Pre Game Jitters

Tonight's blog will be a variety of different photos and writings...In no particular order.  I hope you enjoy this new style blog entry for me.   

Well, its that time again.  Tomorrow night we open our season by playing Melbourne-Viera...a very good program just up the road.  Viera plays in the Florida 7A classification. and they have proven to be a very good team year after year.  In fact, I believe they finished in the final 4 in 7A.  Their team consists of players from North Brevard County...with players from Rockledge, Cocoa, Viera, and local communities.  They have plenty of athletes, and they are well coached.  We definitely have our hands full.  I just hope we are able to field a competitive team.

Field Renovations 

The stadium (phase 2) renovations at our stadium are coming to an end.  Last year our old stadium was condemned, so beautiful new home side aluminum bleachers were installed.  This year, they replaced the entire area under the bleachers...new locker rooms, new bathrooms, new concession stands, new press box elevator etc... The renovations are just beautiful.  The stadium is up-to-date, but it also retains the old-school charm of the old iconic stadium.  Something Old-Something New. I love it.  

Championship Belt  

I have been helping out with the offensive line this year...and I am really enjoying it.  Facts is, I have never coached offensive line before, so I am learning all these new modern line techniques along with the players.  I have always coached QB's, running backs, receivers, etc..  But, football is football no matter how you cut it up, so some things are familiar of course.  Offensive linemen are unappreciated. The skill kids get all the glory, but without the big boys up front, the offense cannot move.  I wanted to create a weekly award for the heart and sole of our offense.  We grade each lineman each game...and each player is awarded a grade.  Whomever gets the highest grade will take home the belt for the week. Marty will also put his name on the belt's side plates. He can wear it to school, bring it to practice, wear it out in public..whatever.  It is his for the week.  The Friday night AFTER his award, he can bring it out of the endzone wearing his prize.  The same player can win the award numerous times, as long as he grades out on top. At the end of the season, the player who wins the most weekly awards will get to keep the belt for himself.  I hope the award becomes an honor for them.  I want the boys to COMPETE to win the belt.  I hope they FIGHT to keep it.  I want the offensive linemen to FIERCELY  defend their award; afterall, the award is only for them.  I love these big boys.  

Our BIG BOYS are HUGE  

  

Lenny Talking With Our Team  

We have prepared the team to play tomorrow night.  I am still in awe of this coaching staff.  All these guys are such good coaches....I am grateful to be coaching with them.  I am still in awe of Coach Lenny.  I love the way he handles the kids, and I also am amazed at the way he handles his coaches. I just fill in where I can, and help him anywhere on (and off) the field  wherever I can.  At this point in my coaching career, I am in a good place.  I am very happy at Vero Beach High School.  

Charging The I-Pads.  

Coach Lenny has put me in charge of our instant replay system.  Naturally, like everything I do, I ran with it.  I am constantly changing and updating our system. I am up in the press box controlling this game-changing toy.  We have the ability to run a play and have it sent to I-Pads on the sideline within seconds.  We no longer have to diagram plays on a dry erase board...we can make game adjustments within seconds.  Its crazy, but it makes Coach J even more dangerous on the sideline.  Thanks to my buddy and colleague  Josh Smerker for turning us onto this game changer.  Also want to thank another buddy Chris Hiser who helps me with all the technical changes with the system. I will talk more about him on the next posting.  Just know I appreciate you my friend.  

I will let you know how the games goes in the next day or so.  We are alo preparing for a LONG road trip to Chesapeake, Virginia next week to play one of their powerhouse teams..OSCAR SMITH.  Big couple of weeks coming up.  

"It's Good To Be A Fighting Indian"

GZ  

Wrapping It Up! ....Starting It Up!

I am sorry I have not been writing much lately.  I have this cervical issue in my neck going on right now, and to tell you the truth, it really hurts to sit down and peck at the keyboard.  I did go and see a Neurologist earlier in the week.  (I am pretty sure the whole issue stems from my motorcycle wreck a couple years ago... the same wreck which ripped my ACL in my left knee...I flew over the handlebars and landed on my head)   I have bulge in my neck which is pressing down on nerves I guess.  That injury is also causing muscle spasms in my neck....put it all together and it is relatively painful. I was awakened a few days ago with electrical shocks going up into my skull from my neck...sort of like a strobe light inside by brain if you can imagine that.  Also, it feels like something is loose in the neck  itself.  I do have some awesome muscle relaxers and a few pain meds...and that helps, but it just makes me sleepy.  (I am such a wimp when it comes to medications...or alcohol, or anything like that.) We are going to treat it like a soft tissue injury right now and see how it responds.  Truthfully, it MUST respond because it is football season, and I would not consider any other treatment right now.   I will admit that even moving my head is an adventure.      

