It's a great game...

"Football, it's a great game, 11 men fighting for every inch. They form a special bond, they win, they lose, they bleed together...and they remember and cherish each other for the rest of their lives..."

West Point Red

Just want you all to know, without a doubt, that this team has the best kids and the best parents and I have some of the best coaches that any coach could ever hope for. There is not a group of people that I would rather be associated with than all of you.
Thank you so much for the time and effort you all put into this team!
This blog is great, the pics are awesome, love the ones of the kids individually and I always love the ones of kids with coaches.. The comments and poems are fantastic!
The signs and balloons and posters and banners are all exceptional! I know the kids love them and even though I have a bad habit of not paying enough attention to them (as pointed out to me by Jenn lol) I want you all to know that I understand the time and effort involved in making them and doing all that and it is VERY MUCH appreciated!

To my players:
Keep your heads high, your confidence up and your will strong! We will bounce back from the loss on Sat and come out stronger as a result!!

See you Tuesday at 5:00!
Coach Rob

We BELIEVE In YOU!

Check out Coach Bowles words of encouragement and Jenn's poem below if you haven't already. Those are incredible! Thanks guys!!

Let's start this next week with a clean slate. You guys know who we are. WE ARE STRONG! WE ARE POWERFUL! WE ARE FALCONS! WE ARE CHAMPIONS!! LET'S SHOW CLINTON WHAT WE'RE MADE OF!


(if you pause the music on the side bar you can play this video clip of the pre-game huddle and hear the chant)

"Most football teams are tempermental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."- Doug Plank.

As our great coaches say 'Let's get MAD'...

As we run onto our HOME FIELD...

and put our coaches strategies into action...

while the crowd goes wild for OUR FALCONS...

And we soar to the top like we have so many times before!

Each and every one of you boys is special and bring something unique to this team! WE'VE GOT THE BEST BOYS AND COACHES OUT THERE!!! Let's make this week better than we've ever had before! GO DIRTY BIRDS!!

Words from Wyatt...

Jenn, that poem is awsome i liked it alot. I appreciate all you do for our team. Thanks to all the fans. Todays game was a very tuff game. I cant wait to get back on the field next Saturday Wyatt # 92

You ARE a Champion

You've had your time for rest, you've had your time for sorrow.
Remember what you do today, will always change tomorrow.

So lift your heads, and dry your eyes,
You'll find your spirits start to rise.

Know that Falcon Fury can't be beat, no matter what the scoreboard shows,
For happiness is in the journey. Ask Coach Bowles...he knows!!

A CHAMPION takes the good and bad, learns lessons from each one,
To fuel the fire that leads him onward, so when the day is done,

He WILL stand proud and strong with knowledge that though perfect he is not...
He learned and grew with ups and downs, and gave it ALL HE GOT!!!

So as you rise with each new day and until the setting sun,
Know this in your hearts dear boys....YOU ARE A CHAMPION!!!

Never Give Up...

Today was a very tough loss for us. I appreciate you parents. Today you sure showed up Big. Let’s not forget we still have another game left and there is possibility to go onto the playoffs. Today I am reminded of a quote from Rocky Balboa. He embodied the spirit of never giving up.“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!”- Rocky

Dirty Birds Tuesday brings a new week for us and another chance at excellence. Show up ready to prepare for our next game. Just because you had a loss today does not mean you are not a champion you are still champions in my mind. God bless each of you and have a great weekend.

Coach Bowles

INSPIRATION From COACH BOWLES...

Well this has got to be the coolest little Blog. There is a tremendous sense of pride here that is undeniably the spirit of the Dirty Birds at work. Thanks to all who put this together.

On Saturday we will enter the football field to accomplish the next step as a strong team capable of anything as we work together, 23 young men all together as the West Point Dirty Birds. Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing- Abraham Lincoln.

As a man believes so he will act.
EACH OF YOU READING THIS, BELIEVE YOU ARE A CHAMPION BECAUSE YOU ARE!! Enter that football field on Saturday and let them know that you are a champion. Champions Play 100%, 100% of the time. A champion never says he can't, a champion never gives up, and a champion does not stop until the last whistle blows. A champion plays through any fear and does it with a smile on his face, A Champion Hits like a freight train just for the fun of it. And at the end of the game champions win or lose always congratulates his opponent for a fair game and holds his head high. SO GO OUT AND WIN YOUR DIVISION AND DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN. THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE!

