Life Lessons

As a coach, finding that "button" that motivates your team can be tough. You must constantly be on the lookout for complacency among players on a successful team or apathy among those on one that is struggling. It's usually not easy and there is always that one kid where nothing seems to work.

Like I said, finding the "button" can be tough - if not outright impossible.

Other times, it can be staring you right in the face.

Meet Lt. Colonel Greg Gadson and see how he inspired the N.Y. Giants football team.
"When the Giants were scheduled to play the Redskins in Washington three months later, Sullivan sent his friend tickets-along with a request: Would Gadson speak to the team before they took the field? Having lost the first two games of the season, the Giants had already given up 80 points and, worse, seemed to be playing with no heart."

Read the story here at Reader's Digest


Coach Smith

The Mythical 4 Verticals

If you're an option coach sitting through yet another clinic lecture by some flexbone coach, you are likely to hear the following exchange:

Attendee:  "Coach, why the flexbone?  Why not split backs or the 'I'??"

Clinic Dude:  "Why...  so I can spread the defense and make them defend four verticals, of course."

Attendee:  "Uh, Coach...  how many times have you successfully ran four verticals?"

Clinic Dude:  "Anyone have any more questions out there??"

 

Well, I finally found a clip of a good flexbone team running 4 verts(from GSU's first Natl. Championship game, no less)... a quarter roll left while looking off the Safety then hitting the right wing...  Nice.

Wow.

There are times when I like to just sit back and be nothing more than a fan of the game.

This is Adrian Peterson's 57-yard run against Youngstown State in the 1999 Division I-AA Championship. (Inside Trap Left... Sweet!)

Below is a little more Peterson. The last 50 feet he crosses at the very end is the most important... be sure you don't miss it.