Friday, April 11, 2003

CC ME THE ANSWER

Sonoma State left here and went down to Colorado College and beat the CC Tigers yesterday. So it would seem that all the top USLIA teams can beat them, EXCEPT US. What is up with that? I fear that there is some deep seeded psychological problem (me) going on there. Ya think?

FROM THE BIG HOUSE TO OUR HOUSE

I am so pleased that Michigan is coming to play us here (Saturday at 6:00). Not only is it a match of top 5 teams or whatever, but it is going to be in a small high school football stadium that I suspect will be rocking pretty good. We have alumni and lots of parents coming up to the Fort. There are youth and high school games all day long, and right up to our face off. When I was in college, Notre Dame came out to play us. Their alumni support in Colorado Springs, Colorado was almost the thing I remember the most. It amazed a young and somewhat impressionable me. The actual thing I remember the most was being tied at the half, 4-4, and then "smoking" them 15-5. Anyway, I expect there to be lots of Michigan rooters at this little deal, too. The University of Michigan is the biggest campus I have ever seen. I say that because the whole city of Ann Arbor would appear to be part of the "campus". Their alumni branches spread from the tree far and wide, and I know they have a tremendous alumni organization. I am sure that there are plenty of Michiganders in the Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins areas that will show up to give it all that mini-bowl-game kind of look, with both teams well represented in the stands.

We are currently going through the part of the schedule that is more of a test than any regular season schedule we have ever had. The fact that we have two schools like Sonoma State and Michigan here in Fort Collins is ground breaking for our program. During my tenure we never had two teams like this come here, let alone two in one week.

AS FULL-SERVICE COACH I SCOUT ABOUT AS WELL AS I RECRUIT

In the month leading up to the Sonoma State game I received at least three unsolicited scouting reports on Sonoma. I mention this only because to me that indicated that there were people out there who wanted to see SSU lose a game. This was not just an indication of my popularity with other coaches. The first report was an e-mail forwarded to me by one of my players from one of his old coaches, This was a detailed breakdown on the whole Sonoma team. I skimmed it over when it came, a month ago, and then I totally forgot to read it again before we played them. I meant to. Really, I did. The last was a call on my cell phone on the way to the game. This was a call from a "rival" RMILL coach. He offered me information, but what he really gave me was a little pep talk at just the right moment, and it is that for which I am most grateful. I had been feeling a tad nervous when I pulled into Sonic for my pre-game green chili cheeseburger and sunshine smoothie. I had never experienced reinstatement before, let alone for a game like this. After the phone call I felt calmer. I was not yet convinced that we could play with them on this day, but at least I was fed and no longer nervous about it.

All these reports included something about the fact that Sonoma State attackman Ben Alexander was either hurt and not moving that well, or that perhaps he was not as good as those seven points a game or whatever might indicate. I found neither to be true. He is trouble. That’s what I say. If we should meet them again, he will be part of my thought process. The key to dealing with opponents, especially good ones, is respecting them, at least that is what I think.

I had a chance to drive less than one hour last Sunday to see Sonoma play CU in Boulder. We had huge games upcoming with both. I chose to spend the day with my family at home, and I did not think about it twice. I often don’t know what to do with all the information I get from scouting and scouting reports. I do like videotapes, but more from our own games so I can point out mistakes. My whole philosophy is that I don’t care what they do near as much as I care about the way we do the things we do.

If and when the other team puts it to us in one aspect of the game or the other, I like me or us to just know what our answer is. Sometimes we simply need to fight harder. The answer could be to change the defense, and it might be to "Unleash the Plonkey". It might even be that the "Ryan Price is right", as was the case the other day.

I’LL TAKE ANYTHING ON BIG BLUE

Having said all this, I know very little about Michigan. Since we play them tomorrow it is starting to trouble me a bit. I wish I knew more. They beat us last year in Ann Arbor. The score was like 13-9. They played well. They had a good game plan. They were and are well coached, disciplined, and they were extremely motivated to beat us as well. We were horrible and deserved to lose. I gave a "sermon" to the team the next day. It was perhaps the low point of 2002 for our team. They (Michigan) were, and I assume are still very fast as a team. Number 7 killed us with his left handedness and speed last year. They have good stick skills in all positions. Their goalie is very quick and experienced.

So I don't really know what to expect in tomorrow's game, but I can't wait to see it anyway. This CSU team and huge challenges seem to collide, and often. This is just another. I would have it no other way. As ill-prepared as we might seem on the surface for this hungry Wolverine team, I am excited by the whole thing, which is that time covering from now all the way through then. Rams, Wolverines, and I'll be there on the lines. I am truly thankful for that.

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