Chain Wench Traction Machine  

I made this cool traction device which really stretches my neck out....and it feels so good too....like stretching out a slinky.  But I am catching some hell from family and friends about it.  I used my chain wench (used for pulling outboard motors from a boat) and attached an old motorcycle helmet to the hook.  I strap on the helmet...start winching, and it stretches me out pretty good.  I can hear my neck rattling around at the same time.  Problem is that if I would lose consciousness for any reason, the helmet strap would strangle me.  Hey, so it has a design flaw, I never said it was perfect!!   I guess it needs tweaking.  

Camera Tripod. 

What does a coach do on his day off?  In my case, quite often I work on team equipment.  This is the tripod for our end-zone camera equipment.  The camera is attached to the top, and then it telescopes up to over 30 feet.  I replaced some bolts, made some additional brackets, and just got it ready to go.  We use this every game....home or away.  It has to work correctly so we get the video footage we need every week.  I like working on anything, so I am the perfect coach for a project like this.  It is just one of the ways I can fit in with our great coaching staff.  

Stadium Renovation Almost Complete. 

Back to football.  The football team officially finished up the preseason last Friday.  I really believe this team has the potential to be scary good, but there are several things we must improve on first.  The coaches are working diligently on our depth at each position...and at this level, depth can make or break a season.  Luckily here at Vero Beach, we have plenty of kids coming out to play ball, so filling a void usually does not cause much issue.  8A (big school) football in Florida...got to love it.  

Tomorrow we begin a game-week schedule.  We are playing Melbourne-Viera in our kickoff classic.  Even though this game does not count on our regular season record, we still treat this game as if it does.  Like I have mentioned before, we follow a strict practice and game schedule.  Coach Jankowski (Lenny) has everything carefully scripted each day....so the kids get into a routine.  RARELY do we venture far from our schedule.  I love coaching like this.  I love this program too.  

More tomorrow hopefully.  Tomorrow I will introduce our defensive staff as well.  

GZ  

New Week

5am Sucks 

I was awake at 4:30am anyway.  The throbbing in my neck area is becoming unbearable at times, so I am awake when I should be asleep quite often.  Still, the sudden blast of my alarm clock going off at 5am jolted me out of bed.  I thought: "Why the hell am I getting up at 5am for football practice?"  Then, reality hit me and I knew the answer.....the reason I am getting up at 5am is BECAUSE of football!  That being said, 5am still sucks.  

I gathered my practice clothes on Sunday night, so I knew exactly what I would be wearing this morning.  I was trying to be considerate and not awaken my wife Marty while looking for my coaching stuff. Marty is the only one who knows where all my stuff is (all the time) anyway,  and I was determined not to bother her so early.  I jumped out of bed, got dressed in my familiar red & black coaching attire and headed out the garage to my truck.  Obviously, it was still dark outside and seemed weird.  I stopped by the local convenience store and purchased my usual... Diet Dr Pepper, Banana,  and a pack of BC Powders which immediately helps me with my neck / knee pain.  

I arrived at school at 5:50am or so, and I could see and hear someone on the practice field (with a lawn tractor) dragging the fresh dew off the grass.  Of course...it was Lenny, who was at the field at 4:30am doing so.  So, I will not be bitching about waking up at 5am any longer.  It occurred to me that most of the coaches are also teachers...and today they were required to be in class for the first time. School actually starts next Monday for us.  

I thought the early morning practice was great.  It was nice and cool outside.  Almost all the kids showed up to practice on time, and that pleased the coaching staff.  We had some nice one on one drills today with the O-Line and D-Line...which was very good for both sides of the ball.  Randy Bethel made a great statement I thought:  Randy told his D-Line group that they would not face a better O-Line group than ours, and the O-Line would not face a better D-Line than ours either.  So, these drills will make everyone better.  After all these years, Bethel still motivates me as a coach.   Practice ended at exactly 8:30 as Lenny promised it would.  We cleared the field and called it a day.  Early practices may not be so sucky afterall.  

