Decent Day.....Sort Of!

 

Working on Flip Board Tonight. 

 

Color Boards 

 

 

The wind from the week-long storms tore up my number board today.  The homemade flip board is the life blood of our offense, so I had to repair it tonight.  I wish it would have happened on Monday or something....at least it would have given me some more time to work on it.  When we first started designing our offense, we had to find a way to signal plays to our players on the field.  There was just nothing on the market which met our needs (off the shelf) ....so I had to build what we needed.  Without going into the intricacies of how it all works, I will say that the flip board, the wrist bands, and the color boards all work together to signal a play.  Do the numbers look familiar?  They should!  These are actually WALMART (www.Walmart.com) Pricing Numbers used in the stores everyday.  I chose the numbers I needed, punched and grommeted the holes, and built the frame using 1/2" PVC.  The numbers are plastic so they are waterproof; however, the wind will sometimes catch the numbers and play hell with them.....which is what happened today.  The wristbands you see the kids wearing have plays (with associated numbers) written on the three page inserts.  The color cards you see us holding up have different meanings which change often.  These cards are made from white plastic waffle board which I cut into usable pieces; then I had them colored and lettered by a local sign/graphics company.  It is a pretty complex system for a high school football team; however, it allows us to play up tempo when we have to, and it gives us the ability to call 90% of our plays from the sideline without a huddle.  Now, when you hear us calling colors and signaling numbers on the sideline, you will have a better understanding on what is happening. 

 

The practice day did not start off so good for me today.  Once or twice a week, I will take the laundry up to the school and bring some cleaned laundry back down to the football equipment room.  Of course, we have always used our trucks to load and haul the huge barrels full of laundry.  This requires backing your truck up to the loading door.  Since the door is not close to the parking lot, it requires some manuvering on sidewalks and maybe hit a little grass here and there.  To make matters even worse, the addition of the new facility has really scrambled the route to the door.  I pulled my truck up to the door as always;, then, the lawn maintenance guy starts SCREAMING at me: "WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?  ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAMN MIND? GET OFF MY GRASS!"  among other choice words I wont / can't say here.  Well, I had about enough of that shit. (I sure as hell won't be punked up by no maintenance guy)  I get out of my truck ready to throw down right then and there.  I was preparing to go Ric Flair on his ass.  I said: "What the F---k are you talking about?  I am here to get LAUNDRY as I have done for 15 years! I am WORKING not F-ing around!"   Well, he calmed down when I got out of my truck, but I was still pretty hot under the collar and mouthed off a little more. The matter was resolved before it esculated any further. He apologized for going off the handle, and I apologized for driving on his precious wet grass. Unfortunately, a few of the players saw the whole thing go down from the second story windows, and they were pretty fired up about seeing me get out of my truck ready to throw down.  I am sorry for them seeing that.  I did not set a very good example for them to follow.  "Lessons in Life" once again. 

 

FINALLY, we got in a decent practice today. It poured rain all morning, and I thought we were in for another wet and muddy day.  It cleared off before we were set to begin practice, so we got in some nice work.  We had our normal Wednesday practice session which included some offensive and defensive work along with some special teams.   We are planning for a normal Thursday practice tomorrow as well.  Maybe the weather will cooperate.  I am tired of being WET.  

 

That is all for today. I am tired. 

 

GZ 

Ric and Ray Pissed at the Weather.

(L-R) Arn Anderson, Barry Windam, Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard.  The ORIGINAL Four Horsemen. 

No much tonight.  Working on Wristbands and looking at video.  Still Raining.  Im sick of it.  Still practiced in pouring rain.  Not bad, but we need a good practice. 

Hang with me.  I am just about done with my preparation.   Will be back tomorrow night. 

GZ

Nitchke Not too happy either!  

Underdogs AGAIN

 

Storm Clouds Over Sebastian 

 

This thunderstorm and lightning pattern we are experiencing is getting very old.  The weather is making it nearly impossible to get in a full practice.  We have so much to work on, and we desperately need the preparation time; consequently, there is only so much we can do under our stadium stands.  Unfortunately, our gym is being painted, so we can't even go in there.  I guess Coach Miller has the right idea.  We may have to practice at 5AM to get any work done, especially if the weather pattern continues once our district schedule arrives. 

