators.
This sport comes with struggles, but it also comes with lots of exciting moments. Davonte Conner had the experience of getting a new head coach his junior year, and he saw the way that the team had to get used to the changes, stating, ¨Last year was hard having to get used to adjustments, like having a new head coach and learning to work together with him in charge.¨
This was also a change with Coach Dieudonné, as he has a very important role in the Rock Island community. He is seen everywhere during football season, and that comes with a lot of discipline. That can include him being seen all over Rock Island, especially during the Football season. Other things that come with being a Head coach is that he must always be on his best behavior to make sure that Rock Island as a whole has a good reputation. Dieudonné explains that ¨the reality is that I’m in a position where this time of year, if anyone watches sports highlights, they will see me.¨ This means making sure that you are being a good role model all the time, which can also be difficult to do.
Last year was a hard time in Rock Island Football, but this year, the program has a lot of hope for the team. Much of the improvement has to do with the coaches and the coachibility of the team. Davonte says, ¨I learned how to be coached, and that’s an important thing for you to grow to learn in this sport.¨ This is something that needs to be learned in order for you to do well in this sport because without the accountability to be coached, there is not much you can improve on.
Some objectives that Davonte finds important in getting through the years in football is to ¨Take it serious, and put in the work, but also do not get distracted because that is the cause for many mistakes in this sport.¨ The 2023 season was not expected to be in that position to lose the opportunities of wins, but the team will persevere in lots of ways. Already just in the pre-season and the first week, it was obvious that this group has learned a lot.
In the words of Coach Dieudonné ,¨We have helped motivate the players to ensure that we don’t have another year of missed opportunities.¨ This is crucial to this team because last year, there were many mistakes that could have been prevented with more work into the team and working together. Davonte says that he ¨wants to see how this year’s team can come together to hopefully pull out the wins.¨ This could be a great advance in the team for the year.
Davonte Conner, along with many of the other seniors, will be moving onto college football, or some also will end their football careers this year. That is an emotional moment in these players’ lives. In Davonte’s opinion, he explains, ¨It hurts, but at the same time, you see your next steps that are ahead of you.¨ But at the same time it ¨feels great¨ to be a senior and walk along the track on senior night with your parents.
But the responsibility that also comes with being a senior is being a leader and role model for the underclassmen. For Davonte, it’s very important to have good role models and ¨having someone that cares enough to yell at you and help you grow to be great.¨ Some wise words from Coach Fritz about these next steps in the seniors lives is to ¨not take it for granted,¨ as this is because for some players, they will only play 8 more games of football in their lives.
With this year, everyone will see how the team can come together and do great things. Many people could agree that the seniors leaving will be missed in this program because of the impact that they have brought to the program, and also as people. The coaching staff, as well, brings great things to this group of players, and are always appreciated for their dedication to the team and for sticking by the team for this long.
