Meeting With Head Coach

Had a meeting with Coach UB today. We talked about small things like the way my name will look in the program, what my height and weight will be, and how my parents name should be displayed in the program as well. Then we talked about big things like personal goals, who captains should be, and how the team will carry itself through the off season.
Coach told me he thinks I can definitely have an All-American season but I told him I would much rather win a conference championship then win a personal award. I play football with all my heart and energy so that I can help my team in our common goal of winning. I truly believe that if you give it your all, play within the given system, and put your team first, then all of the personal accolades will take care of themselves. I don't want great stats so I can look good on paper, I want great stats because that's what my team deserves. I know everyone else on my team is giving me their all so it's only right that I do that in return. It's an uncomfortable topic for me to talk about my personal goals in football because I know, through and through, that fotball is a TEAM sport. So no matter what I have planned for myself, if I don't work as a unit with my team, nothing will be accomplished.
That's enough of me babbling about my philosophy of personal achievements verse achievements of a team and my thoughts on football for now. I'm sure I'll touch on this topic again sometime soon.

Facebook Profile Picture

To your right, you'll see a picture of me wearing a white Under Armour head band, white jersey with purple trim, and a tear running down my face. Yes, I cried in 2003 after we (Elder High School) won the Division 1 Ohio High School State Championship. It was the sweetest feeling. Well worth the tears that I shed and well worth the hard work, bumps, bruises, sweat lost, and blood shed that season. We had won the state championship the previous season and it was great but there was something about the fact that we had gone back and done it again.

Elder High School had been playing high school football for over 80 years with out a high school state championship under our belt. In 2002, my junior season, we went up north and came back with our first ever state championship. In 2003, no one said we would repeat. The critics told us we had lost to much talent and too many seniors from the previous year. We didn't listen to them though, just kept our focus. Our team motto was "One game at a time." We knew that had to be our mindset all season because of all the talk of how we could or couldn't repeat as state champions. We didn't want to get caught looking ahead and lose the games that really mattered, the only one that truly matters, which is the one you are playing in at the time.

Anyways, long story short, we did it. We went back up north and kicked butt the whole way up and came home, back to back state champions. We had to make a statement to our critics that no individual player made up our team, we all played together, and that's why we were champions. Plug and chug, spill and fill, sounds simple right?

We weren't always the fastest or the strongest team on the field but we always had the most will, determination, and heart.

Still hasn't truly sunk in how big of a feat what we did as team truly was and is. I'm sure the older we get, the better the stories will get, and the better we will feel about that amazing season we had together as Panthers in 2003.

If you want to know more about that season just comment and I'll gladly answer any questions in my upcoming posts.

Week 2 of Spring Ball

Week 2 of Spring practice concluded on Wednesday night. We installed a second defensive front and went over the basic purpose of the defense. The offense was moving well and had very high intensity. As a whole, our team is finally defining itself with an identity after lacking one the past two seasons or so. We are stressing the little things, and how the little things make the biggest difference. One less false step, one less mental mistake, one less missed tackle, could mean the difference between 10-0 and 5-5. That's where we are all, as a unit, starting to gel and understand what potential we have and what it will take to reach full potential.

The coaches are pushing harder then ever and it's what I missed last year. I never want to be satisfied. I can always work harder, run faster, and move quicker then I did on the previous play.

Inch by inch....

Notice the Countdown

I decided to add the countdown timer for a couple reasons. One, it's really cool. Two, I like the constant reminder. Three, for all you who read this blog. Now, you have no excuse to not know when they first game is for this upcoming season.

To all my team mates who read my blog, you also have no excuse!

Game 1 is approaching fast and to be honest it couldn't come fast enough. Whether we are working hard or not working at all that countdown timer is still moving closer to zero. That's the cruel thing about it, it won't wait no matter what you do. It's on a mission and so are we.

Inch by Inch, return to dominance!

Great Week

Week 1 of Spring Practice is officially over. We have a new mind set and we got a lot done. Coach is running us like crazy at the end and people are still showing up to lifting. People are focused and we are cutting through all the static to get back to the fundamentals. The defense is energized, the offense is executing, and our first game will be here before you know it. Next week we have practice on Monday and Wednesday night only because of Easter. Then we will have two more weeks of practice after that.
No more excuses.

Inch by inch, return to dominance.

Way It's Supposed To Be

This past Monday we had our first practice of the Spring session. What a relief! It was great. Last year we didn't have much purpose or organization as a defense and this year is completely different.
We have four new coaches on the defensive side of the ball this year and our defensive line coach from last season is embarking on his first season as a defensive coordinator.

The new coaches include:

Coach Acito- Defensive Line
Coach Roden- Defensive Backs and Special Teams
Coach Crable- Linebackers
Coach Starkey- Defensive Backs

These guys have it together and I already can tell next season we will play with more desire and passion then most teams. I can't promise or predict that every game will be a victory but you will not see a team play harder of more together then we will.
We have a lot of work to do and it's nice to have the coaches who want to see you succeed. That's the way it's supposed to be.

Stay tuned for more updates regarding Mount St. Joseph Football.