 

I arrived at school early to bring our finished laundry down to the equipment room.  I guess Coach Bethel had his PE kids separate and fold (by number) the jerseys and separate and fold  the game pants by size.  This is a big help to Coach Wilson and Coach Brown.  All they have to do from this point is put the pants on the shelf, and hang the jerseys in numerical order.

 

The equipment room is hollowed ground to us coaches.  This area belongs to Coach Wilson and Coach Brown.  Occasionally, I will be allowed in there to give them a hand; however, I generally never go in that room for any reason....and I have a key.  Those guys know the work area, and they know where everything is stored and where everything belongs.  You should see the "Death Look" those guys give anyone (including Coach Bethel) who walks into the room uninvited.  Out of  respect of Coach Wilson (and FEAR) I just do not go in there.  Feels kind of creepy to be honest.   

 

I mentioned earlier that Coach Bethel had his PE kids help with the laundry.  This reminds me of when I played high school ball.  We could always depend on an easy grade if we took a coach's class.  It did not matter what sport he coached, or what class he was teaching, it was always an easy "A" or at least a "B" if you put forth some sort of effort.  Our Head Track Coach was teaching a History class or something like that, so a bunch of us decided to take his class.  From the very first day of the period, we never cracked a book, and he never taught a single lesson.  (Coach was always working on track meets or cross country meets)  About once a week, he would show us a film (out of the library-reel to reel) and give us a verbal test on the film at the end of the week.  I remember watching "Patton" and "Herby The Love Bug" in his class.  It was frigging AWESOME.....until he needed to enter our grades for the period.  Somehow, he decided that we were going to be graded on a coin flip....HEADS  it was an "A" and TAILS it was a "B".......I got a "B."   Man, I was pissed; however, I did get to see some good movies in class.  LOL, stuff like that just does not happen today! 

 

Big GRICE ready to go!  Looks like an Offensive Tackle to me! 

 

More Tomorrow!

 

GZ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Week Started

Kramer Carrying Lombardi off the field 

I love this photograph taken in 1967 after Green Bay defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 1.  Lombardi was a mean and rough coach, but the players adored him.  Jim Ringo (Green Bay Packer's Center) once said:  "Coach Lombardi treats us all the same......like dogs!"  The "Lessons in Life"  that Lombardi taught his players are still talked about today. 

 

I am sorry for the ENGLISH I used and wrote in my late posting last night.  I literally finished the posting at 4 AM,  and I was just about sleeping I guess. I read my posting again this morning and said: "Who the hell wrote that?"  Please read my posting again, and it will make more sense now. 

 

This is SUNDAY, and I have the day off....or do I?  No, not a chance.  I went to the school this morning and continued to wash the team laundry.  (I have to call on the expertise of my female readers.  The uniforms are NOT looking very clean already, and we can't figure out why.  Am I washing too many at one time?  Should we be using bleach?  Should we be using Oxy-Clean or something?  Please talk with me or write a response on this blog to help me figure this out)  After changing the laundry, I went to the football facility and checked on the water machines and ice machine which is broken again.  Then, I came home and worked on various football related things all day long.

 

Wrist bands (and Hats) Cleaned and Ready 

 

I had to wash and dry the wrist bands today.  The wrist bands are the life blood of our offense, and it is important that I keep them in good order.  Each offensive player wears one of these expensive ($12 a piece) bands, and most of our offensive plays are written on them.  Although the three page play insert cards are laminated, I do not wash the bands with the cards inside of them.  I must remove the card inserts, wash and dry the bands, and then reinsert the cards when they are dry.  I usually try to wash my practice hats at the same time.  Marty says my HATS smell like the dirty wrist bands.  I don't know about that, I think they all smell just fine....much like my truck smells just fine to me.  I know when it is time to wash my hats however.  When my Dog Raleigh sneezes when he smells my hats, it is usually time to clean up the stink. 

