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Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal
Tuesday, October 08, 2002
Friday’s practice was our worst to date, so Monday I expressed my desire for us to pick up the pace and the intensity. We had an excellent session yesterday. Today I will split us into
two teams for our upcoming tournament. We will enter a CSU Green, and a CSU Gold team as well.
IN MY OTHER LIFE I WAS A HORSE
I have always been proud of the fact that I am honest, sometimes brutally, and that I am not afraid to say anything to a person that I would ever say about them. It’s all that, "Know
the truth and the truth shall set you free" stuff that I preach. Occasionally the truth is a giant foot in my mouth that often makes me look a lot like a horse’s _ss. Yesterday I had
such an experience. In expressing my displeasure with our trainer "allotment" I said something very loud, very sexist and very chauvinistic all at once. As it turns out, the person
who would feel the most hurt from this comment was sitting right there, and believe me, this was something I never would have said if I had known that person was there. If ever I wish I had
a "do-over", this was it, but the "horse was out of the barn", ass and all. I looked equally pathetic falling all over myself trying to apologize for what I had said. Extenuating
circumstances made me look even more cold-hearted than the words alone could have. There were reasons we were under-staffed. I can’t take it back, so I will have to ameliorate the situation
somehow. One thing is for sure, and that is that everyone now knows I would like to have more trainers.
CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?
Someone sent a letter to my boss, complaining about some recent pictures I put on the web site. Here is the e-mail conversation that ensued:
Subject: Lacrosse Pictures
Mr. Hill,
I must say I am surprised to see some of the photos your
Nationally recognized lacrosse team has posted on their website. Not only do they show them with alcohol, but it is being consumed in a bus and what appears to a large passenger van. Please
be aware of the message this sends about your program.
Regards,
D. L.
That’s not his real name. I changed the name to protect the innocent. Hill forwarded it to me. Below is my response:
D. L.:
Bill Hill sent me your e-mail, and I wanted to respond. I thought about whether or not to put these pictures up, and the truth is that I decided they were okay because I refuse to pretend...
College students do drink and party. We are proud of the way we know the difference between being in control and not being in control. When we win, the team celebrates, but we try to never be
anything other than a good bunch of kids doing the right things. They take care of one another. There are always designated drivers, etc. I have rules that work for our team. Each player signs
an oath of behavioral standards before he can play.
My response as coach of this program is that I apologize if we offend you. I do not apologize for our image, because I am proud of it.
The reason we are a nationally recognized lacrosse team is because I made us that way. I built the program, web site and all, with my sweat and my money. I do not recruit. They come because
they want to come. The school only recognizes me as a "visitor", yet this lacrosse team is known everywhere. I am not paid and the amount of money the school gives our program is almost
funny. We are financially sound because the kids invest their own money. We represent the university in a positive way. We represent ourselves in a positive way.
Sincerely,
Flip Naumburg Head coach CSU lacrosse
I was sure he would write me back and call me some names, or at least arrogant and that this is all somehow symptomatic of many of modern society's problems, but this is what he said:
Mr. Naumburg,
Many thanks for your reasoned response, and continued success to you and your program.
Regards,
D. L.
Who knew?
Ahh, Know the truth, and the truth shall set you free………
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