Charlie blair: teaching a life lesson from the sidelines
4-11-2
That’s the record compiled by Collegiate’s varsity boys’ soccer team this past fall.
Now, forget the record. The story of the season involves much more than wins, losses, and ties. That’s not to say that the Cougars were completely satisfied with the way things turned out. It’s just that they discovered that the true value of the athletic experience can’t always be measured by the numbers on the scoreboard.
Charlie Blair, who’s headed the program since 1981, anticipated a rebuilding year, but he never questioned the mettle of those who would return or those who would be thrust into varsity competition for the first time. Little did he know, though, that preparing for the season would be the least of his, or his team’s, concerns.
Early in the summer, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He underwent surgery on July 25. On doctor’s orders, he lay low in the early part of the fall as assistants Rob Ukrop and Shep Lewis ran the show. His recovery was smooth and his prognosis excellent, and by mid-September, he was back full time.
This isn’t a story about Charlie Blair, though. In fact, he cringes at the thought. Instead, it’s about the lessons he taught without even realizing he was teaching them, the manner in which his players received them, and the way he prepared his guys for life beyond the pitch.
If athletic competition is truly a metaphor for life, then the Collegiate boys’ soccer team learned plenty about living during the fall of 2006.
Blair is a product of his upbringing and his experiences at St. Christopher’s, Camp Virginia, and Collegiate. He confronts challenges head-on. He fields accolades with humility. He handles disappointment without self-pity or excuse. He blends toughness with humor. His glass is always half-full, never half-empty. Such is the way he has always taught and coached. Such is the way he confronted his illness.
Early on, his players knew of his battle, but they never heard it from him. The first day of practice, he gave his usual speech – train hard, play smart, be a good sport, have fun, support your teammates, make good choices off the field – then told them simply that he would miss some time. That was it. Matter-of-fact. No emotion.
It wasn’t that the Cougars needed inspiration, but early that Monday morning, they received it. There was little discussion afterward -- some talk among players, of course -- but no team meeting, no win-one-for-the-Gipper. It was simply understood that they would practice and compete with passion, strive to excel, and battle adversity as they saw him do quietly every day.
“We knew what Coach Blair was dealing with,” said Tommy Blain, a senior co-captain. “He really downplayed it, but knowing that he was struggling made us put more into the game.”
The season began. The competition was difficult. Victories were hard to come by. The Cougars soldiered on.
“It was unbelievable how we came together,” Blain added. “I don’t remember a single moment of discouragement. “We always thought we could be successful.”
Despite their record, the team earned a spot in the state tournament. It was a chance to be together another day. Their season ended with a 2-0 loss to Eastern Mennonite, but the players, especially the seniors, wouldn’t have traded one more road trip for anything.
“The guys never quit,” said Lewis. “Even in the final week, we felt like we’d turn the corner and make a run. “They were just as upbeat and worked just as hard then as they did going into the season. “They responded really well to adversity.” How much of that response was a reaction to their coach’s bout with cancer is difficult to know and, of course, impossible to quantify. Certainly, it put the win-loss record in perspective. Probably, the answer will reveal itself as they continue to process the events of the fall. Undoubtedly, they’ll grow from their shared experience.
“Coach Blair definitely inspired us,” said Blain. “We left the season with a sense of accomplishment and armed with some lessons I know we will use. Coach’s illness helped us understand what’s truly important in life.”
