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Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal
Tuesday, August 27, 2002
It’s like I’m all dressed up, but the party doesn’t start until next month. I’d like to put all this good energy into preparation, storing "nuts for winter" as
it were. I wish I knew how to do that, how to somehow work on things in the fall that we can shrink and review later in a parking lot or re-visit in a gym with glass windows when it is 10 below,
and not miss a beat of progress.
It’s also kind of a shame that we aren’t officially playing yet, because I feel like writing more these days, too, and I can’t write that much about something that isn’t
actually happening. I can see where this might be a problem if I were trying to write a novel. I guess I write most and best from perception and train of thought, and not from inception and
fantasy.
We had about 20 out for an informal workout Saturday. It was totally impromptu. I just went out to work with Alex (goalie) and a couple others, then, boom, it’s a lax party. This is a good
sign. Everyone is excited to play. I’m sure I broke NCAA regulations (I was there working with them out of season), but that is one of the great things about our organization as opposed
to the NCAA. Our USLIA has plenty of rules and regulations, just not stupid ones.
I hated our schedule so much last year that I have approached this year’s in a different, extremely aggressive way. I think the schedule and how it unfolds has a huge influence on the season.
I did not want to just "give in" and be gracious, waiting for other coaches to decide or whatever, like I did last year. This year, I put down what I wanted on a 2003 calendar in June,
and I’ve been pounding away ever since. I’m close to finishing the out-of-league and travel portion of the schedule. As schools get back in session I am getting more calls. "They"
are starting to schedule 2003, and I am mostly done.
Everyone is buzzing about the fact that I am talking about getting the team down to a certain number of players. The players all use the dreaded three-letter word, C-U-T. I carefully avoid using
this word whenever possible. Whatever you call it, it won’t be done in a conventional way where players go look for their names on a board on a certain day, followed by the rainbow range
of emotions. No, it will be far more subtle than that. I prefer to think of the process as a redirection anyway, an evolution for person and team.
Either way, I have a "squad" number in my head that is a group size I think I can work well with. I have sworn off nurturing those with questionable dedication. I no longer have the
inclination to continually encourage players who do not truly give to their teammates and the team. In distilled form, as a player on the CSU lacrosse team, you will not get more from me than
you give anymore. I have high goals and limited time.
It looks like Chris Gemperline will be one of our assistants. He played on both CSU championship teams (‘99-’01) as a long pole. This is good news for me and for our team. He is the
definition of a team player, and is one of those players who gets the most from his body and himself and he gives it all to the team with unselfish love.
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