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Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal
Saturday, October 1, Sunday October 2, 2005
CSU 7 BYU 6
The game was played under a spectacular Northern Colorado sky, and witnessed by an estimated
250-300 sun drenched fans. That (good crowd) was a pleasant surprise. The atmosphere
at the game on the CSU campus was definitely not one befitting fall ball. Instead
it was exciting and intense, full of drama.
THE HARD ROCK IS NOT A CAFE THIS YEAR
They (BYU) will miss having us in Las Vegas at the end of October, and truthfully I wish
the game today would have taken place in Vegas three weeks from now, but oh well. "You
can't always get what you want" has often been a chorus in my lacrosse coaching song,
and it is a refrain that always manages to come around again for a malcontent like me.
FIRST QUARTER
We scored first and it then became 2-0 midway through the first, before the Cougars answered
with a dodge and finish. They have a cannon or two as midfield weapons of destruction.
Their offensive talent is impressive to be sure, pedigree one might say.
Our first goal was scored off of a very fast break, timed and finished beautifully.
It was a good start. The Cougars tied the quarter at 2, literally as time expired
in the first. I wasn't a very happy coach. Unforced errors (ours) were pissing
me off. The problem was that I didn't know whom to yank out or who to put in for him.
SECOND QUARTER
We answered that tying goal early in the second and led again at 3-2. If you take away
individual errors of execution we were playing some pretty good ball at times and getting
pretty good shots for the most part, but I didn't like our flow or rhythm, things I look
for and want to see.
The half eventually ended 3-3 (I think), but BYU was definitely gaining some momentum and
some will in that second quarter, and I'm thinking they felt pretty good about the direction
of things as the half ended.
I, however, was not at all pleased by that half of the game time, and in a less than inspirational,
not very motivational speech to the team on the sun baked side of the meadow, I still managed
to make my displeasure pretty clear, and it was not based on our game tactics. I was
thinking more along the lines of CATCH and take care of THE EFFING BALL or I will shoot
the lot!
THIRD QUARTER
We came out after the half and we were still a man down from the quarter before.
I hate that. By the way, they (refs) had us playing and using one or two of the new
rule changes that are being considered. Let's just say that at least two of these
proposed rules are really stupid and I'll leave it at that. Anyway, we managed to
kill the penalty time off the clock, and we did a pretty good job of that all game. Then
we proceeded to go up by two and, after trading goals, it became 6-4 for us and I think
it stayed there for quite awhile as the third quarter evaporated fairly deeply into the
fourth.
FOURTH QUARTER FINISH
BYU did get two to tie the game at 6 during the final stanza, but John Tomlinson (#4 Mid)
answered with the game-winning dodge from the top and bounce-one-home winner with just a
few minutes to play.
We did not proceed to "hang on" for the last three minutes. We continued
to look for opportunity to attack, and we got some of them, too. Those scoring chances
almost cost us dearly, however, because they ended up giving the Cougars another possession
and another crack at scoring on our defense. The Cougar goalie came up big at least
twice during that action packed time. He controlled the ball and cleared it to the
offense on each one.
I reckon I'd play it the same way again, though. There will be no "prevent defense"
for me. We play smart, but we GO to the goal! That's what I want.
We showed resolve today. We played without fear. I know we are not dripping
stars. It's all good. Rome was not built in a day. For the game we were
paced by the 3 goals and 2 assists weightily contributed to the cause by senior Tim Chorey
(A - #16)
GRATEFULLY LIVE
Old and in the way is not just a sweet Jerry Garcia banjo solo that plays in my brain.
It is the machine I rage against daily. When there is a game at stake I never want
to be old or in the way. In fact I want to always feel as though I somehow contribute
something important during the game itself. I felt empty and frustrated at times today
because I could not find a way to truly help my team, and it is still gnawing at me now,
seven hours later. I don't feel like I "played" a good game. I know,
I don't play. I am talking about that game I play in my mind. I had no good answers
for specific questions at times when I usually do have answers. I don't even know
where the bullets are hidden at this "hollow" point in time. I trust I must
find or manufacture them.
I don't know this team that well yet. Our current challenges are somewhat new and
very different. I do need to cut myself a little slack I guess. I barely know
most of their (players) names. We are not a reloading 21st century juggernaut
here. I must get used to the facts (again). We are still introducing ourselves
to one another. I do not yet know which ones are the ones that can stand the heat
of the kitchen. Fall ball is indeed for learning.
