Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

ALL THE LEAVES ARE PRETTY MUCH BROWN, but the real fall ball season is still right in front of us.

As the last of the autumn leaves are finding their way to the ground, and the frost is getting the jump onto the proverbial pumpkin, I feel a ‘report card’ coming on. This ‘report’ is a document that I post for all to see. I type numbers/names down numerically or phonetically and then next to that microsofted name and number I put the first group of stuff that comes into my tomato. I do one of these every year, but you never know when it might come, or even what the format/attitude might look like.

RELAX COACH, WE DON’T REALLY SUCK – IT IS ONLY AN ILLUSION

We had a decent but far from great game outing against C.U. two weeks ago, but truthfully since then we haven’t even had what I would call a useful scrimmage. This fact is somewhat discouraging to me, besides being el feo, or buck ugly, as it becomes a visual realization. I want us to improve daily, and the big WE has not been doing that.

We have been getting some good running around done at practice, so it’s been valuable in a P.E. sort of way.

IT’S ALL GOOD?

Meanwhile I must remind myself that I willingly blessed certain things that have kept key players from being at practice every day and or things like that. In other words I wanted, or was okay with some having to take a bigger course load or a less convenient one now in the fall so that things could be more lacrosse friendly in the spring. If they needed to work to save a little money to pay to play in the spring, then I encouraged that. It is huge to me that they be open and honest about these matters. It is family foundation filling. Therefore it is important that when they tell me some of this sort of stuff that I truly listen, and that I endorse their ‘good’ choices. Then I must trust their young asses, I mean minds, to do the right things inside the big picture frame of life.

THE BAND, ELLWOOD!

Well, I don’t want them to think like that self-serving son-of-a-you-know-what that I really am at heart.

SILVER LININGS ARE GOOD

So, why am I, nervous Nellie, not that disturbed with how un-great our overall team play has been lately in practice? I asked myself that very question. The answer is because I have been more concerned with teaching specific things to individuals this week than I am worried about the piston firing of the team machine. That is more than partly because the so-called team machine has so many changing parts that come with every different day. I have no way to be the driver at this time; no steering wheel, or something like that.

WELCOME TO THE HOTEL LUXOR, I MEAN LAXOR

We are currently too club-like on a day to day basis to exhibit much of the true team character we will need to have and to build a season from. Our team has no face, at least not just yet. We will, we must, and sooner rather than later would be good.

The pieces are being fitted. The structure building is in progress. I must always remember that the base of the old pyramid of success must be very square and very strong.

I heard once upon a time that patience is a virtue, but in many ways I’m still waiting for the confirmation on that one some 50 years later.

COACH CHILL and fall ball follies, or "Fine, then just go to your sister's wedding".

By the way, I hate it, yes, but I also really don’t mind when they miss a practice in order to go to rock concerts, or if one flies off to a football game in South Bend or to some other culturally enhancing(?) fall endeavor…. Before you leave town if you could just pledge your undying loyalty to me and only me. Oh yeah, and make sure you got the round trip ticket or someone’s credit card.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?

One of the seniors said something interesting today. He basically spoke his own truth, which was that only this year is important, as in next year means nothing. The context is not important to the story, and the intent wasn’t necessarily negative or selfish either. My instant reply to him was that I, in fact, feel the exact same way every single year.

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