 

Finally, I have spent this evening preparing our scout defense cards for this week.  We have some video on this weeks opponent (Ft. Pierce Central) and they are a top ranked team in the state.  We have our hands full with this team for sure, so we started preparing for them immediately after our game on Friday night.  We usually match up with them very well, so this is going to be a good game on the road at Ft. Pierce Lawnwood stadium.  I don't mind going to Lawnwood Stadium.  This old stadium is a city-owned facility which is shared by three different St. Lucie County schools.  The field is generally in great shape, and it is an easy road trip for us.  However, it is really going to be nice to play a game at home for a change. 

 

I'm out!  I am exhausted. 

 

GZ

 

 

 

 

 

 

WINNING AGAIN 17-16

 

17-16 VICTORY!

 

WOW.  We squeaked out a hard-fought victory over PSL Centennial on Friday night.  We desperately needed this victory to get our program turned into the right direction.  It was great to see the kids smile and celebrate for a change, and the ride home from PSL seemed a lot shorter.  Coach Brown and I even stopped for a 7-11 hotdog and drink to celebrate the victory ourselves.  (7-11 has the best hotdogs in America.....bar none) 

 

Coach Brown and I arrived at South County Stadium before the buses arrived.  I pulled our new team trailer down to PSL, and it was loaded with everything we need for a road trip game.  Either Coach Miller or myself pulls the trailer (with our personal vehicles) to the away games.  The number of seats on a public school bus is very limited, so a few of the coaches drive their own vehicles (trucks)  to the games to haul equipment.  (Of course we get reimbursed for the fuel we use! LOL.  That's funny!)  Once we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find the field in fantastic shape.  I was a little worried because we had so much rain the past couple of weeks.  The field was nicely crowned, so the water drained very well.  The dark green Bermuda grass was almost perfect.  We unloaded the trailer and I prepared for team stretch. (Our school buses were a little late arriving at school, so we were running behind on schedule.  Miller and I usually take the specialist out a little early; however, we were forced to go directly to team stretch.)

 

 

After team stretch, we went to a very short Indy Period and then directly to our Team Period.  Randy usually wants me to call the plays for the TEAM Period, and I generally keep it VERY basic.  This period is not for teaching, for this period is used for warm-up and knocking off some of the nerves.  We look for simple things like good QB/Center exchanges, alignment issues and so forth.  I have no idea what the DEFENSIVE guys do during this period, but it looks good!  Once we are done, we line up for a punt and follow the team to the endzone.  From there, the players line up two by two and walk to the locker room.  We generally have about 10 minutes until game time from here.  Outside the locker room, the coaches will circle-up and join hands for a prayer led by one of the local pastors who travel with us.  From here, I generally go out back and THROW UP.  Then, I am ready to go. 

 

The game was back and forth for awhile.  Hakeem started out strong, and he was playing with a little swagger in his step.  He completed a nice pass to Chris to get things rolling.  The offense was moving the ball, but we were still making the stupid mistakes which kept us from scoring.  We did get a field goal early to make the score 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.  Hakeem had three TD passes dropped during the game, but he never wavered and kept his composure.  OJ ran the ball well, and Nick Cooper had a nice game.  Our big linemen had a good game too.  Big Phillip Norman (our offensive tackle) dominated his opponent all night long.  Our other OT Brad DeMarco pass blocked like a beast all night long for Hakeem.  We had three perfectly placed TD Passes that if caught, would have been a big difference in the game. 

 

Defense.  What can you say about those guys.  They played great last night.  I think they had something like 5 take aways or some something crazy like that.  The Defense also got James Clark back for the first time this year....and it showed.  He was a dominate player all night for sure; however, we still have to get him in shape.  Javonte King had two interceptions, and my boy Dion Jones had a nice TD.  Gage and Chop played like a beast too.  Then, there was Bookie. 

 

I have been coaching football for many years; Of course, I have seen my share of big hits on the football field.  On Friday night, the PSL QB made a serious mistake and turned his back on Bookie to boot the other way.  Bookie hit the QB so hard, the whiplash from his neck completely knocked his helmet off and it rolled another five yards or so down the field.  Truthfully, I thought this kid's head may still be inside the helmet.  The QB layed motionless for awhile until he was able to walk again.  Luckily, the player was OK, and he returned to the game later that quarter.  The hit Bookie put on the QB was a completely legal and vicious football play.  I would never be happy to see ANY player hurt, but it is part of the game.  Still, I would have to rank that hit in my top three of all time. 

