Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal

Monday, February 21, 2005

ALL SHOOK UP

We have been working a lot on our defensive techniques and intensity lately, and I think they (defense) have begun to affect the previously plenty confident offensive types, who are now shaking their heads a little bit here and there.

I always begin and end everything with defense weighing in heavily on the overall plan. I think I can tell when it (defense) is working well, too, because it becomes harder for people to score in scrimmages and things like that. I just put two and two together, and.....

PUNCH AND JUDY

As that defensive certainty takes hold on one side of the field, I will sort of "jump over" to the other side, and I become offensive coordinator du jour (tomorrow for example). Within a short time hopefully the offense gets itself righted and playing with confidence again, and ultimately it becomes the excellence of practice competition that will propel us to daily improvement on both sides of the ball.

This is the best and also at times the most ambiguous scenario, this back and forth thing where at times I am standing there asking myself questions like, "Is this great (offense) or do they (defense) just suck?" Or it could be vice versa of course. I do not wish to pick on anyone (yeah, right).

For me, this is all just part of my psychotic life as a coach.

ALL’S WELL THAT GOES WELL

Anyway, after all that back and forth, the theory goes, a game comes along and nothing takes place inside of it that tests you (us) to a greater degree than what you (we) have dealt with on a daily basis, and that, of course, includes your (my) ranting, your (my) bitching, and your (my) moaning.

ARE YOU REELING IN THE YEARS?

So anyway I feel like the offense has encountered some new questions and a few roadblocks in just the last day or two. It is up to me to find a potent little pick-me-up for them so they can get back on the street of ascending confidence. We are in the right part of town. I am pretty sure about that.

JUST ASK FOR DIRECTIONS, STUPID

The thing is that even with the "map" in your (my) hand, you (I) often question where the heck we are really headed. I will watch plenty of lacrosse tape this week while I pedal my old and crochety stationary bike in hopes of learning from those smarter than I.

VISION/COACHING QUEST

We are fine (I think), but we absolutely need more work and the time together to do that work. This part of the season is huge for us practice-wise in my tiny brain. I feel I must push them and also coach my buns off here for the next week or three. Meanwhile it feels like snow is coming.

FEAR AND LOATHING

Hunter S. Thompson (author) killed himself today. This is not even remotely a sad thing as I see it and for a number of reasons, but what is it with (male) writers who have too many bad life habits and then end up committing suicide before they "get old" or run out of things to write? Maybe I just tend to gravitate to reading that type of writer more than I do others. Anyway, it’s a good thing I will never have to worry about any of that, isn’t it?

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