Football team honors team mom Lisa Lopez

Football is a man’s game, a big man’s game. It is ironic that at the Varsity Football Awards Banquet the biggest round of applause did not come for the team’s most valuable player, or the most inspirational player or the head coach a former NFL player.

The biggest sign of appreciation was for a mom — the team’s mom for four years — Lisa Lopez.

Four years ago Lisa Lopez told the freshman coach that she would like to be the team mom. The only problem was that that coach had never had a team mom in his tenure.

He was not a rookie. He had been coaching at Ramona for 30 years. He thought that team moms were something that stopped when athletes left Pop Warner and entered high school.

He decided to see what she wanted to do.

“What do you want me to do?” Lisa asked.

The coach said that it would be nice if the players had a snack for the rides home after away games. Lisa must not have understood the coach. She arranged for snacks for the team before the games, Gatorade and water during the games, and a full meal for the entire team after the games. Every football team at RHS has had a team mom since that day.

Those freshmen players have just ended their high school playing career. Lisa Lopez not only made sure that they were well fed and hydrated before, during and after the games for the past four seasons, she organized team meals on Thursdays.

She collected transportation fees. She organized team moms for the entire program. She organized the banquets. She helped the junior varsity and freshmen team moms to do the same. She did it all.

“Mrs. Lopez is the world’s greatest team mom,” said Brett Germain, senior center.

“Mrs. Lopez has done so much for the football program,” said Mikey Head, team MVP. “All that she has done is greater than words can express. She is a well-respected lady and she will always hold a place in the Bulldog family’s heart.”

“Through all of the years that I have played football, from Pop Warner to my senior year, Mrs. Lopez has always been there,” said Ian Hunt senior quarterback. “Thank you for making my football experiences the best.”

Several other players expressed the same sentiments and they showed their appreciation at the banquet.

“Mrs. Lopez is what this program and community is all about,” said Coach Damon Baldwin. “She has given to all of the players on all of the teams. When her son decided to devote his energies to being an ASB leader, she continued being our team mom. The coaches even look to her as our team mom. She is the greatest. She is our team mom.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Lopez,” said Matt Laws senior wide receiver. “You are a hero and a role model.”

When any senior football player was asked to comment about Mrs. Lopez, the first thing that this reporter noticed was a smile came to every face. The mention of her name brought happy thoughts to all of them.

Every player said “Make sure that you tell her thanks.” Every player expressed the utmost respect along with gratitude.

Every coach who was asked about her also smiled. Most just shook their heads and said in so many words, “What an amazing lady.”

She has done a great job of mentoring. She did not do it alone, but she surrounded herself with great helpers and workers. Mrs. Meyers, Mrs. Viscarra, Mrs. Simmons and Mrs. Gallegos were the junior varsity and freshmen team moms. They all did a great job and got help from other caring team parents and boosters and supporters.

This is the season of giving. We just passed a holiday for giving thanks. Mrs. Lisa Lopez personifies both seasons.

Lisa Lopez never asked to give a speech, never brought attention to herself. All of her intentions were truly altruistic. But we noticed and we all thank her for everything that she have done.

Thanks, Team Mom!