For most high school kids involved in sports, there is nothing more thrilling than a home game. There’s something special about playing under those Friday Night Lights on your home turf, or in the friendly confines of your own court, with thousands of fans behind you cheering you on to victory.
But for Crown Point Football and Basketball Manager, Robert Hughes, it’s different. Hughes cherishes the road games, the special moments he gets to spend with his teammates; his friends; his family.
Make no mistake about it, while Hughes is a manager of Crown Point Football and Basketball, he is also the heart and soul of these teams. And there is no other place in the world he wants to be on Friday this fall than spending those special moments with the players.
“It’s so cool to be out there on the field with them,” Hughes told IIMM about his role as Manager on the field. “It feels really nice to be a part of the team and be out there with them.”
Hughes has been the Manager of CPHS Football for two years, and admittedly, got into managing because of the reward of a Letterman’s jacket. But what he has found during his experience as a manager is something so much bigger.
“What I have learned being a manager, is it feels great to be a part of a team,” Hughes added. “When you’re on a team it’s a lot bigger than just yourself. What it means to me is that we’re all together in this, no matter what we do.”
And in terms of the jacket, Hughes has also found something more important to wear during his time out there on the field.
“Every game day we get to choose a jersey of a player to wear out on the field,” said Hughes. “I always pick #26. I like the number a lot, but it’s also the jersey number of my best friend out on the field, Salih Muhammad.”
“He’s been my best friend since Junior year and is always there for me.”
Friendship, family, these are the reasons why road games and sports are so important to Hughes. Because football to Hughes is so much bigger than a game to him, it's about love and togetherness.
Which is why every second he gets to spend on that bus, win or lose, is a second Hughes said he would never trade for the world.
“I love it on the bus with the team. We are just like a family there. And they all say they love me and are proud of me, and it really means so much to be a part of that.”