10/01/2026
Brick’s Thoughts …
EARNED, NOT GIVEN
October 1, 2026
There’s a different kind of pride and satisfaction that comes from knowing you worked for it.
The early mornings.
The long days.
The late nights.
The setbacks.
The moments when nobody was watching, and you chose to keep going anyway.
That’s where I believe the story of the 2026 Ennis Lions is being written.
No, the beginning of this season hasn’t gone exactly the way anyone in Lion Nation wanted, especially this team, But football isn’t about how you start nearly as much as it is about how you respond.
And this team has responded.
After opening the season 0-3, the Lions could have made excuses. They could have allowed the losses to define them. Instead, they went back to work.
They kept believing.
They kept pushing.
And now, after back-to-back victories over Seguin and Corsicana, Ennis sits at 2-0 in district play. That isn’t something that was handed to them.
They earned it.
The 42-20 win over Seguin was a statement that this offense could find its rhythm. Then came Corsicana, a Tigers team that entered the matchup undefeated at 4-0.
The Lions didn’t just win.
They went on the road and took control, building a 35-8 advantage through three quarters before finishing with a 42-23 victory.
Two games.
84 points.
Two district victories.
And, perhaps most importantly, a football team that looks like it’s beginning to believe in itself.
CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
EARN THE RESPECT.
That’s what I keep coming back to. What’s handed to you may feel good for a moment.
But what you earn becomes part of who you are.
This Ennis team is creating its own opportunity.
Every practice.
Every rep.
Every tackle.
Every block.
Every mistake corrected.
Every time a player chooses to get better instead of looking for an excuse.
That’s how football teams change. That’s how cultures are built. And that’s how respect is earned.
There are still plenty of football games left to play. There will be adversity. There will be moments when things don’t go according to plan.
That’s the game … football.
But if these Lions continue to approach each week the way they have approached the last two, they’ll give themselves an opportunity to find out just how good they can become.
And that’s all you can ask for.
Create the opportunity.
Earn the respect.
Because when you’ve put in the work, you don’t just celebrate the result.
You know in your heart, that you earned the chance, and the right to stand there.
So keep working, Lions.
Keep believing.
Keep pushing.
Don’t take the easy way out.
Those things worth having, are worth earning.
And maybe that’s what I like most about where this team is right now.
They’re not being given anything …
They’re earning it.
BELIEVE. Be …
MEANER. TOUGHER. HARDER.
Take Pride in Claiming What You Came For.
— Brick
