Thomas Blanchard

A One Point Loss

2009-11-06T20:43:00.001-08:00

It always feels bad to lose, but I have to say, to end the season on a one point loss is just... well, it sucks. Tonight was a prime example of what happens when a fieldgoal-fake goes south, and we really paid the price for it. It is, on the other hand, just something that happens.

It's pretty tough to think that, if things had gone just a little differently, we could be much happier on this gloomy busride home. It's never fun to lose...

All I can say is this:
It sucks to lose, but even the best of the best can get knocked down every once in a while.

I sincerely hope that next year goes better for our upcoming seniors.

It was a good ride, Rebs,
Thomas
-- Posted from my iPhone

Ready to go out with a bang

2009-11-06T15:57:00.001-08:00

Hey Rebs,

Tonight is shaping up to be a great game - it's our senior night as well as our last game of the year - and we're ready to fight harder than ever for a good end to our season. It's time to go out with a bang, and we have the motivation to do it... I think I speak for everyone in the entire school when I say, "I am tired of losing games."

The implications of tonight are greater, in my opinion, than any other game we've had all year. This game is a kickoff for next year's seniors, and a farewell for my own classmates. This game will determine the confidence of next year's football program as a whole. We have to win.

By the end of tonight, no matter what happens, we seniors will be cleaning out our lockers and looking towards college, and the juniors will be moving up for next year. It's kind of hard to believe that we won't be showing up at 7:30 for practice in the mornings anymore... It's something our bodies have grown to expect, but our minds know better... Sleeping in during the week will, I feel sure, be an entirely new concept.

The bus is pulling out now and it's time to get ready for battle.

See you in a few hours, Rebs,
Thomas

Not the end of the road yet...

2009-10-23T22:12:00.001-07:00

Hey Rebs,

We just played the Midland High Bulldogs and, after fighting long and hard, we lost 21-18. It was a rough game loaded with ups, downs, and plenty of disappointments.

It was apparent tonight that we're not ready to just roll over and accept defeat. We fought for 4 long quarters and didn't, whether the refs did or not, give the dogs a break all night. Despite our best efforts, though, we still succumbed to their pushes and shoves.

Here's how it is, Rebs, and it's sad but true: Winning isn't everything, but it sure does suck to lose.

I'll leave you with that.
G'night Rebels,
Thomas

It's that time again...

2009-10-15T15:14:00.001-07:00

Another week, another game.

Tonight we are going to be playing Lubbock Coronado. As always, we have fought and trained hard for a good week in preparation for our opponent. It's been a tough fight to make it this far, and no one can wait to make it farther.

The attitude today is great. As always, we plan to play with great emotion, but there is something special about tonight. Last week, we played worse than we had expected to... By all rights, we were a two-quarter team - now is the time for redemption. It won't be easy, but we can and must do it.

Tonight we are going to be missing several key players, and it is going to be some of our boys' first time starting. There is no doubt in my mind that this is going to be the time to prove themselves - I'm sure they'll play great.

It's almost time for film, but I'll be sure to post an update after the game...

A loyal Rebel,
Thomas Blanchard
-- Posted from my iPhone

A Frigid Win

2009-10-08T23:24:00.001-07:00

Good morning fans,

We just got back to Amarillo after a strong win against Lubbock High. Right now, I think that we are all too tired for the true nature of our win to really set in....

I think that this is a win that we can all be very proud of. It was our first game to have been played in crummy weather and, given the nature of panhandle weather, I doubt it'll be our last.

I think that this evening has been our personal team redemption. We had a good game, and things can only get better. It has been a welcome change from these past couple games...!

Well, I should probably try to get out of here - we still have school tomorrow, after all...

G'night Rebs,
Thomas Blanchard

-- Posted from my iPhone

An Early Game

2009-10-08T06:25:00.001-07:00

Hey Rebs,

This week, our game falls on a Thursday... It seems like it's a day too early entirely. I feel like this is the night of our comeback, though, and it gets us all really excited at the thought of salvaging our season. We need to get back to playing like the 3-0 Rebels that beat Amarillo High....