To the Fans I know without a doubt you are Champions, Thank you for all your hard work and response to my email. I promise you have already made a difference. Show up Big for your Dirty Birds on Saturday and watch them soar!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless each of you, Go Dirty Birds!!!

Coach Bowles

Adding to Cole and Zack's Thoughts...

This is definitely a cool website! Go team!! Lets make the playoffs!

Kaedan #4

I am a FALCON! I am POWERFUL!

Tre- 2 year old Die Hard "Dirty Birds" Fan

Thoughts from the boys....

I can't believe we have our own website!!! I will go to it every day :):)
Cole #6




This website is so cool. I love it. I bet we make the playoffs. That would be cool.
ZACK #21

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!

Would anyone like to help take pictures for the blog during the football games? If you don't want to upload them to the blog you can put them on a disc and I can upload them each week when I upload mine. Maybe we can split up the roster so we can each focus on a smaller number of players and get better action shots of each. I tried to get multiple pictures of each boy during the game against Morgan. I apologize that I didn't get as many of some of them as others. If anyone would be interested in splitting camera duty please let me know. I would greatly appreciate it!

Also, check out Jenn Thompson's story that she wrote for our last game below. Thanks Jenn! That's awesome! And thanks for all the sign ideas. They really color up the sidelines with our Falcon pride! Go Falcons!!

West Point vs. Morgan 9/19/09

What a great victory ~ 28 to 0! Congrats boys and coaches! Your dedication and hard work is really showing! Lets go out and do it again this week!! Go "Dirty Birds"!!



The Trojan vs The Falcon


…..the story of game 3

The mid-day sun shone down on the field as the warm ups and practice drills began. The mighty Falcons were trying to put on their game faces, but felt as though their wings had been clipped. Their fellow Fierce Fighting Falcon was not able to join them for this battle with the Morgan Trojans. For Payson had the flu and was trapped in the dungeon of his home, confined to the bed or couch with no route of escape.

The mighty Falcons knew, like all great warriors do, they must endure their loss. They mended their broken wing as best they could, adjusted their alignment, and formed their pre-game huddle.

As the captains gathered to flip the coin, the team began their chant…I AM STRONG!!! I AM POWERFUL!!! I AM A FALCON!!! In an attempt to uplift the spirits of the team, the leader of the chant added… I AM A CHAMPION!!!!! And the Falcons roared onto the field ready for play.

The Falcons trudged through the first quarter,

.....plodded through the second quarter,

doing very well, but not quite up to their standard of excellence.

Although they had not let the Trojans score, they were getting very close. Then suddenly, the Trojans on the FOUR, the Head Falcon called a time out. “Listen boys, you know what they are going to do. They have played this play 3 times before, watch their formation, and kick it into gear!!!”

So, as the Falcons lined up, watching their opponent closely, Josh saw the play exactly like Coach said it would be!

Running into position, Josh intercepted the ball, and ran the 96 yards for a TOUCHDOWN!!!!

The crowds went wild, cheering and screaming for the FALCONS!!! And the Falcons knew they could not be beat.

They went into the half time huddle, excited about the play. They listened to their instruction and returned to the field full of pump and energy.

The banner was waving, proudly displaying the WEST POINT FALCON moniker. Two FALCONS emblazoned on the banner bearing the #2 reminded the Fighters of their teammate that was absent. “Let’s do it for PAYSON” one Falcon cried. The team responded with a booming chorus of “YEAH! FOR PAYSON!! PAYSON! PAYSON! PAYSON!” They cheered as they ran out onto the field, crashing through the banner bearing Payson’s trade mark.

The Fiercely Fighting Falcons went on to play a hard hitting,

Trojan pounding battle.

Pads and helmets crashing and crunching,

Falcons and Trojans colliding and flying…..

......on to victory they played. Shutting out the Mighty Trojans….28-0!!!

The fans cheered and yelled, the Falcons jumped and hollered. Then they gathered as all proud fighters do to give tribute to their valiant rival. “MORGAN!!” They bellowed and went on to walk the line, good gaming, and fist bumping, and thanking their challenger for a strong effort.

They gathered under the tree, happy and satisfied with a solid “W” on the board. The Falcon Leaders expressed their joy, their excitement, their words of wisdom and intellect.

And the Falcon Fury became a force of power and strength and intensity. WE ARE STRONG. WE ARE POWERFUL. WE ARE FALCONS, and WE ARE CHAMPIONS!!!