Full disclosure... 

Kim O’Neill and I have known each other half of our lives... 

She’s one of the most talented, three-dimensional thinkers you’ll ever come across when it comes to TV production. She’s been an award-winning producer and, these days, is doing great work as a documentarian.

But this time of year, she is something a little different...  

She’s a football mom.

Kim Munn

Kim Munn is an award winning video editor and proud mother of a Sequoyah High School football player.

She and her husband, Bill, are in the stands watching life in the trenches with their son Riley. He’s a junior long snapper and guard for the Sequoyah Chiefs as a No. 2 seed coming out of Region 6-5A. She grew up a Buffalo Bills fan, so she has to be careful with her attire supporting her son in Cherokee County -- making sure the shade is correct to rep SHS and not the  NFL team in Kansas City. 

Yelling “Go Chiefs” as a Bills fan takes some doing... 

Last week, Sequoyah entertained Gainesville (one of those “angry” No. 3 seeds we talk about on Football Fridays in Georgia) and came up with one of the biggest upsets of Round 1  38-28 to advance to take on Woodward Academy this week in Round 2. 

James Teter is in his 16th season as head coach and it’s the second time in his tenure that the Chiefs have won double digits. This particular group of Chiefs, that Riley is a part of, have been together since they were in fourth grade. Kim has seen their growth first-hand. The Sequoyah moms even have their own “Football 101” class with the coaches at the beginning of the season to get acclimated to the team, the staff, and the season. 

Yes, they even are allowed to run plays in the playbook and wear the gear.

“Man, some of that stuff really does stink!”  

“Coach Teter has done so much for Riley both on and off the field,” she tells me with a great sense of pride. “He has instilled discipline, confidence and trust in him. Coach Teter is one that you want on your side when you go into battle. As a mom, I know my son is in good hands.   

“Watching your child’s dreams unfold in front of you, it tugs at your heartstrings seeing him out there,” she admits. “He’s wanted to be out there to play and start since he was a little guy, you know...? When he runs through that tunnel, you can see he’s so proud of himself and he’s so pumped up.” 

Most times, anyone watching a football game doesn’t know who the long snapper is or who an offensive lineman is- unless they make a mistake and their name is announced over the public address speakers. It could be a poor snap or a penalty. But, until then, countless high school football players like Riley are playing in relative anonymity- except when their parents see it.  

“Until something goes wrong you don’t know who the long snapper is because they’re doing their job right. Being a guard, he’s hard to find. I try hard to find him and I start at the bottom the pile when he’s on offense. But I do focus on him then I focus on the play. 

“I’ll go: Where’s Riley...???” 

Sequoyah

Sequoyah linemen celebrate the big win against Gainesville. (From left) Tyler O'Neill, Kolby Martin, Carson Bahry, Clinton Martin, Taiwo Ogundele and Hector Alvarez-Gonzales.

Kim, being an O’Neill, has a “lucky bracelet” she wears on game days this season. It’s green and has clovers on it. When it comes to needing a big play, she’ll rub it on her wrist. 

“It’s a way to give Riley some good luck,” she says. “I didn’t wear it once -- the loss to Sprayberry. I learned my lesson. I’ve worn it every game since.” She admits to being “absolutely nervous” going up against the bigger Gainesville defensive line last Friday. 

“I mean... c’mon,” as her western New York accent comes out far stronger than it normally does. “They had a lot of four-star players and one of their players, I think, is a Duke commit. But Riley, at 5-10 and 200 pounds, held his own. He did his job. He even got Special Teams Player of the Week for his snapping duties. And he even made a tackle. I don’t think I’ve screamed that loud in a long time. 

“You just don’t get your name called most of the time and you hear, ‘Tackle made by No. 62, Riley O’Neill.’ Normally, we just sit there.” 

With this roster together since middle school, Kim has a feeling this is a “magical team.” 

“They love each other and really are a family,” as she speaks like a true mom. 

But, what about that whole “keeping an eye on your son for the whole game” thing? 

“I don’t get worried. He knows what to do out there. Riley has worked hard to know what to do and the coaches have worked hard to let them know what they need to do. He’s a strong, fast, smart offensive lineman. And he’s not alone out there. They’re all very smart kids and they all play intelligent football.  

“Do I get nervous? When I see a bigger player, I’ll be talking with the other moms around us and go ‘Look at the size of that kid!’ I admit I’m nervous, but I trust him. The coaches know the plays that will have them all performing their best in a game. They’re as strong as they can be.” 

But, like a lot of moms that have a part of their lives on display every Football Friday, she sees the dedication Riley has put into his craft -- with his padded family -- and all she does is smile. 

“He’ll get up at 4:30 in the morning to go to practice. He never complains and he’s stuck with it. I don’t have to wake him. He’s lived in this Sequoyah program. He comes home sweaty and beat up. But he has a smile on his face. He’s living his dream. 

“There are no words for that. ... My heart is so full to see him do what he loves. We support him 100 percent and he’s wanted to do this since he was in fourth grade with his friends. They’ve all grown up together on the field. We’ve all become a family. They all know each other on the team. They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. And with your buddies, you play better as one.” 

Riley O'Neill

Riley O'Neill is typical of most high school linemen who rarely receive any notoriety -- unless they make a mistake.

Kim has no doubt Riley will keep being a success- on and off the field. She tells me he’s spending time at long snapper camps getting noticed and, yes, his Hudl highlights are on his social media feed. His grades and tests scores, for any coach out there, are off the charts.  

“I just wish time would slow down a little bit,”  Kim says.

Kim says that like every other mom who is on the verge of having a rising senior in the house after the 2024 season is done. But first things first, Sequoyah is packing and prepping for a trip to Woodward Academy -- and Kim knows she has to make sure she can find the lucky bracelet and not leave it behind in Cherokee County as the Chiefs head to College Park. 

Riley doesn’t believe in the lucky bracelet, but Kim does have a few other tricks up her sleeve -- one in particular is crossing her fingers and rubbing her earrings in moments of concern. 

“It’s the best job of my life,” she says as her voice trails off in thought for a second or two. “It’s really cool.”        

Of that we have no doubt for Kim and every other football mom out there all season long... 

Play it safe, everyone... I’ll talk to you soon!