Winners in the game of Life

Lakewood High School made serious noise on the football field in 2012; however, Head Coach Corey Moore knows that being part of the Spartan football tradition must stand for more than just wins and losses. Moore understands that it is vital as a head football coach and role model that he impacts the lives of all of his players. The Lakewood players attend various community churches together once a month and participate in numerous community service opportunities.

This last Saturday Moore’s Lakewood players were able to feed over 350 homeless people in downtown St. Petersburg. Lakewood feeds the homeless up to two times every month. Moore stated, “The reason we feed the homeless is because the team understands it’s not about how many wins you earn on the field or statistics you rack up but really about how many lives can you touch and change.” Moore wants his players to appreciate that, “sometimes life can deal you a bad hand and the only thing that you can control is how you respond to life’s unfortunate issues.” Moore’s players wake up at 7am every Saturday morning and help prepare meals in order to give the less fortunate hope that maybe life can get better. Moore says that, “At Lakewood our players do not allow the sport of football to use them; however, they do use football as a bridge to reach citizens that our less fortunate.”

Moore’s Lakewood team returns a plethora of players and looks to win allot in 2013; however, Moore states, “Wins and losses will not define the Spartans. What will define us is the community that we have reached. Hopefully we have been able to plant a seed of optimism in the life of every deprived person we have helped.” The Lakewood football program preaches three pillars: 1) Win in the classroom 2) Win on the field with character and respect 3) Win in the ability to touch lives and instill hope in others who may seem to be hopeless. Regardless of how his team performs on the football field on Friday nights Coach Moore has taught his players to be winners in the game of life through these pillars and to be perfectly honest that is the only game that really matters.

– Anthony Peace