Mesa Believes!

At the beginning of Mesa High's 2009 Football season,

the players donned shirts that said
"EXIT 7"
on the back.

Exit 7? What's that?

That's the exit you take to get to the Cardinal Stadium (technically "University of Phoenix Stadium" but that's a dumb name and nobody really calls it that...) where the state championship game is played. Today, our football team (with an entire community in tow) took Exit 7.

This past week, leading up to the big game, Mesa High has been a different place. Mesa High is known for being a school with deep traditions. In my opinion, those traditions sometimes get lost with the changing demographics. But not this week. The tradition and the pride was restored with Mesa's "We Believe" campaign. Students, teachers, clubs, and administrators plastered the campus with "_________ Believes" posters, showing support of our underdog chances at the state title. Here's my nerdy poster:

(Ms. Spend($)love(<3) bee leaves)

Alright, back to today... Sarah Neerings and I headed out to the west valley for the big game. And at the Cardinals Stadium! How cool is that?

We played Hamilton High School from Chandler, a total powerhouse team who has taken the state title five times in the past ten years. (Mesa hasn't been to state since 1992). I guess going to state is old news for the Huskies... they barely filled their side of the stadium.

The Mesa crowd?
Notable, without a doubt.

Well, I don't want to spend too much time talking about the actual game,
especially once you see this:

I will say that it stinks that the score doesn't reflect how well the boys played in the first half. The score was 0-0 for almost the entire first half. Hamilton kicked a field goal with a few minutes left in the half for a 3-0. But then with 6 seconds left in the half, Hamilton intecepted our pass and ran it in for a touchdown. Our boys never recovered from that 10-0 momentum shift right at the half. The 3rd quarter was riddled with interceptions and fumbles that Hamilton took full advantage of. Poor kids. I just felt so bad for them. :(

So, instead of talking about the game itself, let's highlight Mesa's champion moments at state.

1. Mesa played as a TEAM and not as individual players.

Our boys chose to walk out as a team,
rather than be announced and enter individually like the Hamilton players.

All of our players even come out onto the field with the team captains for the coin toss.


2. Mesa High is backed by it's community.

There were SOOO many alumni at the game,
including famous ones like Deuce Lutui who plays for the Cardinals
and chose to wear his Mesa High Football shirt. I love it.

3. The Haka

Here's Duece leading the boys in the Haka last year.
(The poofy haired Tongan in the front is one of my baby 7th graders, Pasiaka, who graduated last year. Have I really been around that long?? Yep. Seven years...)



They do it before every game to pump themselves (and the crowd up).
State was no exception to that rule:


4. The singing of "Carry On!"

Alright, so I personally think this alma mater is rather archaic and a little awkward (sorry you Mesa High alumn. Just remember... this isn't really my high school. I just work there). But really, what alma mater isn't archaic?

BUT, the kids love it and they all gather with arms around each other and sway back and forth as they sing it after EVERY game. No joke.



5. Mesa High Prays... even the non-Mormons!

I'm not sure how they get away with it in a public school, but I guess the team that prays together stays together. Here's a shot of Head Coach Kelley Moore praying with the boys after the game, while Hamilton is being presented their trophy in the background.

6. The Mesa High Fans

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...



(PS I LOVE these girls! Afton and Alison, on the left, are in my home ward in Mesa. Jadrian, on the far right, fills my heart with serious joy on a daily basis. Literally. All these girls are current students of mine too. Aren't they beautiful?)


It was a fun night, Mesa.

Miss Spendlove still believes in all the goodness you revived in the student body.