Team finds its true friends

ADAM HIMMELSBACH: Yellow Jackets left with a good memory from forgettable day

Date published: 11/18/2009

By Adam Himmelsbach

O NE OF THE staples of the holiday season is the flood of snowflake-filled films.

You probably know the story from "It's a Wonderful Life."

The 1946 classic tells the tale of George Bailey, a down-and-out businessman who thinks he has nothing to live for until an angel named Clarence convinces him otherwise.

On Monday, James Monroe football coach Rich Serbay was having a day that George could sympathize with.

Serbay, who also serves as the school's athletic director, had failed to realize his team used an ineligible player this season.

This misstep cost James Monroe six wins, as well as a chance to defend its Division 3 state championship.

The coach and the players were devastated, and they still had one more game to play.

But, as it turns out, this costly mistake brought out the best in a team and its tight-knit community.

On Monday night, the Yellow Jackets rallied around their coach and focused on Courtland rather than what could have been.

By the time JM's 10-6 victory was complete, there was Serbay, engulfed in hugs, pats on the back and words of encouragement.

There were the Yellow Jackets pumping their helmets in the air, some eyes welling with tears.

There were the fans and former players, approaching Serbay one by one and telling him that everything will be all right.

"I feel like the guy in 'It's a Wonderful Life' feels when it gets better at the end," a tear-filled Serbay said afterward. "Now I know how good that feels."

Of course, not everything got better at the end.

The Virginia High School League denied the Yellow Jackets' appeal yesterday, so their season is over.

But, in a way, that makes Monday night's win resonate even more. A win that improved JM's record to 2-8 will be remembered for years to come.

How often does that happen?

How often does the end of a two-win season result in players crying and hugging their coach and telling him they love him?

"It was hard, but we bounced back from adversity," senior quarterback Farkeem French said. "We faced it, and we went out with our heads high."

The Yellow Jackets should be proud of how they handled a difficult situation.

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Date published: 11/18/2009