Grapevine moms get insider’s look at high school football

Last Thursday, Grapevine head football coach Randy Jackson had 65 to 70 of the high school’s most important leaders meet in the varsity locker room.

As the season grew closer, he needed them to buy into the coaching staff and the program.

After rounds of helmet fitting and question-and-answer sessions with the offensive and defensive coordinators, the group was fired up and ready for the season, Jackson said.

For the first time, Grapevine held a Mom’s Football 101 night, which gave the mothers of the Mustang players a chance to peak behind the curtain of what goes on in the football program.

“He did a good job making us feel like we’re a part of the program,” Michelle Rourke said. “I think it’s really smart because you have to get the moms to buy in.”

“We’re in charge,” she added with a laugh.

Jackson invited an official, two of his coaches and a nutritionist to speak to the group about some of the intricacies of the game and how to properly prepare the players for the rigors of football season with what they eat.

For the mothers, Grapevine’s team doctor was one of the most important speakers, letting them know their children will be taken care of while participating in the game.

Most of the uncertainties that many parents have in deciding to let their sons play football, with national attention focusing on the long-term effects of concussions, were wiped away, Rourke said.

“They made us feel really safe,” she said. “You know how moms always worry about their kids. They made us feel safe about how they are going to hydrate them. We’re always worried about concussions and getting them hurt. It made me feel better about my son actually playing football, knowing he is going to be safe.”

Jackson and his defensive coordinator Mike Alexander broke down their methods of teaching tackling, protecting the head from major contact. He also brought in a helmet-fitting professional to explain how a properly fitted piece of equipment can help reduce injury.

Grapevine had no concussions last season, Jackson said.

Equally as important to Rourke as the physical well-being of her son, junior offensive lineman Simon Rourke, was the development of his character, which Jackson emphasized in his time speaking to the group.

“They are going to work with them on being good men and growing them, doing character building and talking to them about being good men, not just winning football games,” she said. “I think it’s a really neat program. I don’t think it’s just all about football.”

Don’t get the wrong idea. Winning is very important at Grapevine. Just glance at Jackson on the sideline on Friday nights and you’ll see competition at its best.

But Thursday, he was also able to let the mothers of his players see the kind of person he really is away from the gridiron.

“I think it was good for them to see a different side of me that wasn’t intense,” Jackson said with a chuckle.

With the success of the inaugural Mom’s 101, Jackson said he’s sure they’ll continue the tradition of getting the program’s most important leadership team on board every season.

Travis L. Brown can be reached at tbrown7137@gmail.com and on Twitter @Travis_L_Brown.

This story was originally published August 10, 2015 at 2:34 PM with the headline "Grapevine moms get insider’s look at high school football."