ALL THE LEAVES ARE BROWN
I decided, however, that fall ball is now over. It came and went today. It
is time to just start the whole big picture process of practicing wherever and whenever,
and that what we are doing here is trying to put the pieces together as much as we can wherever
and whenever we can. Inconveniences are in our future. We begin something that
has no end. There will be no break. It will ultimately in fact have an outcome,
though, and that's what makes it so much fun.
I'm big on metaphors and symbolism. These mental angles help me formulate my psychological
tactics, or at least that is my fantasy.
CHAIN OF FOOLS
I spoke with an old and good friend of mine tonight on the phone. I told him a lot
of what was on my mind. He reminded me that evaluating myself is always good, but
this was not judgment day, and that perhaps I was doing that, and it is not necessary or
beneficial. Judgment is so final. This BYU game today was a starting point,
a springboard, no more and no less. This was our first game after a very long time,
a time when the taste in our collective team mouth lingered and was a bitter one.
I need to allow myself, and more importantly them to savor just a little of today's sweetness
before I move us on.
THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS OF MY OWN INSECURITY
I have a flaw that seems to keep my dreams in "check" from time to time.
My first reaction when we didn't bury the Cougars from start to finish was to question if
I had temporarily or God forbid permanently lost my touch. Why aren't we better?
Could the "magic" have actually gone buh bye, this time for good?
I know deep down that I am still mostly all here and that I don't have to be able to "run"
as fast as I did last year to keep going good or whatever. All I must ever do is to
continue to learn, and to keep on keeping on with the whole search for the use of and the
understanding of the value of the real family thing.
SIMPLY NUMBERS
I have been coaching 40-45 guys each day in practice this fall. The roster was much
bigger, but they were never all there. I knew that wouldn't be the case this afternoon.
Today it was more like 58 players on hand and I was uncomfortable knowing that I only had
60 minutes of time to use for them, not nearly enough. We were going to compete straight
up with BYU on this day. That was a given. He played his horses all day, and we played
ours even though I am not nearly as "set" with who my horses are as he (Jason
Lamb) is.
In the end we did actually play an extra quarter of time, sort of a JV thing, but I know
I have some players who may not be happy with me tonight based on their playing time.
To them I apologize, but I also issue a challenge. Give me a reason. I promise nothing
that is based on how long you have been here and things like that. I am simply trying
to build a better mousetrap. If I played kids younger than you who aren't as good
as you are, I'm sorry, but it wasn't about you. It was about giving a few of these
kids a shot at some big game minutes right now. Let's see what they got. Or
let's see what they or he don't got.
To the new guys I say make me know who you are this week in practice. Shed your generic
skin. Give me a reason to want to have you in the fracas representing our ambitions more
than you presently are. I am honored and proud that basically none of the 60 on our
roster have so far quit the team. Practice has been fun most every day. One
can sense and feel those things without being an expert.
We even added two more new players this past week, one is a kid who didn't want to play
until he knew he could handle his schoolwork. I admire that. How could I possibly
say to him, "No, it's too late to come out". I already like him anyway because
he cares about his bigger picture.
TIME, TIME, SEE WHAT'S BECOME OF ME
The task of team and time management for this game today was somewhat daunting for me from
the outset. The "Prime Timers" got by far the bulk of the minutes in the
first 4 quarters (the actual game). I did not use much more than 32 during play, and
that might be a stretch. The extra quarter wasn't enough extra time to make everyone
else feel good. I know this.
TAKE IT EASY COACH
This is not all to say that I am totally unhappy or that we weren't prepared enough
for today. We were. I did okay getting us ready. Overall we handled things
well as a team. Our spirit was strong and our stance in the game was a stellar one
throughout. We backed down from nothing, and in fact we never trailed on the scoreboard.
We also never led by more than two goals. Did we play at the level I had hoped?
Not a chance, Jose'. Am I expecting more than I should? I would say so, and
without a doubt.
Coach, I say to you do not expect them to be ready made. There is no veil that can
disguise the work that must be done. Trust that the team will find it's own individual
shiny parts. Don't force things, but rather go forth and find the truth for and about this
team. It is a team unlike any you have ever led or coached before. Listen to
it.
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