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October 5, 2001 Notes from the trip to Logan, Utah: There were certainly positive things, and there were things that I wish hadn't happened at all. We won and played okay in the first two games, Utah State and Utah, and easily reached the fnals. Many people got a lot of playing time. USU put on a really nice fall tournament. The league meeting was Friday night. Our defense is vulnerable right now, and that was clear, even in the first two games. We play, and are in fact, very young, especially in the goal. The offense was not finishing crisply enough, or even at all, but it is "only" fall ball after all. BYU exposed our weaknesses somewhat in the championship game, and we compounded them as well by the way we acted. I always know things aren't where I want them to be when I spend more time keeping us under control than I do focusing on the game at hand. This was the case as the game with BYU unraveled. We had too many penalties, and made too many mistakes en route to losing 13-8. We had several "looks" at the game in spite of it all. On the way out of town we had a team meeting in the parking lot of the Sizzler in Logan, Utah. We dealt with an issue or two, and I talked about my after game thoughts. The most important thing was that I asked a question, "If we had only been called for a few penalties instead of 10, and if we make them (BYU) play settled offense, is it a different game?" It was a rhetorical question, and it was clear to everyone that those two things would have made the game different. We can't chase them from 3 goals down all the time. We have to have a say in how the game is played, and we didn't against BYU. I felt good getting on the bus anyway, because I feel that we (I) got a very good blueprint for the future of this team. There were some adjustments to be made that became crystal clear over the course of the weekend. Getting specific roles for individuals is one of the immediate tasks for me. On the bus ride home I went to work talking to individuals about very specific things, and felt pretty good. I had been hoping that we were closer to BYU right now, but what is life without challenges? They (BYU) are huge, mature and with a big time goalie now it looks a lot like the best team they have had, despite the loss of Steve Austin. I could be wrong, but I think Jason Lamb thinks he's got the team he expexcts to do it. He had that look of the "cat that ate the canary". I'm sure beating us by 5 only added to the confidence factor in Provo. The bonding was beginning on the trip, but I wonder how quickly this team will become close. Patience will be key with this group, but I feel deep down that it is key for these players to come together in a powerful way and find their own mission. We were trying a lot of different things this weekend. I want to define the people who are not intimidated by the highest level of competition, and I want to jump on the backs of those who thrive on it. I can't dwell on the past if the process is really to prepare for the future. The thing that is unknown has always been the most exciting for me, anyway. I got plenty of that right now. All I do know is that we must build the base of the pyramid first. October 7, 2001 Yesterday, Saturday, we played as two seperate teams, the CSU Dogs and the CSU Underdogs, and played in our own 6 team round robin tournament in Fort Collins. We (CSU) host one of these typically small fall ball events every year, but this was the first time we had ever split ourselves into two separate entrants. Of course we have never had 60 people who were actually serious about playing lacrosse here before, either. Each team worked some as an individual unit during the week. Practice ended every day with a short scrimmage, Dogs (25-28 players) vs Underdogs (30-33 players). Each "split squad" developed some of its own character during the week. It was fun. Next week we will become a single family unit once again. The Underdogs had a great tournament, coming together under Jason Seidel, who led them well in his first "head coaching" lacrosse experience, going 2-1 for the day, beating both Mines and the DU club easily, and giving CU a struggle early before losing 12-5. It was fun to watch them. They looked a lot like a CSU team. What a shock. One of my greatest motivations is to see our games have the same look, a style of play, unchanged by what personnel is in the game. I went nowhere near the coaching box for the Underdog games, and in fact only got to see one of their games (DU vs Underdogs) anyway because both CSU's were playing at the same time on different fields for 2 of the 3 games. I could say it (steering clear of the Underdogs) was because I didn't want my presence to change anything that was happening with their chemistry, but it is probably because I am no longer capable of being an assistant, or "box coach". I coached the Dogs, of course. We looked completely revitalized in winning 3 games, dominating DU Club and Boomerang Club, and then finishing the afternoon with a spurt, a 13-2 win against a young CU team in the "showcase" last game of the tournament. We did not schedule a Dog vs.Underdog game. The competition was different yesterday from what it had been a week earlier in Utah, but even so, as the day wore on, it became obvious that I was watching a different team play lacrosse. It looked much more like what I perceive to be CSU lacrosse. The defense became somewhat a unit on this day, rallying in front of a freshman goalie who was solid in the goal and poised on the field. Meanwhile, the offense was busy "putting pressure on the goal" (mantra #23), "taking care of the ball" (mantra #14) and often finishing a flurry of activity by finding net. We do need to get collectively better at finding the net whenever it becomes visible, but I'd say we scored a lot of goals yesterday, considering the shortness of the games. The Middies really contributed offensively yesterday. So what if that contribution was mostly in the form of one Doug Priebe? Points from the midfield will become a key for us to be successful, and it doesn't matter to me if this production