Saturday, April 5, 2003

GAME #8 CSU 7 BYU 6
We are now 7-1

OKAY, SO I CAN’T STOP WRITING

It was very weird and very hard to be the coach and not be at the game. The fact that it was on national TV made it easier and harder all at once. At least I could see what was going on, but for the most part I could do nothing. Having been put on suspension and not coaching the boys has left me somewhat rudderless, and filled with confused emotions.

I felt going into BYU that, in a way it would be my greatest "coaching challenge" ever. Would we play as hard as if I was there? Will they execute and make the adjustments? My greatest aspiration is to have teams that look like they do not need a coach. I have always wanted them to understand and create as individuals and as a team. I do not want a team that I coach to look and act like "Pavlov’s dog". I don't want a military outfit either. Success is created together. It is in no book. It’s nice to have a manual, of course, but it is for reference only. I suspect we are the only team in America that has never done a jumping jack. Anyway, I can safely say that they played hard and with heart every minute last night. They acted well and stayed on task all game long. Overall, it was not pretty. It was them doing what it took. I think I have touched on or used every verb tense in this paragraph. Writers are not supposed to do that. It is against all the rules. Maybe it is because my emotions are constantly fast-forwarding and rewinding anyway right now. I need that writing class.

TV REVIEW

I may not have been there in Provo last night, but you don’t have to be a genius or even his coach to see that Alex Smith stood up last night, as a goalie, as a leader, and perhaps as a man as well. He saved us at times, and all game he made the kind of stops that I want him to make on a consistent basis. He now runs the defense in a way that helps him make saves.

Jared Katz (Rabbit) is simply the greatest. All he does is a little of everything. No one (TV, press, whatever) ever says that much about him. How can they not see what I see? It’s not all about stats. Half the time I don’t know or care who scores the goal anyway. It’s us. Whoever gets the statistic is just doing what he is supposed to do. Jared just works to help the team. How much he loves the game is clearly stated by the way he plays it.

Derek Koll (middie) makes us look dangerous every time he steps on the field now. I just like to watch him play.

Jeff Schmid (defense) resembles a big lion, which is fitting, because he has a heart of one. He works so hard on defense, and makes the most of himself and what he has, both inside and out. He was our glue last night, as he always is.

KJ on attack is really beginning to see things well. He had a couple nice finishes last night. He had two goals, and I think five others each had one for a balanced attack.

Naaber put in the goal that proved to be the winner, an EMO lefty, a shot that he works on every day.

Mark Plonkey is our soul. He is absolutely relentless at all times (Rothian). I am so close to Mark that I almost worried that he might miss me more than the others even though he is our "horse". No worries. He, of course, doesn’t need me. He knows I’m always with him anyway. He and we showed tremendous poise and maturity, even when BYU threatened to "steal" the game at the end. Last night made me proud that I coach this team.

Offensively in general, seven goals ain't going to get it done. Defensively we still have a few bad tendencies. There is much work to be done.

We have some people playing that I would ordinarily have firmly planted as "apprentices" this year. You do what you have to. We are extremely thin in the long pole department, but we have plenty of attackmen. None of them have much experience, as the entire attack is new, so the depth is somewhat deceptive. I am actually trying to have a revelation as I write this. Right now I just pray for my reinstatement for the game with #1 Sonoma by Tuesday.

THEY DIDN'T FLIP OUT

They went to the mall in Sandy, Utah yesterday before the game, and someone got a bunch of "Flip" stickers before the game. I guess this (Flip) is some kind of snowboard brand. In true CSU lacrosse style they were wearing them for the game in many different ways. Nothing can be totally uniform with our uniforms anyway. I hope that no referees read this......

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