Thursday, April 29, 2004

LOVE ON THE ROAD

It seems almost strange the way we as a team feel so at home on the road.  We are totally comfortable with it, even when we must travel by bus.  We brought a CSU big bus and two vans with us to Utah.  One van is still not here, and I will not sleep until it is. Very few rode in those two vans because everyone preferred to be together, crammed or whatever, on the bus.  To me, that is love, too.

"GIRLS GONE WILD" GETS NASTY

I had no idea. Probably not good for my old ticker to see that stuff.

The trip was relatively easy.  The video set up helps. I am now sitting here in the Comfort Inn, Sandy, Utah, where I can do nothing about the runaway train at home that is Rock-it Pocket.com.  Therefore I finally have a minute to somewhat "collect" my thoughts and write.  I wanted to write every day this week, but I had no time.  So much has been going through my head on a coaching level.

WHAT IS THE POINT IF YOU NEVER SEARCH YOUR SOUL?

I have been thinking a lot lately (weeks) about myself as a coach, and how to be more of one.  After we played CU I did a hard personal investigation.  It's nothing like the Inquisition that The Lady Chancellor at C.U. is doing with the football program in Boulder, but I wanted to step back and judge myself. This is not always the easiest thing on the old ego, but necessary none the less.  The C.U. game had a "special" moment for me. I didn't know it until later. I realized a few days after the game that in some ways I had not been pushing them (team) in the right direction, and when you are as pushy as I am, that can take you down the wrong road in a hurry.

KERPLONKEY

As I said, it took some time for me to realize how important that instant had been.  Anyway, the event was that Mark Plonkey (#17) did something exactly as I had been asking him to do it, and he did it against the Buffs of CU....Finally.  What he did was knock some kid down, nice and easy like, and in the process he took the ball away from same.  It was nothing vicious at all.  The thing about it that hit me was that the ref called a penalty anyway.  I maintain that they often call these things against him because the refs don't think he could possibly be manhandling the other kid so badly without it being somehow illegal.

This hit was so clean and "nice" compared to what Mark would normally be doing to the opponent.  I knew that.  So, after a few days of feeling confused by all my mixed emotions, I concluded that this whole Plonkey moment was a metaphor, a symbol for some of that bad coaching I had been doing.

I must always be hardest on me, that is my golden rule.

SQUARE PEGS DO NOT FIT WELL IN ROUND HOLES

As a coach, what I like to do is take who and whatever we have (players), and then I try to build us upon our strengths. I also do my best to hide our weaknesses.  I don't take great players and fit them to "my" system.  I try to fit or dovetail my "system" with their skills and capabilities.  I had been trying to reshape Mark and his greatness to fit some kind of image I wanted us to have.  The nail or "straw" was that if he is going to get called for a penalty anyway, then screw it, let him "get his money's worth".  Part of his individual greatness is how beautifully he illustrates the aesthetics of violence.  What he does is come after you 150% all the time, stalking, whether it is practice, or games, or whatever.  I was asking him to tone it down.  Forget about it.  You go boy.  If he is healthy, I am prepared to jump on for the ride, and as long as he keeps his mouth shut, I will take my chances with the refs.  This kid knows how to play and how to hit.  I need to trust those parts of him, let him go, and then watch those other things (his mouth) very closely.  I can actually help in that area (sometimes).

A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN

One must remember that Mark can have a tendency to look like he belongs in another league.  This year, however, has been a bit of a struggle for him because of injuries, and also that whole "Pre-season Player of the Year" thing.  I see him getting a little closer to being himself every day now, and I cannot lie, this "makes my heart soar like a hawk".

THE MISSION BEGINS

This week has been a strange, but great week of practice.  I fully expect to see us unleash a new kind of fury starting tomorrow, and it is a rage that comes from a team that is in love with itself.  The best things come from this kind of positive passion, and that comes from within and ultimately has nothing to do with hate for something on the outside.

We play Utah at 4:00, but not before I must endure the dreaded League meeting at 9:00 a.m.

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