comes in the form of 6 goals by one Middie, or 6 assists by six different ones. We have diversity and versatility at this position, so there is no reason for us not to become a force at Midfield, in time. Middies being active on offense could also be key to the health and well being of our Attack unit. Others will no doubt focus on stopping our Attack. That's probably where I would start if I was an opposing coach getting ready to play us. Against BYU, and really for all 3 games in Utah last week, we got virtually no offense from anyone but the Attack. When we control the ball and therefore the tempo of the game in the middle of the field, both our Attack and our CSU Defense will have more opportunitiess to do the things that they do best. Overall, our player rotations were beginning to fall into place a bit yesterday as well, and this was something I had been quite worried (freaking out) about while watching our 3 games in Logan. We have many things to work on, and we are fortunate to have some time to work on them. I am starting to look forward to seeing what this team decides to be. That is a relief, because last week this time the word that kept popping into my head was "dysfunctional". Now, the word has become "potential". This team has possibilility, but it will definitely need unity because we are young. A month from now, when I am looking at the Fall 2001 season in the rear view mirror, the brightest reflection might in fact be the trip to Utah, and the loss to BYU. I would have hated to go all fall with us thinking that we're "awesome" and that a "repeat" in 2002 is almost inevitable until we were to go to Las Vegas and get "spanked" by BYU at the end of October. Much better it should happen in Logan while it is still September. I would not have wanted to go into the winter break off of that sort of game. Instead, we actually have a goal for the fall that we never had in the past. It gives this short season a structure. Now, we have a few weeks to work on things before we go to Las Vegas and hopefully show BYU and others that we don't suck, and win, lose or (the dreaded) "draw", we will have a better picture of the task ahead for the spring of 2002. Ultimately, fall ball doesn't count for anything, but it accounts for a lot of what will happen later, when it does "count". We hane no more games until Las Vegas in three weeks, when my guess is that we will play Arizona, Sonoma State, and BYU, all in that one day. October 25, 2001 I probably say this every year, but this year I really wish we could keep going, and that it weren't the end of the "first" season. With other teams I've had here in the past, I recall worrying about burn out by spring. Now I feel like we are just starting to get it going as a team with a life and a personality, and I can't wait for the next part. The following is an interview I did concerning the trip to Las Vegas this weekend. We leave tomorrow: 1. What do you expect from your team this weekend? Discuss some general team goals you have set for yourself. With so many new faces playing lacrosse at CSU this year, harmony has been a big part of my fall focus. Our "family" needs to become strong and close before we can really think about where we are headed as a team. This weekend, as always, I want us to think a lot about playing strong team defense. We are a little inexperienced and banged up there, so this should be a good test of our resolve. This is our 4th straight trip to Las Vegas at the end of the fall season.
It has become tradition at CSU. I got married at the first one. We have
a great time there, and for better or for worse, having fun in "sin
city" is also a big part of this road trip. I am not able to sell
the "business trip" concept very well for this one.
October 27, 2001 Game 1 - 10:30 a.m. vs. Sonoma State University - the Cossacks We are playing games with two 30 minute (running time) halves today, but we go on what you might call a "second quarter" spurt where we really put it together, and we are up 6-2 at the half. SSU always plays at a very high intensity level. I like playing them. Like jumping naked in a cold mountain stream when it's snowing, it is invigorating and it's great to have done it, but it can be torture for a moment. Alex Smith is back minding the nets after recovering from an ankle sprain that has kept him out of the goal for almost a month. Our defense has been playing better in general as of late, and it looks fine with him back in. This is a relief for me. The fact that "Lex" has only had two practices since Logan has me concerned about his stamina. It's a long day. He only plays the first half of this one. Our games with Sonoma are usually fun to watch, and this one is no different. I know it is not over at the half. They (SSU) have a short, strong, and quick face-off guy (reminds me of who?), and he is pretty much having his way with us today, and every possession they get early in the second half keeps us at arm's length from putting them away. We are playing with a renewed confidence and we are playing good team defense, too, but a couple of outstanding efforts in the second half garner the Cossacks a couple of unanswered goals, and they are within 2 with plenty of time still left in the game. Despite the fact that we are playing pretty well AND it's only fall, I find myself on one knee with my face in fairly close proximity to the blade of grass I am killing with the butt end of my stick. Those that know me probably think that this pose is for stress relief, but actually I don't know what the hell it is. Maybe I am there at this moment because in Sonoma State I sense the presence of a hungry team that will be a real player come "money time" next spring. We don't flinch, and we eventually put together one of our patented coast to coast, everybody touches it, the finish is inevitable kind of scoring plays. Then, we finally get a clean face off or two, and that's that. It is my intention that in 2002 we will get more offensive production from the middies than ever before, and they collect 8 of the 16 points for this game. That's a good start. The fact that we have assists on seven of the 9 goals we score in the game