Category Archives: Writes

March 17, 2010 · 8:20 PM

Coach P. Lane’s “Friday Night in America”

There are two football pregame talks from Coach Paul Lane that still give me the goosebumps. Quote number one was from the very first Friday game of the Paul Lane Era at CCCHS in 2000. We were home against Beloit. I remember right before the National Anthem, with all the team and coaches in the south end zone, Coach Lane tell the boys how special it is to be right here, right now, getting the opportunity to play football.

“This is Friday night in America. ”

(After starting that first season with my head spinning, feeling way out-of-place, I knew right then I was working for the absolute right coach. I knew right then I would work my butt off to justify him taking a big chance to hire me.)

Pregame talk number two was the last game of the 2007 season. We had to win a district football game on the road at perennial powerhouse Holton Wildcats in order to make the playoffs. We had a rough week leading up to this game. Two starters suspended, a couple hurt and/or hurting and two seniors quit the team because I asked them to play scout team offense in practice. We were underdogs on a good day and with all this other stuff, the dog was going even further under. So, we loaded up the bus and headed to Holton. After we arrive, Coach Lane has a relaxed air which pervades the entire team. We go through our pregame preparations at Holton High School Stadium, one of the most underrated and often maligned high school atmospheres in the state of Kansas (I loved that playing in that old stadium). I know it is not macho to describe a football game as “happy”, but it was just a “happy” atmosphere. In the locker room, right before heading out for kickoff, Coach Lane lets these fly to the boys:

“The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.” -Earl of Beaconsfield

You could just see the kids who were starting their first varsity football game sit a little taller, breathe a little easier and transform into varsity football players. Then he addresses the team again:

“They don’t write children’s books to teach children that dragons exist…They write children’s books to teach children the DRAGONS CAN BE KILLED.”

The kids just sat there for a second. The words began to sink in. Then a determined group of football players strap on their helmets, walk to the field and compete with purpose, pride and passion. Holton eventually wore us down for a couple late 4th quarter touchdowns to win. I know we lost, I know parents, fans and administrators were disappointed, but I have never been more proud of a group of kids after a game as I was walking with those boys off that particular field on that particular night. I will never forget that feeling. The very essence of what high school sports are all about.

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Tagged as Coach Lane, Football, Friday night in America, Tiger Football

March 15, 2010 · 3:06 PM

Rest Day Read 3-15-10

Rest Day Read (SR-15)
The Physical Genius by Malcolm Gladwell
“If you think of physical genius as a pyramid, with, at the bottom, the raw components of coordination, and, above that, the practice that perfects those particular movements, then this faculty of imagination is the top layer. This is what separates the physical genius from those who are merely very good.”
What makes the great ones great? The million dollar question. I have been fascinated with the concepts of this article by Malcolm Gladwell, originally published in New Yorker Magazine in 1999, ever since I stumbled across it. I particularly like the Gestalt, or the space/form recognition component.
I used to get really funny, odd looks and blank stares from administrators, parents and some other coaches when I would talk about these concepts. I would use Gestalt methods in offensive lineman drills every day so that the lineman would see the patterns the opposition would employ to stop us. Recognize and repeat, repeat and repeat over and over again until it was embedded. We would watch game film of the opposition as much as possible, then during practice a offensive scout team ran the opposition’s formation and plays. Recognize and repeat, repeat and repeat over and over again until it was embedded. Everyone knew our scout team was not as good as our upcoming opponent, but the important things was to present the patterns.
The great ones “see” (visualize and process) things in a different, advanced manner. They have the raw components, the desire to practice to obsessive perfection and they possess the factor of imagination that vaults them to a completely different level than the rest of us. For an example of “the faculty of imagination”, think of the spontaneous moves involved in a Barry Sanders breakaway run.

The Center of the Basketball Universe

Who would have thought? Kansas State and Kansas playing for the Big 12 Championship, the number one ranked conference in the nation. The two teams are probably 2 of the 5 best teams in the entire country right now. Man, this is fun! Kind of takes me back to the days of the rivalry before I had a drivers license. The days when I viewed it with a kid’s fascination. The days of Chuckie Williams and Mike Evans, Darnell Valentine and Donnie Von Moore, Jack Hartman and Ted Owens. My two favorite teams, coached by two of my favorite coaches, Frank Martin and Bill Self. Playing on the big stage for the league championship, can it get much better than this? Well, maybe a fourth showdown in a couple of weeks in the Final Four…

Good luck and enjoy the game!

Poetry Reading

The final chat presentation at last week’s Catholic Writers Conference Online was Catholic Poetry with David Craig. Since it was the final chat, I listened in. During the discussion, I had a poetry flashback. Back in sophomore honors English, my teacher, Mrs. Goheen gave us the assignment of memorizing and reciting a poem in front of the class. I was/am not a huge fan of poetry to begin with, so this was an assignment akin to flossing and brushing the dog’s teeth. When I see poetry in books, the words get fuzzy and begin to dance around into a deadly vortex. As the same time, I admit there are several poems and poets I really like. Well, anyway, completely true to form, I forget all about the memorization assignment until late evening the night before we are to be thrown to the wolves. I search frantically through our home bookshelf listening to the “I told you so’s” from dear Mother and the laughing of the brothers. All in the know go to bed that night thinking old MH is toast in the morning in English class.

I sit in class the next morning, waiting to be called to the gallows. When my name is called, I can feel the class and Mrs. Goheen in anticipation of great failure as I walk to the front of the class. For those who don’t know me, I am a lineman, plain and simple. I was probably the last over the cut line to get into honors English. I was a seat filler, a butt in the seat. So, there I stand in front of the class, trying not to make eye contact with anyone. I crack my knuckles and clear my throat for a little slapstick comic relief, take my best Shakespearian stance and begin.

“Behold the duck.

It does not cluck.

A cluck it lacks.

It quacks.

It is especially fond

Of a puddle or pond

When it dines or sups,

Its bottoms ups.

The Duck by Odgen Nash”

I can’t remember what grade I received on the project. The audience seemed entertained and Mrs. Goheen seemed satisfied with the selection. I am sure it was probably a B+. Mrs. Goheen asked why I picked that particular poem. I told her it was my favorite poem, but in all reality, it fit when written on the top of my tennis shoe, just in case I got stage fright. But, The Duck became my favorite poem and still the only one I have burned to memory. Thank you Ogden Nash.

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Tagged as man evolution, ogden nash, Reads, The Duck

February 27, 2010 · 10:36 AM