CAMBRIDGE, Minn. — As the leaves turn along the banks of the Rum River...
"I love it all, I love the grind, I love the hard work," said Cambridge-Isanti head football coach Ben Geisler.
...Another Friday night arrives in Cambridge.
"There's nothing like Friday night lights. Watching the boys play, watching my husband coach, it's the best," said Aminta Geisler, Ben's wife.
In a sport defined by physicality and toughness, it's the love and the letters that keep Ben and Aminta Geisler tethered to the sidelines and bleachers.
"I met with my coaches and I said you guys, we need to bring some traditions," said Ben Geisler.
Eleven years in as a married couple, the Geislers share a unique Friday tradition in the fall.
"So I wrote her a note, it wasn't very long," said Ben Geisler.
Over the last 11 seasons, every Friday, no matter what season of life.
"We have letters from the week we miscarried and lost the baby, but he still had to coach. We have letters from the week I was really sick and in the hospital, and he still had to coach. We have letters from when our big kids were going through some really hard stuff, and you still had to coach," said Aminta Geisler.
As sure as a kickoff under the lights, the Bluejackets head coach puts pen to paper to remind his greatest teammate of his love and gratitude.
"It's hard to be a coach's wife sometimes. Football is super consuming, it's fun to get that letter before every game and know that's coming," said Aminta Geisler.
Sacrifice and love. A combo that always wins on a scoreboard no matter the opponent.