WATER!!

Whole-body heat cramping is a progressive and debilitating physical state, one that tends to afflict athletes who are training or competing in warm weather conditions.. In hot weather, sodium is lost through the increased levels of perspiration generated by exercise, as the body endeavors to maintain a healthy internal temperature through the cooling release of sweat. When the body perspires, sodium (and trace amounts of other minerals, such as calcium and magnesium) and water are passed together from the body.

Muscle cramps rarely occur in a strong and RESTED muscle. Cramps invariably become a factor in athletic performance after the muscle has endured significant stress.

"College athletes, especially football players, are such prima donnas and they think they are entitled to special treatment."

While there are obviously some who may hold true to the above statement, for the most part, it really is not true. In fact, it's the complete opposite.

Not that I am an authority by any means. But, in my experience in the past 5 years, I have not seen it. Granted, my opinion as a mother of a player may be tainted, but I am only the mother of one player, not the entire team.

First of all, just because you may have been a player in high school, it does not mean that you will be "THE MAN" when you get to college. Football teams are made up of lots of high school stand outs. You not only have to earn your spot, but you have to keep earning your spot year to year, week to week and day to day. The mentality is, "I have to play with 100% intensity on every play because if I don't, the guy behind me will."

If there is one thing I have learned over the past 5 years, it is that nothing is a guarantee. They can even announce your kid's name over the PA  in the stadium as being in the starting lineup and he still may not start. That information may already be old news by the time it gets to the press box!  Plans can change in the locker room before kick off.

Your kid can be playing lights out and then the next play he gets pulled. No explanation. That's just the way it is. It can be like a business sometimes.

Not even scholarships are guaranteed year to year.

We are so fortunate at Georgia Southern to have great coaches with a lot of integrity. These men are literally helping us raise our son and instill values and a work ethic in him. I would have a hard time being ok with that if I did not respect them and know that they have my son's, as well as the team's, best interest at heart. It is not JUST about winning National Championships with them. Although, don't get me wrong,  they want to win and so do I! But, they realize that first and foremost, this is about young men getting a college degree. Rings AND Diplomas.

I continue to be humbled by these kids as I learn of some of the things they do not only ON the field, but OFF the field as well.

As a team, they do lots of charitable activities in the community. Habitat for Humanity, Boys Club, Mentors and Reading in Schools, helping Freshmen students (not other football players or athletes)  move into dorms (after they have practiced that day), going to talk to children whose parent/parents are in the military and deployed overseas....the list goes on and on.

All this while practicing at least 20 hours a week on the field, not to mention watching film, meetings, time in the weight room and oh yeah....GOING TO COLLEGE! It really is a full time job.

I am sure it is mentally taxing as well as physically. A lot of wear and tear on these young kids.

My son has this crazy predispositon for getting so dehydrated that he goes into full body cramps. I have personally only witnessed it 2 times, but that was plenty. It must be excruciating because it is even painful to watch! Terrible-

Last night, after a two a day practice, the trainer called to tell us that after several attempts to access a vein, they were going to take him to the ER to get IV's because he was having full body cramps . This from the kid who at 6'0, 285 lbs is scared of spiders. (He would admit that so I'm not sharing any secrets). I know 7 sticks with a needle wasn't much fun.

He ended up spending the night in the hospital and is out today. Fortunately, there is not practice today, just meetings. So, he can rest up.

But, there is practice tomorrow! And the next day and the next.

We have talked to him several times between last night and today. He sounds tired, but for the most part is very positive. Mainly because it's just his nature and also because that's part of the game. These things happen. Like my husband likes to say..."It is what it is."

In the big scheme, it is not a broken bone or an injury that would sideline him or end his career or anything life threatening. (We have had those on this team). And for that, we are truly grateful.

Grateful that he gets the opportunity to go to college and do something he loves. Because truly, they HAVE to love it. Not even just like it a little. You gotta love it. Waking up at 5am to run or lift weights and practicing in the wicked South Georgia heat with gnats in your face and running in sand in full pads and flipping a  big a*# tractor tire in the heat of the day....come on.

So, when football season officially kicks off, no matter which team you are rooting for, let's remind ourselves that these are 18-23 year old young men who have a lot riding on their shoulders. The only "special treatment" they probably get is medical treatment. lol


Go Eagles!
GATA!

Grateful,
DD