 

OK  More Tomorrow.  It's 4AM. 

 

GZ

 

 



 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 



WET...But Ready

 

 

If we get anymore rain, this could be what our game will look like tomorrow night.  This photograph was taken in 1961.  Jimmy Taylor of the Green Bay Packers is grinding it out against the 49ers.  Bottom picture is Forrest Gregg after playing in the same game. 

Well, at least we were not run off the field today.  The pouring rain and lightning was already started when we arrived at school.  It was really nasty.  We did not need the rain today, for Thursday's are generally very busy for us.  Luckily, the rain cleared out by 4:15 PM, and we were able to take the field for awhile.  Believe it or not, we were able to complete everything we needed to do.  Our kids are really hungry for a win, so hopefully we will play well and bring one home for SRHS.  Of course, PSL Centennial is saying the same thing, so it will be a good match-up.  We are playing in PSL's South County Stadium, and it is a nice quality facility located across from Mets Stadium. The facility is easy in and easy out with plenty of room.  I really do not mind playing there; however, it will be nice to have a home game. 

Coach Miller is a very organized dude.  He has this notebook (new one every week) filled with diagrams, plays, and formations which the defense expects to see from our opposition for that week.  He gives me this notebook just before we start running the scout team for them.  I think he knows that I am just as anal as he is about being organized, and I am going to give him a good look at the opponent's offense.  Of course (on scout team) we cannot run the plays as well as the opposition, but we can at least give the defensive a decent look.  Miller will shout at me and say: "Coach, Run #4."  I will quickly examine the play, get my personnel in the huddle, and hold the card up so everyone can see what we are doing.  Here is the difficult part.  I tell the kids to ONLY look at what their position is doing on the play, and go out and do exactly what the card is showing.   However, kids will be kids, so they want to improvise.  I have to keep a short leash on that.  Coach Miller and Coach Perry allow me to make minor adjustments as long as we stay in the whole scheme of the team we are imitating.  In other words, we can't go out and run a veer play, when the other team may be running spread.  I enjoy the scout team duty, and I am generally left alone to do my thing. 

I had some VERY wet feet today.  When I was walking onto the field, I was trying to dodge the big puddles of water, but it was no use.  My feet were already soaked.  I went ahead and bit-the-bullet and just waded through the standing water in the swales.  I HATE wet feet and wet shoes as I have written before.  I think the hatred started back at football camp when I was in high school. 

When I was a freshman, we attended a full team camp at Morehead State University.  They had a nice practice facility, but unfortunately, the practice fields were about a mile from the athletic dorms.  We had to run that distance before and after every practice.  I remember running through mud and standing water just getting to the field, and then we were forced to practice for three hours in soaking wet feet.  Of course, we did not have laundry service, so we were all out of clean dry socks and under garments by the second day of camp.  We would hang out our socks and under garments (to dry) in our non air conditioned dorm room, but they never really dried.  We would select our socks and under garments by how they smelled before practice.  Our cleats NEVER dried.  I remember most of us had a good case of Jock Itch and Athlete's Feet when we returned.   LOL.  Football was so much fun!

Remember, I told you we did not have Athletic Trainers in those days.  The coaches would keep a roll of tape in their pocket, and they would always have a supply of salt tablets and smelling salts

as well.  Injuries were generally self-diagnosed at practice.  At football camp, it was even worse.  I had this friend who really had a bad hamstring.  It would tighten up and he could barely walk at times.  Anyway, he decided (on his own) not to dress for a morning practice.  He came to practice wearing a pair of white shorts, a red shirt, white over-the-calf tube socks, and a brand new pair of RED Suede Converse tennis shoes.   One of the assistant coaches asked my friend who told him NOT to dress for the practice?  My friend says: "Coach, I can barely walk!"  This may have been a mistake in strategy by my friend. 

