Working together
Thank you coach Ferda. In an era of bashing your teammates, premeditated end-zone dances and players putting themselves above others, there was you.
Your message was work together, give it your all and if you do these things, we will be champions.
You patrolled the sidelines like a linebacker. During game day, I often had images of Mike Singletary staring down an opponent as you shouted out signals.
We all have had to end our playing days at one point in our lives, and just as you told me and the other players you coached, you left it all on the field.
Coach Zorn, who held the rains before you set the bar very high, in my mind you cleared it by a mile. You bled green and gold for 20 years and even shaved a W in your chest once after a playoff win.
You shaped a lot of lives and allowed some of us the chance to take our skills to the next level. I thank you for that and will always be appreciative.
One quote you used to tell us that comes to mind is the question about hard work. You asked us, "Why do they call it hard work? It's hard. It is hard to hang 'em up. It is hard to let the game go, and it is hard to say goodbye."
From one Bulldog to another, thank you coach Ferda.
Spencer Lytle
Whitefish High School Class of '97