How will the Panthers players handle the challenge on Sunday against the Falcons? It seems hard for them already because Falcons is a pretty strong team, on top of that some important positioned players on the team are injured. “The continuing string of injuries along the offensive line and the loss of one of the league’s top tight ends have to be considered a cause for concern.” according to panthers.com.

Instead of “CHARLOTTE”, the head coach of the team Ron Rivera chose a couple of other C words for encouragement: confident and comfortable. I personally think that this is a great way of encouraging your team especially during the weakest and the hardest time. I think these two words each has two meanings to it. The basic meaning of “confident” is to feel or show confidence in oneself. In this case, it means even there are several injuries in the team, they still need to be confident in themselves for the game on Sunday so that their ability to play doesn’t get affected by the injuries on the team. The sallow meaning of comfortable is providing physical ease and relaxation. I think what it means in there is that the head coach wants them to relax for the upcoming game, be prepared so that they can be the best they can.

“If it is concerning, I’ve still got to do something. And if it’s not concerning, I’m still going to have to do what I’ve got to do anyway,” says one of the players on the team. This to me shows that players on this team are very responsible at their position, no matter what happens to other players on the team they will still do what they are supposed to do.

“It’s what this game is. It’s an unforgiving game at times, but at the same time, you just have to roll with the punches and make do with whatever hand you’re given,” says Rivera. I like the way he’s thinking about the game. He is trying to say that you go to work through this game with whatever you are given.

Based on all these information, surely they can handle the challenge on Sunday by their attitudes towards this game as well as their confidence.

<Allen Liu/ Portola HS 9th>