#23 Dominique Forrest, Linebacker, Portland, Or. (Jesuit High)
Send ‘Em Up, Send ‘Em Up, Send ‘Em up… another year in the books I’ll tell my grand-kids about. Looking back, man it was a fun one. Going from a crash course in the level of play of college football last year to having a little experience under the belt was a good transition going into this season. I felt more comfortable with not only the players around me, but with the defensive scheme and the preparation steps necessary to understand a game plan for any given opposing team. That all started freshman year with the senior leadership we had in the LBC, and improved even more this year with the senior leadership we had on the defensive side. These guys really know how to show the way, the “Linfield way”. And to me, that simply means the way to just get it done.
Last year I was a role player on special teams and got in the mix throughout the season as backer. This year I was fortunate to have a starting role and contribute that way. It’s a lot different when you go from hearing all that calls and knowing just one position, to having to make the calls and know what the whole front is doing. With practice, coaches help, and just more focus really, day by day things started to sink in and I took a lot of good steps toward become a better player. This year I felt more at ease playing, the game seemed to slow down and my vision of the formations improved. I don’t want to feel content with my improvements and I know there is still a lot of work to be done for me to be the player I want to be. Physically and mentally. This off-season will be important as we prepare for next season.
You know, another year playing for this team has fostered a lot of my growth not only as a player, but as a person too. Playing for/with people who have become some on my best friends and guys who I have strong relationships with or mad respect for is something that makes these times special. The silent message this team has, the pillars we follow, the ambitious attitude we have will do wonders for us. I’ve bought into it and trust these coaches to take this team and myself on the right path. We just got to keep working for that goal. There is something special in this program and with the right work we can do something legendary.
-Dominique Forrest
#84 Jacob Priester, Tight End, Patterson, Cali. (Patterson High)
After completing my second season of football at Linfield College, one thing that has not changed has been the atmosphere of outworking our opponents. This year, even more so than last year, our team relied on the strength of the team as a cohesive unit that worked hard together, both on and off the field. This season really beat the idea into my head that the path to success is paved with nothing but sweat, hard work and dedication. This reoccurring theme throughout the season only made our successes that much sweeter as it seemed like our constant grinding on the football field was being fairly rewarded. And like Coach Smith reminded us at the end of the season, the pain of failing to reach our goal of a national title was made exponentially worse due to the level of work that this team put in throughout the season.
Between my first and second year of football at Linfield, I felt like I came into my own as a player and was no longer swimming to remember the schemes and plays that the coaches through at us. Coming into camp and being able to focus on technique as opposed to remembering plays was a huge weight off of my back. Further, the best feeling about coming into camp this year was feeling like I was part of a team, rather than an individual fighting for my survival on the roster. But I think the most significant change in my eyes for the program from year 1 to year 2 of my career was the relationships I built with the senior class. This past senior class, more than any other senior class that has been above me, made themselves available to me not only as mentors but as friends. Some of the senior linemen like Jordan Barnes and Hayden Mace stand out in my mind as friends that I will stay in contact with for many years to come.
On a personal level, I felt like I became a much more mature football player this year, able to take a step back from my role as a player and start to see the big picture that this program is working to. This team has taught me how to think of myself as a facet of a very complex machine working toward one goal. I no longer have any aspirations of becoming something like the “T.O. Show” because I know that only a true team can achieve great success. And as a person this team has forced me to learn how to mange my time very precisely because the consequence of a lack of organization is the suffering of my focus in either the football or academic departments of Linfield. This program is training me how to be a professional human being, able to take on the challenges of a professional career. I am very excited to continue my career in the Linfield Football program because I believe that it is one of the most successful organizations of any practice in the entire nation. As a sophomore I began to appreciate the magnitude of this team’s success and I am very proud to be a part of it because I know that no matter what happens in today’s world, Linfield Football will never settle for anything less than the best.
-Jacob Preister
#49 Kel Poomaihealani, Def End, Kahalu'u, Hawaii (St. Louis)
This is my second year at Linfield and I find myself more appreciative to go here than I did last year. I realized how great my professors, coaches, and friends are. It seems as if everything is starting to slow down and I'm beginning to get used to the "daily grind" of class and football. Whereas last year, everything was moving in a fast pace and almost hectic.
