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Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal
Tuesday, September 24, 2002
We played three "shorty" games on an absolutely gorgeous early autumn morning/afternoon in Golden Saturday. We started with a 10:30 a.m. affair with CU. After getting on top of the
game and leading 6-2 well into the second half, we had to endure yet another furious C.U. comeback. We finally got a late goal by Stanitz-Harper on a fast break feed from "red shirt"
freshman Derek Koll to win 7-5. The Buffs always play us with great emotion, and it doesn't matter what time of the year it is. I am a bit disappointed that we didn't put them away, but I give
them (CU) credit. We have a long way to go, but that is okay. I am happy to be where we are right now.
In the second tilt, we played Western State for the first time ever. With 12-15 "starters" on the sideline taking the game off, it was a very competitive game. We pulled away consistently for
an 11-4 win. The games on this day were 25 minute halves, running time. The length of a game was roughly equivalent to a little over a half of a real game. Many of the young bucks got their
feet wet in this one. Not just damp, wetŠ
In the final game (our third with no break) I was looking for momentum and a total team effort. We had both. UNC (Northern Colo.) has a new and exciting coach. He wants to build a program. Be
careful what you wish for, but I have always wanted them to get stronger. They have moved up to Division I in our league this year. Their goal is to beat CSU, and teams like us. During the summer
I heard talk of their program even going Division I NCAA in a couple of years. I wanted to give them (UNC) a little better idea of what they were up against, at least when it has to do with
us.
The game was a total team effort, and I think every single CSU player played, but I definitely "let the dogs run" for a while. We won 17-4. That is quite a lot of goals for such a short game.
I sort of apologized to the other coach by telling him that "we played hard" the whole game. We never "run it up", but I never say to not play hard or make a rule where they can only score with
their left hand or whatever. The only thing I ever have done along those lines is occasionally put a cap or a ceiling on goals that we score. Our schedule is much stronger now, precluding many
of these types of problems. Ultimately I probably could have been more gracious in the UNC game. I chose not to be. Besides, I was very hungry by the time we played this game. My algae was wearing
off and I needed sustenance.
Our face-offs were great all day. We won almost every one. Not only that, but it looks like we will have many options for different tactics in this crucial part of the game. Thanks to Phil Eichhorn
and freshman Clint Chafin, it looks like we can bring the short stick back to the X in the center of the field. Plonkey only faced off once. He will be a nice change of pace to have in and on
the wings.
We did get a couple of unwanted injuries (as opposed to the ones you really want?) from the day. Specifically, we had one re-aggravation of an injury from last spring. This worries me. These
things are part of it, I guess.
>From a big picture standpoint the day went fine. Everyone played, everyone had fun, and as a team we had our moments. We didn't commit a lot of stupid penalties. The attack was solid, but must
improve in pretty much all phases of attack play. We need more of an offensive team concept (we currently have none, other than "whatever you do, do it fast and smart"). The defense is coming
along nicely, but did have a few breakdowns on transition. We have more midfielders capable of making a difference on defense than we have ever had.
We have a surprise attackman, transferred back closer to home after a brief time at New York Tech. We have two players now who came back home to Colorado from this Division II NCAA program.
This one quickly scored three and helped on another. I'd love to have the best part of him. Will he really play? Stay tuned. We have a fearless rookie from Bishop O'Dowd in California. His smile
is so broad that it tells you how much he loves to play. I already like to watch him. He is very confident. I guess I'm kind of sweet on the Bird. I can't wait to see how high he can fly. I
know, I'm not supposed to have favorites, and ultimately, I really don't. They are all different people.
I like working with this team during a game. I know it's easier when you win, and all, but I see nothing that troubles me about our team attitude right now.
As a team standing on the sidelines, we were awesome, cheering every goal and being positive. Sometimes and some years I sense bad vibes from one or another player who is standing behind me
during games. I know I am overly paranoid at times, but these eyes can feel like daggers in my back. It muddles my thinking. That cloud does not hover over us now, but rather, the new ones are
all dying to figure out their role or whatever, and these, to me, are progressive thoughts. I sensed eager anticipation Saturday. I felt the excitement of players who, of course, can't wait
to get in and play. At the same time, you can tell how things are going to be when the "going gets tough".
Many of them went on the annual team camping trip with the girl's lax team Saturday night. All I want to know about that is if everyone got home safe and sound. I heard it was quite the good
time. There is a part of me that wishes he could have gone with, but of course I was at my favorite event, the annual 5-hour league meeting, which followed the game playing in Golden. It was
a relatively painless meeting, but all in all, with the dental advances they have made, I think I would still rather have a root canal. The upside for me was that when they all got together
to make up their 2003 schedules, I got up and left because been there, done that. Have I mentioned that I love our schedule this year?
There are a few statistics that I find interesting. We have 20 players from out of state. Four years ago we had 5. It doesn't feel like there are 35 freshmen and sophomores running around out
there, but we have twenty-nine freshmen on the current roster. Many of these were "red shirts" last year; they were here, but did not play in games. There are only 21 upper classmen on the "squad",
6 sophomores, 7 Juniors, and 8 Seniors. It appears that, as a team, we are much more seasoned than these numbers might indicate. . I'm thinking that I love this red shirt thing, at least in
concept, and so far. It occurs to me that it will ultimately help our "graduation rate" as well.
I want it all. I want to coach great teams, full of great kids that know how to have a great time and achieve greatness in their own ways, both on and off the field. I don't want other teams
to hate us. I want them to think of something very different from hate when they think of us.
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