Many years ago, my daughter gave me a book called "Inspire A Dream," written by Steve Riach and Tom Henry. Since both my girls were cheerleaders, as well as my wife Vickie, I have heard many inspirational speeches, good luck wishes and numerous stories to get a team ready to play "the game."

Inspiring a dream speaks of how the dream begins the first time a child smells a new ball, glove, racket or bat, and it is fueled by that first pitch or first diving catch or first goal in basketball or soccer. The dream grows as older kids gallop across green fields or dusty vacant lots, imagining themselves as great players like Troy Aikman, Kobe Bryant, or Kat Osterman.

The Lampasas Badgers inspired many of us last week against Rockdale. Rockdale was rated No. 13 in the state in Class 3A, but the Badgers did not let the rating deter them from playing a great game. They played with heart, determination and, most of all, inspiration.

The Badgers want to make Lampasas proud. They will continue to work to show us that through faith, courage and determination our dreams are never too far away, and when we reach our dreams, we can inspire others to do the same.

I would like to challenge the community to inspire our fall teams in volleyball, team tennis, golf, cross country and football. Let Lampasas be the force within that pushes the young lives to become something greater than they could have become by themselves. "The dream is about what we are not yet, but what we can become."

Rockdale Awards:

MVP Offense: Edward Hall
MVP Defense: Brandon Abbott
MVP Special Teams:
Brandon Abbott
Hawg Award: Tate Stoneham
Headhunter: Rush Seaver
Big Hit: Dustin Yoho

Joey McQueen is the Lampasas High School athletic director and the Badgers' head football coach.