By: Mike Thompson
It was a long time in coming, but with the victory Saturday night against Montgomery at Family Arena, Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt realized the culmination of a dream both personally and professionally. In what he called a ‘theme of love” regarding his players and the sport to which he has devoted the greater part of his working life, Coach Wyatt embraced his 200th career victory. It’s been a road that has seen him travel to and coach in Europe, win championships, work in the NFL, inspire his players in Italy to produce an undefeated Championship season, coach teams that have set amazing offensive records, and along the way, have an impact and influence on the lives of young men who even today, regardless of time or distance, still refer to him as a mentor and friend. The emotion of the 200th win on Saturday is best conveyed by the man who was there for the other one hundred and ninety-nine , Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt, As humans, we all need a sort of validation for our success. We have the need to be cared about and care for otheore about a teammate than himself. I could see the emotion as I told them they could play for themselves, play on this new turf at the Family Arena, play with pride and play under the rules to show respect for their sport and the city they represent. I urged them to get victory number 3 for themselves, and when that happened, the career milestone for me would be remembered as one given by a team that never let up, never backed down , with each man on the field making a contribution to a night that I’ll forever remember.”
The Rage players, assistant coaches and owners made sure Coach Wyatt had a least one tangible reminder. After Saturday’s win, Coach Wyatt was presented with a gold colored football signed by every member of the 2005 Rage team. It rests proudly in the office of Mike Wyatt, serving now as a daily reminder of how skill and preparation and patience and yes, even love, can make success a reality.