I feel I'm improving in my work ethic both on and off the field. I struggled a little in class last year as a freshman, especially in spring semester. I got distracted and didn't make use of my time which resulted in bad grades. Lots of poor life decisions (as coach Vaughan would say). This year, I used my time wisely and was not lazy with academics and finished the fall term a lot better than the previous fall term.
I had a blast this year playing in the Catdome. I came into the season knowing what to expect, and eager to see how our team develops. We had a young team but we all had the same desire. We practiced and played our hardest. The work ethic of our team as a whole was great. We're all anxious to hit the weights and get back in the Catdome.
-Kel Poomaihealani
#24 Tyler Robitaille, Linebacker, San Jose, Cali (Bellarmine Prep)
Two years down, two years to go. Now that my second season has come to an end, I can't believe how much has changed. Going from your freshman season to your sophomore season is a refreshing feeling. During spring ball, you actually know whats going on, it's great! Looking back at my freshman year, two things stick out the most. First, would be my experience on the field and how it translate to the game play and overall attitude towards the game. Last year, I played Rover but didn't see much playing time as most of my PT came off of Special Teams. This year was a huge change, going from Rover to Will. The position change shocked me because I viewed myself as a pretty undersized Rover, so moving to a linebacker position wasn't my first thought. It ended up being a great move and I enjoyed the position and the opportunity to see the field.
The second biggest change came with my role of the team and the roll of the sophomore class. We were all brought in to be the next generation of Linfield Football, to follow the building bricks Fish, Kreiger, Kal'ae, Hanna, Skore and Dix laid down. Now that they are graduating, the games on us Sophomores going into next season. My understanding of the defense grew tremendously as well. After having a whole year under your belt, it really helps make the game slow down, and you can play more football and less thinking.
Now that year 2 is over it made me just reflect on how lucky I was to be a part of this great tradition. It just makes me thank my mom for pushing me to play the game of football and take a chance not many people take. The opportunity given to Linfield players will never be understood unless one has played here. The streak is merely a number to us, yeah it's fun to talk about, but when we really get down to it, that's not what makes Linfield special. It's the relationships between player and coach. I can only hope that with the next 2 years, those relationships grow stronger and we can reach our goal of a National Championship.
Catdome '12
Tyler Robitaille
After my high school football season concluded, I had no idea where I was going to end up the following year and if that would include football. It was not until January that Linfield contacted me. Before that I really did not even think of Linfield as an option. I had only heard of them through one of my coaches (Cameron Rogers). Throughout the next month I started to talk to Rogers about Linfield because I have always respected him as a coach and person and valued his opinion. He told me to trust him when he said that Linfield would be a perfect fit for me. I kept going through things in my head such as how far away from home do I want to be, which one of these schools has the best education, which will give me an opportunity to play early on in my career? The answer: Linfield.
I came in as a defensive linemen but in early July before the season started I injured my foot which did not healed for 8 months, causing me to sit out my first year of football. I was pretty down that I couldn’t play but decided to bounce back and get ready for the next season. In the spring I decided to spend my next four seasons at Linfield as an offensive linemen. Since then I have no regrets. Coach Hire put a lot of faith in me early on and that really motivated me to keep getting better everyday.
My first season as a player has so far been an amazing experience. With all the work we put in between the morning workouts and practices (including 12 hours a day of camp for the first two weeks of the season) it’s no wonder why we are a family. We are taught to push each other to get better everyday and spend so much time together that I doubt you could find another team with this much unity.
The seniors were great this year they worked hard day in and day out. Barnes and Mace really helped me throughout the season working with me after practices and helping me out whenever they could. It’s great when the seniors are eager to show you what they know so that you can one day fill their shoes and eventually pass on that knowledge to the new young bucks.
Every player in this program is expected to play their role. Whether that is scout team or starter you are expected to do your role to the best of your ability. Our scout team buys into that concept and gives the starters the best look they possibly can because they understand we are only as good as we prepare. We are able to compete on a national level every year because of how well we prepare. An even bigger part of our preparation is because of our amazing coaching staff. They analyze everything a team does and give us the best possible chance at success.
My first two years at Linfield have been an incredible experience and I am so proud of all that we accomplished this year. I will miss all of the seniors, but am excited to see what’s in store for us next season. Until then we will continue to get faster and stronger because it is in the off season that teams have the opportunity to go from good to great.
-Steven Schultz
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