Our opponent this week is Lubbock High - a team that has, historically, been a very defeatable team. The team is really excited for tonight, and the buzz around the locker room this morning is one of great anticipation as we put our pads in our game-day pants and prepare for the battle ahead.

If we play with the same kind of emotion that we had at the beginning of this season, there is no doubt in my mind that we will win. We need to get back on track, and we need to do it now.

Always a Rebel, win or lose,
Thomas Blanchard

-- Posted from my iPhone

A Homecoming Halftime Report

2009-10-02T18:55:00.001-07:00

Hey Tascosa Fans,

It is halftime in our game against the Midland Lee Rebels, so I thought I would give y'all an in-game update...

As of now, we are down by 4 points, but after halftime and the homecoming festivities, hopefully, we will be able to get back to how the first drive our game! We have faith in our abilities, and are excited to get back out there and show the Lee Rebels who the real Rebels are!

Well folks, it's time to act on what our halftime talk is about - winning this game. Sure, we're down by four points, but we can and will get our heads back in te game.

Go THS!
-Thomas

-- Posted from my iPhone

Homecoming

2009-10-02T15:53:00.001-07:00

Hey Tascosa Fans!

After an upsetting loss and an open-week, the Tascosa Rebels are back in business. Having had the past two weeks to practice, I am sure that this week's game will prove to be a great one on our part!

Tonight, we are playing the Midland Lee Rebels, and, as a team, we can't wait to get after 'em! These past weeks have put us in a great position to win tonight. We know our opponent better than ever, and are sure that our preparations for this game will grant us the win.

Every week, we go out and play with great emotion, and I am certain that, this being our homecoming, we'll play hard as ever. It is time to beat the rebels as the rebels.

We are preparing to load the bus, so I have to go take care of business! Hopefully I will be reporting back in a few hours with a win.

Happy homecoming, Rebs, we'll see you at the game in an hour or two.
-Thomas

Another win in store?

2009-09-17T11:59:00.001-07:00

Hey Rebel Fans,

This week, we are set to go head to head with Odessa High, and we're all expecting a great game! Odessa plays hard, and I'm sure that, no matter what happens, it's going to be tough.

Though Odessa High is a team packed with talent, and a real threat on the football field, we're all pretty confident in our own abilities and our gameplan. I say confident simply to reiterate that we are not going down to Odessa this weekend feeling cocky. We have practiced hard this week, as we do every week, and we consistenly go out to our practice field and give it 100% of our efforts every single day. We earn everything we receive, and I think that our team understands, better than anyone, that wins on the field aren't just handed out. We're heading down there this weekend to earn it.

Tomorrow afternoon, we'll make the trek down to Odessa to play on their turf. I strongly suggest to anyone willing to head all the way down there to do so. I really think that this game is going to be a clash between two district titans.

Go Rebs!
-Thomas

-- Post From My iPhone

Undefeated

2009-09-12T09:43:00.001-07:00

Well Tascosa Fans,

Last night was a hard fought game! With a final score of 24 - 21, we beat our long time rivals from Bell Street. It is the first time in my high school career that we've beaten the sandies, and I have to say that it's a fantastic way to continue my senior year...!

This year's time is shaping up to be playoff-worthy, and I really can't wait to see more. This year's coaching staff has done an excellent job of giving us the training and the confidence to obtain greatness, and I am thoroughly excited to go all the way this season...!

I am so proud proud of the team, the coaching staff, and the fans, and can't wait to get on the road this next week to take on Odessa High!

Go Rebs!
-Thomas Blanchard

-- Post From My iPhone

Our rivalry unleashed

2009-09-11T16:07:00.000-07:00

Hey there Tascosa fans,

15,000 is just one estimate of the number of people that plan to attend our game tonight. Needless to say, the team is excited to give those people their money's worth as we dress-out to go head-to-head with our rivals originating at the bell street campus.

This is our year... This is our game... Victory, and the #1 position in our district, is within our grasp.

We hit hard, we hit fast, and we hit first. We are the Rebels.

Go Rebs,
Thomas Blanchard

-- Post From My iPhone

This week's festivities

2009-09-11T11:42:00.001-07:00

Hey Football Fans,

Hell Week, Spirit Week -- or whatever you want to call it, the week leading up to the Tascosa vs. Amarillo game -- is always full of "extra-curricular activities." Often times, as a student, it's hard to not get caught up in our devastating rivalry which is often carried out through graffiti, egg-throwing, paintballing, and other destructive mediums -- all of which are aimed at demoralizing our adversaries.

