It’s the dream of every athlete.  An invitation to the big dance.  From the moment they are old enough to throw a ball, swing a bat or kick a goal, most kids dream about playing in the big game, a game for all the marbles, a game that will crown the champion.

Tomorrow that dream becomes a reality for the football team from Cardinal Newman High School.  Sure they've had a lot of successes.  Certainly they’ve had their share of championships over the years and last year’s trip to the CIF state championship game against Oaks Christian ranks among the stuff that dreams are made of for these young men from Newman.  But that was last year and this is a new crew.  Losing 22 seniors off that team that went to “state”, this team began anew, working hard, practicing harder and becoming a team, all over again.

Tomorrow at 3:45, these Sonoma County boys will kick off against the champions of the East Bay League, San Ramon Valley High School, in no other place than the Oakland Coliseum (otherwise known as the McAfee Coliseum for those of you scoring at home), the home of Oakland’s Raiders and Athletics.  It’s a monstrosity of a place, with seating for thousands upon thousands of rapid Raiders and less so A’s fans.

The week’s preparation has been interesting to watch.  Unlike a test, you cannot cram for this test of mettle.  The preparation has been a long, slow and arduous process, beginning in May with spring football, through the hot days of summer and football camps and into the longer nights this fall.  High school football at Newman is a 6 day a week commitment with a combination of classroom time, weight training, on field drills and special unit practices.  It takes hours of the boys’ time after school, often leaving them spent and exhausted, only to return home to several hours of homework, test prep and paper writing.  It requires an impressive commitment and is not for the weak in body or soul.  And through it all they grow, together.

The coaching staff has prepared them for what is to come.  There will be no trash talking of the opponent, no stuff for bulletin board fodder, no over confidence or cocky attitudes.  The coaches and their teammates won’t permit it.  They’ve spent hours watching film, spent hours running plays against scout teams who mimic their opponent’s tendencies and even traveled to the East Bay to watch last week’s regional championship game.   As the coaches told the boys yesterday, they’re as prepared as their going to be.

Here’s hoping they play the game of their young lives.   Go Cardinals!