Summary

As the football season begins, the football team has two wins and two losses under their belt. For some of them, the loss only fuels the fire for the next games to come.
Senior linebacker Miguel Otero discusses the extreme impact winning and losing has on his team's determination and his mentality on himself.
“I think the past loss has affected us positively,” Otero said. "It enables us to open up, go back to square one and really analyze what we did wrong.”
While it doesn't feel good to lose, it's a part of the process of playing any sport. Taking the loss and moving forward has to be done.
"It's something that you never want to feel, especially in your last year, but something that has to happen, especially when things need to get fixed," Otero said. "And winning is the best feeling ever, because it just means that you're doing something right."
Winning is not the only thing that drives the team. For most athletes improvement is an important goal to work toward no matter the outcome of the game. This is especially crucial to football players as they are seen as the face of the school.
“The ability to change: change the culture, and change the stigma that Marshall has,” Otero said. “You want to win and it being your last couple games, or, you know, you want to leave your mark. You want to remember this positively, whether that is winning or losing, or maybe embracing the team culture, and that's something that you're going to take away.”
For some football players the motivation and determination that the environment and support of the school,family and friends really encourages and potentially changes the outcome of a game. Senior slot receiver Oscar Gutierrez highlights just how much the motivation drives him and others to do their best.
“My biggest motivation to play is the support from my family wanting me to succeed and my teammates drive me also to play the way I play because I'm willing to do anything for them to see us win and have success.” Gutierrez says “ I know my friends and family are in the stands cheering and supporting me and my teammates to perform our best.”
Teamwork is vital in football, and being alone is something that will never happen on the field so relying on each other is key for a successful game and working together allows for each person to make up the areas that others fall short in. Otero discusses the effect that teamwork has on his playing.
“I'm not the biggest. I'm not the strongest. I'm not the fastest But I know I'm not scared. I'm not scared of anyone,” Otero said. “So in the game, I just do my job, and I trust that my team is around.”