0-12 BY SPENCER MCINNIS

In 2013, the Miami RedHawks football team went 0-12 and I was apart of that team. This was one of the best, worst teams I have ever been apart of. The season was one of the toughest times I have ever been through. Being on the team, meant you were embarrassed to show your face around campus. You felt like you had let many people and your school down. Coming back to football each Monday, you would look around and everyone was already prepared to lose the next game. It was a down time for many players and coaches.

Yes, football is only a game, but you work so hard in the winter, spring, summer and fall. We condition, lift and learn the game fiercely, only to lose every week. We were losing because of a combination of reasons.

However, I learned more than most people my age; I learned humility, resilience, and tenacity. Not a lot of teams go 0-12. But when coaches started getting fired and people, aside from our families stopped caring about us, most players and coaches kept their heads high. We kept grinding through the year with practices, film sessions and games.

There were some players and coaches that checked out, but most kept the course. Those coaches and players that kept the course, ran and played every practice like it was there last one. Their humility, resilience and tenacity kept them moving everyday. I saw this and took this experience as an opportunity to learn and improve myself.

I was not a winner that season, but I gained characteristics that will be apart of me for life. I learned more this season, than any other season I have been apart of here. I will forever think very highly and love those brothers and coaches that never gave up.

Those that never gave up are now leaders and seniors on the 2016 team. From losses and coaching changes, we have been through a lot, but these seniors have a chip on their shoulder. They are real leaders. We will never forget the past because we want to better the future.