As most of you know, I am an avid outdoorsman, but also an avid father and follower of middle school and recreation athletics. We loose a little time in the field due to sports and school events, but there not yet giving scholarships to deer hunters so we do what we have to. There are allot of sports bashers out there that believe in crushing a kids dreams of going to college on scholarship in athletics. The odds are slim I know, but as long as there is a team to don the field, there is a shot at it with hard work and good grades. I get this one allot. "The only reason they go to school is to play ball. Most of them can't even write their name." I have been engaged in a few conversations this week about the future of our kids, and I must say, I feel pretty passionate about it. There are allot of haters out there that don't really understand what is expected of an athlete in college. I was wowed by an interview before the Alabama/Utah game. Alabama has a center that has not one, but two degrees. How does this relate to a Georgia Hunting Blog entry you ask? Well, nothing more than I am the author of the blog and this is what I woke up with on my mind. Pretty sad I know, but it is what it is I guess.

My younger son is in 5th grade and hasn't started getting letter grades yet. He is in the Gateway program. He also plays football, basketball, and baseball. My older son is in 7th grade this year. He plays football, baseball, and wrestling with a 96.75 average. I say that to say this. We lost 12 wrestlers this season due to grades. As parents we have to start getting involved in our children's acedemic lives. We have to stop expecting that they will have responsibility every second. Fact is, kids will slip up if you let them. Stay on top of it. I'm not saying to not teach responsibility, because I certainly believe in that. BUT THEY ARE STILL KIDS! Know what is going on with them. Take the time to check on their schoolwork with their teachers. This is the technology age. Every teacher is accessible through email through the school. Find out how your kids are doing.

Sure, I love going to the firing range and teaching my kids to handle a rifle or taking them to the field and teaching them how to read a rub line. However, I also love sitting in the Beta Club meetings. Funny thing, my son came home from his Beta Club induction and said, "Well dad, it's official. I am now a geek." I just laughed. I said, "Son, people call kids that work hard at school geeks. Do you know what they call them when they get out of school?" He sat with the typical teenage dumbfounded look. "Boss" I said!