Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal

Friday, March 5, 2005 (Thursday night late actually)

PACE IS EVERYTHING – SO IS PEACE

We have peace in the kingdom right now.  We have team harmony for the most part, and this is a trend that is music to my ears.  We worked very hard to get here, and I know that sounds a bit paradoxical, but I believe that each year a coach and a team must create a new and special environment for the new team pod to thrive in, and anyone who says there is no work involved with forming a team chemistry, and that it just "happens" is either blowing smoke or they are someone I want and need to learn from.

I love this team and the work habits they are developing.  They do the little things and the big things, too.  I told them today (yesterday) at the end of practice that I really appreciate how hard they are working day in and day out.  I also have no doubt that some or many of these things they are doing collectively, individually, and willingly will also pay off at some particular and important future moment.  I believe this is true for us as a team, and also for them as individuals.

KEEP ON TRUCKIN'

We (I) have talked only minimally about the game last Saturday.  There has been no expanded team coffee talk about what happened down there in Colorado Springs.  I felt no need to say much about it, and I'm not completely sure why.  It was not a learning curve landmark for our team in my mind.  It was simply a small step in our progression.

We have had just three practices since that game, and maybe I don't get some of this coach/team stuff that I think I do, but I'm saying that I am totally convinced that in these last three days we have gotten to be a team that is stronger and better than the one that played the CC Tigers last Saturday.  This is a bold, perhaps brash statement.  I say it for a number of reasons, but of course there is no way to prove it.  Either way I like just having these thoughts.

IT'S JUST PRACTICE!

I feel like at this point in time I want to be serious and specific about almost every minute for practices, but when it comes to games I have more of a "let's just go out and play" attitude.  In practice I feel like I want to control everything.  In games I want them (players) to be in charge.  No matter what, I always try to look and make sure they are having fun on the field, and that this (my) part of the day remains the part they most look forward to.

DID JUAN VALDEZ EVER PLAY LAX?

Unfortunately we likely won't find out much from this game coming up on Saturday, but that's okay.  The trio of huge games upcoming will be here soon enough.  We are all enthusiastically looking forward to our trip to the West Coast next week.  I am meanwhile looking at the time that we have before that trip as an ally right now.  I am not in a hurry for next week to come.  It will be here soon enough.  I welcome time for more rehearsal.  In general, and at this specific period in my life, I am not regarding extra time as an enemy as I so often do.   Good things sometimes need time to brew.  This season would seem to be a season of percolating events.

Ahhh.  I love the smell of team in the morning.

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