By J.D. EDDY, Editorial Editor
The Ranger Games are few days of competition set aside for the football team at the end of April. I was involved in them last spring. Even though I do not play anymore, I still think they are important for the team.
The Ranger Games begin after spring football ends. They are the culmination of the team’s hard work throughout the spring semester.
There are four teams competing. They use a point system that is increased by bringing in high-test scores, showing that you have good grades in a class, winning your runs every morning, setting new personal records in the weight room and beating the weight or running standards set for your position group: Running backs, linebackers, quarterbacks, to name a few.
Stephen McCluskey, a graduate player said: “It’s an opportunity to show everyone what you can do. It’s great because the better you do, the more points you get. With more points, it shows the coaches and teammates how much you want to win.”
It gives the players and coaching staff something to look forward to at the end of the spring.
I went Monday morning to take pictures for the paper. Despite the fact that it was early, everyone was full of energy. The players were cheering for their teammates during events like the medicine ball relay.
The first event that day was the med ball relay. There are four teams that compete, each with a med ball that the players would run with to the other end. Then the players would sprint back to the starting line, touch the line, run back to grab the med ball, and then sprint back to the starting line so the next person could go.
The players had a lot of positive energy during the event. That is what a team should be. No matter how early it is, or whether you are competing, you are supporting your teammates. It is something that makes the Ranger Games so important for team morale.
The game has some downsides, but not many. Of course, getting up that early is not for everyone. Players have to have a willingness to put their bodies through pain before most people are even close to waking up. Football, like most sports, requires a mental toughness that most people do not have. That is something I consider a downside. The Ranger Games are actually fun to attend.
Because I have not played football for almost a year, I didn’t recognize some of the players. That is a good thing. It means that recruiting is going well, bringing new and exciting players into the program.
Some things like the Ranger Games keep the program interesting, and they allow for growth as a program and for growth as a player.
I never competed with my team because we were in fifth place that year, but our entire team consisted of offensive linemen. We had a disadvantage in a few of the speed categories, but they did not stop us from competing. We wanted to win.
Ja’vion Combs, a sophomore o-lineman, had this to say: “It’s the Rangers Games. It’s the definition of what a team is: Multiple teams competing to win the top spot. It brings the team together.”
The Ranger Games form a sense of comradery. They instill a sense of purpose, showing this is what our program is about, that we stand with each other even if we are separated.
Football will always hold a special place in my heart, especially at Northwestern. The friendships and memories I made will be with me forever. They will influence my life. The Rangers Games served to show me that football wasn’t just about me; it was about the team and what we stood for.
If that is how the players now feel, then no one should be able to beat this team next year.