I want to start introducing our coaching staff to you.  This staff has a lot of experience on both sides of the ball.  Most every coach on this staff has head coaching experience, and EVERY coach on this staff is also a great teacher.  While I was coaching at Sebastian River High School, I totally underestimated this coaching staff. I really enjoy working with all these guys, and I am thankful they allow me to work with them.   Today I will start with the offensive side of the ball.  I will leave myself out of this introduction.  

Lenny Jankowski (on right)  

Lenny Jankowski:  Head Coach - Athletic Director:  

Lenny has an amazing offensive mind...one of the best I have ever seen. Vero's offense is Lenny's offense, and he does it very well.  Lenny coaches his own quarterbacks, and his connection with those kids is amazing.  Coach J has a way of making these kids see exactly what he sees on the field.  Lenny's play calling ability is unmatched...especially considering he is doing it in mere seconds with our fast paced high-tempo system. There is always something new coming from Lenny, but it all stays within our system...its amazing.  I always hated preparing to play against him, now I am playing with him.  It is much better on this side!  lol.  

Mark Harris:  Wide Receivers  

Mark coaches the impressive group of wide receivers on our team, and he is also the head track and field coach.   Mark was also a former professional baseball player, so he is a great athlete himself; therefore, along with his track and field experience, Mark is a perfect fit to coach our skill group. Next to Lenny, Mark knows this offense better than anyone on our staff, so if anything ever happened to Lenny on the field, Mark could call the offense on the sideline. 

Mickey Groody:  Running Backs-Special Teams- Head Freshman Coach.    

Groody reminds me of myself at his age.  He played high school football at perennial power St. Thomas Aquinas High School down south, and he also was a record-breaking punter at Florida Atlantic University.  He does a fine job at coaching our running backs, but this is not the only place he shines.  Groody also coaches the Freshman team.  Theses young kids really connect with our young coach, so he is also the perfect fit to coach our talented 9th graders.  Someday you will see Groody coaching at the next level somewhere.  

Ken Willis- Offensive Line  

I coached with Ken at Sebastian for a few years where he coached our offensive line.  At the time he was also our head baseball coach.  But time moves along, and Ken ended up back at Vero Beach..also coaching the offensive line.  Willis also played two sports at Vero Beach High School (football and baseball)  and he played baseball in college.  Therefore, Ken knows what it takes to be successful at the next level.  I am happy to be coaching with him again.  

Pete MacDonald- Offensive Line  

Pete has coached here at Vero Beach for several years.  I am not sure of his coaching background, but I do know he is a former military man (US ARMY) and that is good enough for me.  I am sure he is tough as nails when he needs to be.  I love how he approaches practice times, and how technical he becomes in his teaching mode.  Pete has a good grasp on offensive line play, and I learn by watching him teach myself.  This guy is a leader of young men...just like a military man is supposed to be. 

I will introduce the defensive coaching staff in the next few days.  A true bunch of characters.  

GZ  

NO CRAMPS

As you might imagine, dehydration is a big issue here in the sauna we call Florida.  As coaches, we are trained to recognize symptoms of dehydration before it gets out-of-hand with our athletes.  A couple years ago, Sebastian River High School (SRHS) actually had a young player die from heat stroke on the practice field....all directly related to the 9th grade athlete being dehydrated.  Coaches are not immune to the Florida heat and humidity either...hell I still cut grass in a plastic bag to condition myself for the heat battle.  I also enjoy a good sweat a couple times a week.  But this is dangerous and I know it. 

Years ago, there was not much water available on a football field at all.  The old-school thought was that id a player was denied water at practice, he would condition his body to not need water during a football game...it would make you tougher.  Instead, a football coach (or trainer) would hand you salt tablets instead.  They were supposed to stimulate your saliva glands.  I can't tell you how bad the salt tablets tasted when you were already dying of thirst.  Cramping?  Salt tablets.  Throwing up?  Salt tablets.   We just learned to play through the classic signs of being severely dehydrated...while damaging our kidneys at the same time.    

