While the seniors are thinking about how high the sun will be in the fourth quarter, the rookies are thinking about how high their socks should be to look really cool. While the seniors are thinking about the defensive scheme they will face, the rookies think about where the team will stop to eat. While the seniors are thinking about the particular tendencies of the refs who'll be doing the game, the rookies are asking if St. Paul is close to Minneapolis. While the seniors are thinking about how each teammate needs to come through for there to be victory, the rookies are wondering why they aren't in the starting lineup. And, most revealing, while the seniors try to imagine what plays will need to be made in crunch time, the rookies are hoping they won't have to touch the ball in crunch time.
Most seniors are a little too shy to ask the rookies to pay better attention.
But young players should try to imagine how much a senior year can mean. And remember that, if they're lucky, some day they'll be seniors too.