Morehead's practice fields were sort of set down inside of a valley.  Kentucky blue grass lined the steep slopes leading down onto the fields.  In the mornings, the grass was soaking wet from the morning dew, or rain, or both it seems.  The Coach ordered my friend to hit the ground and roll up and down the slopes (like a log) the entire practice.  I will never forget that his new Converse Red Suede shoes started to lose color (because they were wet) and the shoe's red dye ran onto his white socks.  This punishment went on for hours it seems.  My friend was throwing up and started cramping.  After a while, it was not funny to us anymore.  Again, a stunt like that would get us fired for sure.  Like I said before, my early HS coaches were idiots. 

Someday, I want to Coach My Grandson Grice. 

 

I will catch you tomorrow after the game!

GZ

Fighting Back

 

 

 

RIC FLAIR: BEATEN....But NOT Out!  

 

You did not think I was getting away from Ric Flair did you?  LOL.  Will never happen!  Here is a classic photograph showing a bloodied and beaten Ric Flair after a sneak attack.  Flair was one of the original Crinsom wrestlers in the business.  He would 'gig' himself with razor blades on the forehead or above his eyes to draw blood.  The fans loved for Flair to bleed.  Everyone hated Ric Flair at the time, which is exactly why I idolized him so much. WHOOOOOOO!

 

 



 We are like the walking wounded with our coaching staff right now.  Coach Jefferson is out, Coach Washington is out, Coach Wilson is out, and Coach Matthews is out.  We are spread pretty thin right now, but we are all stepping up to cover our bases.  Nothing is being overlooked.  We had another awesome (and focused) practice today.  The tempo was great.  We got in a lot of work before the worst storm of the year hit our practice area.  For the first time all year, the temperature dropped and the severe weather moved in very quickly.  The sky was BLACK and the wind swirled like mini tornadoes over the practice field.  The lightning meters were going crazy and we rushed off the field as quickly as we could.  Without question, the safety of the players comes first at SRHS. 

 

Before loading the bus on Friday Night. 

 

It has not always been like that though.  In 1996, Coach Bethel and I spent quite a bit of time on the practice field together learning and teaching the offense to the players.  Since we both taught /coached the skill players, we worked together quite a bit.  Back in those days, the weather was not taken too seriously in determining our practice plans.  We did not have "Lightning Meters" or Severe Weather Sirens to help us decide whether we practiced or not.  Truthfully, as long as we had the nerve to stand out there during a storm, we were going to practice.  One time, we were practicing on the Eastern practice field (closest to the school) and it was pouring down rain.  It was raining so hard that we could not even see the goal posts 20 yards away.  I looked at Randy, and he said something like: "We are going Baby!"   About that time, a huge bolt of lightning struck the goal post upright.  The sound of the CRACK was tremendous.  I looked up and Bethel was GONE!  He was SPRINTING to the locker room along with the rest of us.  LOL.  I still remind him of that one. 

 

I have another Bethel practice story.  I swear this is true.  Again, we were practicing on the Eastern practice field.  When we started, it was nice and sunny.  Then, it turned cloudy and threatened to pour down rain....again.  I said the Bethel: "Coach, can't you do something about these rain clouds?"  He said sure, and looked to the sky and said: "Lord, please clear these skies and give us a pretty day!"  (Now, I am not an overly religious man to say the least.  However, I know what I saw.  Have you ever been looking over an open field and see like a wave of sunshine rolling over the field?) Almost on cue, a huge wave of sunshine came rolling over the field and dominated the sky for the rest of the practice.  Unreal.  Bethel looked at me and just smiled.  I never questioned him much about the weather after that. 

 

It's been weird lately.  Last year, it was bone dry for most of the year, almost no rain at all. However, this year it has been very wet with afternoon thunder showers almost every day.  Truthfully, this is the typical Florida Summer weather pattern.  Sure makes it hard to practice though.  Coach Miller wants to start practicing at 5am in the morning.  Man, I don't know about that.  I am not exactly a morning person, but I will do whatever is necessary to make the team better.  But 5am? 

 

Catch you guys later.  I appreciate you reading this blog.  Writing helps me clear my head, so it is almost therapeutic for me. 

 

GZ