is a good sign, too. Jared Katz has a goal and an assist, and when he is getting scoring opportunities, that usually means that things are going well.. The attack is solid, but I expect them to be. We have plenty of stuff to work on, though, and they know that, too. It looks like we will have a 4-man attack rotation again, a situation that I much prefer to the more delicate group of three. As strong as we were on attack last year, I missed having what we had two seasons ago in 2000 when Ferrin, Roth, Napolilli, and Davis were basically all "starters". Eight penalties (called on us) in a shortened game is not good. Thought for this fall - "We have met the enemy, and it is us" -. Our mouths always seem to add to the mayhem of it all at the worst times as well. Man down is improving (SSU gets only 1 goal in 8 chances) and that is good, but we all know in our hearts that to get where we want to go, "Penalty free is the way to be" (mantra #5). We tend to fight the penalty bug perennially (for some of you, that means every year). My disdain for stupid type penalties (whacking without thought) returns each season as well. Our objective is to make the opponent work against our defense in settled 6 on 6 situations only. I don't want to help other teams by handing them opportunities where they have a numerical advantage. Nick Harper 2g, 1a - Mike Napolilli 1g, 2a - Doug Priebe 2g - Game 2 - 12:00 p.m. vs. the University of Arizona- the Laxcats We must not be playing that well, because we lead 4-0 at the half and I go on one of my less than frequent "holy roller" tirades. At this moment I am a big bundle of angry. I think what I really hate about this particular game is the officiating "style", but in spite of it all we cruise to a 9-3 victory, and all but a few of the 52 who came to play get in the game. Nine is too many penalties for us in any game, but in a short game it is unacceptable. To say that penalties have a disruptive affect on the flow of that perfect little lacrosse game that I play in my mind would be the understatement of the century. Mike Napolilli 2g, 3a - Nick Harper 3g, 1a - Doug Priebe 2g, - Jared Katz 1g, 1a Game 3 - 4:30 p.m. vs. Brigham Young University - the Cougars This is what we came to Vegas for (other than vice). Everyone knows it. We were dealt a great schedule for the day, which includes a couple hours to rest before the late afternoon BYU game. While we are still resting, Sonoma is out there beating up on, and eventually beating BYU. I didn't request this exact sequence of events but I must admit that on paper it sounds good to me. We are all having trouble getting our second wind, and in fact, I am out there before the game yelling, "Wake up!" at the team every couple of minutes. I know they will. We have done this stuff before. The travel and back to back games on the road make it difficult, but not new. We play great in the first half, as if this WERE the game we came for, and lead 6-1 just minutes before half. The Cougars stick one in right before -the half and then we do something stupid so that the second half begins with BYU in possession of the ball and us a man down. During halftime I do mention that there is a strong possibility that we will have to deal with a Cougar comeback at some point, and they do surge, getting the first two scores of the second half, but we answer and rebuild the lead to 4 midway through and hold them off for a very satisfying 9-7 win. Nick Harper puts an exclamation point on the proceedings late in the game by literally ripping the net with a high hard one from his favorite spot, putting a hole in the game as well as the net. Maybe he is announcing his future intentions as well with his 4 goal performance. As a coach I hope it is so. Extra man offense converts on all 3 chances, but we give up 3 with our 8 penalties. For the day we have 27 goals and 25 PENALTIES. Not exactly a great ratio. Plonkey takes individual hack, whack, and talk back honors for the day with 6 flags of his own, followed by Napi's 4. This is not a recipe for success, but the fact that we are getting better at Man Down Defense helps a lot, as does the fact that "we" throw NO over the head checks on this day. We keep BYU from "going off" the way they can, and the way they did on us last month. We do pretty well in most facets of this game. I feel like we are back on even footing with them again, out of the "basement" we were in after losing to them by 5 in September. Mike Napolilli - 2g, 1a - Nick Harper - 4g - Doug Priebe - 3a - Ryan Davis - 2g - Dominic Reichert - 1g, 1a Alex Smith - 11 saves - Game 4 - 6:30 p.m. Underdogs vs. Brigham Young University JV In a splendid overtime thriller, the CSU Underdogs persevere and Kelton Johnson scores the winner about 35 minutes into "overtime" to give Jason's boys a 7-6 win. As overtime continues into darkness (such as it is in Vegas), an already good game becomes extremely compelling. When the officials declare that the game will be over in two minutes whether anyone scores or not, we immediately do (score) . A perfect end to a very good day. ><<><><><><><><><><><><>>< I most always cling to my stick during a game like some kind of neurotic. Like I will be needing it when I go in the game. The "padded" gloves are never far either. I've tried carrying clipboards and useful stuff like normal coaches, but basically, within the time frame of a game I am close to incapable of reading something I wrote down beforehand, and basically can only listen to and comprehend the most simple concepts. I want to trust my "learned instincts" during a game, and to do that I must tune into the game at hand and the elements involved. These things change and flow in and out quickly. I want to keep up and "be here now". Maybe I do that better with a stick in my hand. I hope so, because I'm sure it looks pretty stupid to most. We have changes in the offing, and plenty of question marks for the spring, but us together is finally starting to feel "electric". I hope this Las Vegas spark lasts through our hibernation until January 28, 2002, when we emerge and begin practice for the next quest.
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