Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal

Saturday, September 30, 2006

FALL BALL FANTASTIC

C.S.U. 14 – C.U. 10 –
Full game played at 5 Star Stadium in Thornton, Colorado.

I think that is the first time I have been part of a fall ball game that was this 'big' in its scope. Played under the lights and in front of hundreds of people, it was kind of exciting and good for the coaching blood, too. To get that taste of real battle at this time of year was a bonus. I thought I wouldn’t be coaching that much (hard) tonight. See how wrong you can be.

The evening had a familiar feel. When we arrived on site the sun was putting the finishing touches on a warmly toasted afternoon. You could feel the heat coming from the artificial turf inside the pretty good sized high school football stadium. We were about to play the C.U., Buffs (again), and the game would start as soon as day would become night. Things had a ‘bigtime’ feel to them as the time approached. All this stuff together made it seem just vaguely reminiscent of an evening last May in Dallas.

GOOD START

We scored first and set a you-chase-us pattern to the game, which led us to a 6-3 lead. There was less than half of the second quarter to be played. I was comfortable with the pace WE had set for the game.

So why are you grumpy?
Because. Then we got some penalties of the kind I hate (stupid). We let them execute a little of this and that. All of a sudden 5 minutes later we were trailing 7-6 at the half. Talk about an unwanted shift of momentum. We finished the half worse than poorly. It was an early autumn melt down.

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG

We moved the ball great at times all game long, and all the while we had certain individuals doing that thing that everyone talks too much about and not enough players do. That thing is the famous ‘making plays’. I liked our possessions and the way we were getting looks at the goal net, and when we scored we were taking the opposing goalie out of the equation by breaking down the defense.

So, why are you so grumpy?
Because. We passed the ball to a referee, twice. Once wasn’t enough. I ended up having to point out to those who needed to know that these men were the ones wearing stripes, and do not throw it to them! We need to take better care of the ball. Those weren’t the only dumb things we did.

RUN CSU

After trailing 7-6 at half we absolutely came out of the locker room and made a very loud statement over the course of the second half. We ran off 8 straight or unanswered goals over the next 27 minutes or so. It was an 8-0 run. We led 14-7 with exactly 3 minutes and 5 seconds left in the game.

So, why are you so grumpy?
Because. It became very important to me as the half wore on that I did not want us to give up 10 goals for the game, even though we had allowed seven by the halftime break. Not allowing other teams to get 10 goals against us in a game has been a long time source of pride for our defense. The fact that we held them scoreless for 27 minutes in the second half before letting in three in less than three just about made me livid. We did not finish either half well. Our defense has much work to do.

It was definitely a game of runs, both mini and maxi. It went from 3-3 to 6-3 CSU. Then four for the Buffaloes made it 7-6. The next eight for CSU made it 14-7. I liked that score a lot, but alas it was not to be and they got the last three. Woe is me.

OUR FIRST DATE

Pat Bird (#1 – M – 2007 – C) was our leader, he played with grace and power, a wonderful combination. He had three goals and one assist. That seems just right. The bonus with him is that I feel like we are communicating in a coach-to-player way on an extremely high level. This is good for team reasons, but also very cool.

Brian Stone (#6 – M – 2007) proved his inside finishing abilities with two very tight goals from in tight where the sticks are flying. He showed an on field presence as well, one that comes only with true maturity (NOT like Terrell Owens)

Danny Stevens (#32 – A – 2007 –C) picked right up where he left off (I never said that before) when last seen last year. He tallied 3 goals and 3 assists. Campbell Diebolt (#13 – A – 2009) was a force, a man with 3 goals and he added an assist on one of Danny’s fast break finishes, and we indeed had a couple of nice fast breaks tonight. Tyler Treece (#3 - A - 2009) rounded out a very solid attack with 2 goals of his own.

John Tomlinson (#4 – M –2008) showed his offensive speed and prowess tonight. He put constant pressure on the Buff defense whenever he was in the game. He did this not just whenever he had the ball, but whenever we as a team had the ball. That is what I am talking about. He finished with one and one.

Stephen Lundberg (#16 - M - 2009) sluffed off any sophomore slump by marking up one goal and one assist to round out our scoring for the night. Stephen is becoming a playmaker now, too, and that is what I \really want to see from him.

We made the most of our scoring opportunities in general, looking quite efficient from time to time. This, too, is a thing that I would like to have become a trend.

So, why are you so grumpy?
Because. To a man I want to be able to make an environment where they constantly improve. There were more ‘breakdowns’ in the course of ‘regular’ play than I would like.

Right now I feel like there are also a few that are having a sophomore slump or whatever. There are some that haven’t in fact been improving and having more fun under ‘my watch’ and this is, excuse me, pissing me off right now. I want them all to get better, and for every step to be a forward one. I don’t want to miss the potential of this team.

KATIE, HATCH THE LATCH

Adam Schnirel (#34 – D- 2007 – C) exhibited star quality while he steadied our improving defense. The defense played hard and our depth potential was there to be seen and tweaked into place. As for the goalies, we only played three of the eight, but I feel good with the way tonight’s ‘rotation’ went. I do feel like we are on the right path with the goalies even though nothing has been determined with any sort of absoluteness that is for sure.

So, why are you so grumpy?
Good point. Why am I? Just because the defense isn’t perfect, no need to let it spoil a perfectly good win on a perfectly great evening. Besides coaching is what is fun. Knowing where to begin the work is half the battle. Therefore, all in all, tonight was awesome on many levels.

Upon further review, IT’S ALL GOOD.

For tonight I will even allow it to be good to be me.

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