Notes from a Wildcat Mom

Kathy Sells is the mother of Linfield starting Tight End Russell Sells. I put up an invitation to parents/guardians of Linfield Seniors to share their thoughts or stories about their son's journeys as a Linfield Wildcat. Kathy was nice enough to send in a message that I think will ring home for many folks as the Sells have enjoyed the good times and rode out the adversity of the challenges that college athletics will offer. Thank you Kathy for sharing. If you would like to share your story about a Linfield Senior please drop me an email at Catdomealumni@yahoo.com
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I prayed all summer long that Russell would have a good senior year in football. The kid has been a football workhorse since the 6th grade. I just wanted it to pay off for him, finally. We talked about how his experiences would at least help him in a future coaching career. There have been some awful lows (breaking the right elbow the day after being called up to varsity as a sophomore in HS for example). The beginning of his junior year in HS there was a change of head coach. He played every down of every game both sides of the ball. They had winning seasons, but just barely, and there were no playoffs. (Now that same team has found some traction and routinely goes to playoffs!)

Then he decided to go to Linfield over Cal Luth and various other D3s that recruited him. We were so excited!! What a program! Whoops there goes the head coach and Linfield struggles a bit (that's no insult to Joe Smith, it just takes some time to establish yourself). Russell was cool with playing on the scout team his first year. He said it was really hard work! Today he will tell you that the 2009 scout team is the best ever and is one of the reasons the team is so well prepared. Well, you know the rest of the story with him and you know the kind of guy he is, so I can say for sure that I've never seen him happier. That is what I am thankful for. The Linfield tradition has been upheld and Russell was able to contribute.

My husband and I have traveled a lot this fall and spent a lot of money to see the Wildcats play. We know this is it. After this year, no more football. It's not like basketball where you can play in rec leagues and still have fun. It's not like Russell will be going to the NFL. Hey it is only money and we will have these fantastic memories all the rest of our lives. We always take Russell and his roommate out to dinner at GVB and have breakfast the next morning at the Wildwood Cafe. We have so much fun going to the game and hanging out with these guys.

Finally, it has happened, the football gods have smiled upon my boy!!

Thanks for all you do,

Kathy Sells