Despite being contrary to what this week typically represents, some people through the years have been able to find less destructive ways to go out and represent their school during the week. For example, last night, around 30 or 40 Rebs went out and carried on our school tradition of painting Cadillac Ranch red and black. It was a real sight to behold, and I would encourage anyone who hasn't made the trek out there, to check out the cars, to do so in a hurry before they're covered up by more graffiti in the coming weeks.

In the end, this week is less about hating the opponent and more about loving our school and fellow students. Often times, you only hear about the bad things -- such as when Tascosa's legendary 'T' was painted gold a few years ago -- but you really have to look at the heart of the matter before you judge that which has been noted as the second deadliest rivalry in the U.S.

Forever Rebellious,
Thomas Blanchard

Go Rebs!!!
-- Post From My iPhone

The first time in nine years!

2009-09-03T21:28:00.001-07:00

Hey fans!

We, the Tascosa Rebels, just, for the first time in the past nine years, beat the Lubbock Monterey Plainsmen in a game of football!

The game was incredible, and was extremely well-fought on both sides, but in the end, came down to a Rebel victory of 28-14. The atmosphere on the sidelines was great!

It's so rare to have an entire group of players so fired up at such a constant rate... I honestly don't think that there was a Rebel on that field that didn't have a blast.

It's games like these past couple that get us players fired up about football.

I am always happy to report a victory like this, but now it's time for some sleep on the bus ride home - after all, we have school bright and early tomorrow.

Go Rebs!
-Thomas

-- Post From My iPhone

A long bus ride: the first of many

2009-09-03T14:40:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,

Right now we're in the AISD charter buses on our way to the Monterrey game in Lubbock. I figured that there couldn't be a better time to write for the blog.

We're about three or four miles from Plainview, and the team is excited to say the least. It's a truly surreal feeling you get as you drive for nearly two hours to meet your opponent on his turf. It's unifying, I guess you could say. It's two hours that we get to spend together as a family before we go out on that field and fight for our school.

I think that Coach Plunk has the best outlook on each of these games we play. Every morning, he likes to remind us that we are guaranteed at least ten games, and that if we put our hearts in the game, we can reward ourselves with more.

Wish us luck this evening as we go out and battle for our school, our coaches, and our honor.

Go Rebs!

- Thomas
-- Post From My iPhone

Long time no blog!

2009-09-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, sorry that I have been out of touch since the Palo Duro game last Friday night. Overall, I think that both teams really wanted the win, and that, in the end, it just came down to our superb kicking on the part of my good friend, Barrett Conway. Palo Duro is always a very formidable opponent, and it's ALWAYS a good game when we go head to head with them. I love to square up with another local team.

I think we were all, to say the least, a little disappointed that it came down to the wire like that, but a win is a win. As for the spectators last Friday, I would venture to say that nobody cut out early to beat the traffic on that one! What a game!

We're all really psyched for this Thursday when we'll play Lubbock Monterrey on their turf, and I think we can all expect to see another great game. I hope to share more about this upcoming game with y'all as this week unfolds.

In the mean time,
Go Rebs!

Thomas

Sidelined for now

2009-08-26T16:18:00.000-07:00

I am really excited about this first game against Palo Duro Friday night. I have actually never played football with this group. Now, I’ve lived in Amarillo my entire life. But I made the move from band. Coach Parker talked to me last year about playing and said I could help out.

So after marching at halftimes, I was looking forward to playing. I hurt myself in spring training and had to have shoulder surgery. I’m doing minor weight lifting and building up strength in my shoulder.

I had been looking forward to this game all summer but I will not be able to suit up. I will be on the sidelines wearing my jersey and jeans. It’s kind of sad for me. But I’m hoping to be in uniform soon.

Note from sports editor Lance Lahnert: Thomas is a 6-foot-6, 300-pound senior who played in the Tascosa band the past three years where he was a first chair baritone. He suffered a shoulder injury last spring requiring surgery but is expected back soon.