Occasionally, we would see a little bit of water on the field.  Every now and then a coach would drag a garden hose out to the practice field, but our intake was strictly limited to a couple sips... we always wanted (and needed) more.  Sometimes, our athletic trainers would have these big buckets filled with iced water down towels with iodine to treat injuries.  When someone got hurt, we would steal the towels and suck out the water....dirt, sweat, iodine and all.  Hey...it was better than nothing.  During games we would have water on the field.  The ten gallon jugs were filled with a early version of some sort of sports drink....but someone would salt the hell out of it.  I hated it....and I still cannot drink anything like that today.  I just wanted water and nothing else.   I often wonder if my issues with kidney stones have anything to do with salt tablets?  I guess we will never know.  

Today things are much, much different.  There is always water on the field.  We continue to educate ourselves, the players, and hopefully the parents on the importance of hydration at home as well.  We preach that energy drinks are your enemy, and they will kill you.  A few years ago, people actually believed that pickle juice was the secret formula for preventing cramps on the field, and this fable was debunked over and over.  An athlete needs water...at least a gallon a day this time of year.  Water he takes in today will be used at practice tomorrow.  Hydrating the day of an event is too late.  An athlete needs to take care of his body on and off the field.  Coaches are here to make sure that happens on our end.  

Day 6.  

Wrapped up the work week with a great practice this morning.  Lenny invited the referees from the Treasure Coast Officials Association to attend practice and work on their craft to get ready for their own season.  We had at least 25 referees walking around observing every drill and work area the entire practice...often adding pointers and suggestions during each drill.  We finished the day with a full-equipment scrimmage and a full officiating crew.  Personally I thought this was a great idea and a great experience for the kids.  This is one reason why Lenny Jankowski wins wherever he goes.  

Tomorrow I will start introducing the coaching staff.  Should be fun.  

GZ  

    

Day 5 Friday

Grandson Grice  

My daughter Kristin brought the kids down from St Augustine (for final visit) before school starts for them next week.  I always look forward to their visits, for these kids just make me happy for a change.  Funny thing about grandchildren.....all of a sudden I have patience for the little things which used to drive me crazy.  The house is noisy,  the house is a mess, and the house is just plain loud all the time.  But you know what?  Does it really matter?  I want the kids to LOVE PawPaw's house, and I want them to feel comfortable here.  They can't break anything I can't fix.  I just want them to relax and be normal kids while they are here.  

The photo above is my grandson Grice...Kristin's youngest.  He is decked out in Vero Beach Football gear that Marty made for him, and he plans on going to practice with me tomorrow morning. This kid has huge hands and huge feet for only being 5 years old.  Of course I am seeing football player all the way.  He is going to be tall, so maybe he can develop some wheel and be a quarterback or maybe a big receiver.  I don't see great signs of speed in him yet, so considering his lineage, he may be a big offensive or defensive lineman.  No one knows what Grice will do of course, and I really don't care either.  I just hope Grice does what he wants to do.  The only thing I can do is set the example for him, and hope he gets the benefit and lessons in life that team sports provides.  

www.coach-george.blogspot.com

We had a good day today on the field.  The players had a easy day yesterday because of pictures, media day etc. I noticed their legs were a little heavy which is to be expected on day five.  However, I thought the kids bounced back well and had a good practice.  

I have been working with the offensive line pretty much all week, and I am really enjoying it. Working with the big boys is a bit of a departure for me, for I have always worked with the skill kids all my career.   I love these big boys, for they are the heart and sole of this football team.  If the O-line stalls, the offense stalls....its that simple.  There are a lot of individual personalities in this group, and they are a lot of fun.  

Tomorrow we have a practice at 8am.  Lenny has a big day planned, and it should be a great way to wrap up the week.  

Talk Tomorrow.  

GZ

August 18th:  Vero Beach vs Viera      ( Pre-Season Kickoff Classic)  

Media Day 2017

New Uniforms 2017  

New Elevator going up to our press box.  

Random Photos.  I am not going to name the kids just yet...I want to get some permissions first, but I really love the new uniforms this year.    

Today was media day for our team.  Our entire team was photographed together, individually, in groups, by positions with coaches etc.  Pretty nice turnout on this steamy hot morning.  We had a light workout directly after this event.  Head Coach Jankowski is going to get his...believe me!  Love working for this guy.  

More Tomorrow.  

GZ  

Day 3. Brain Rattles.

I have been coaching for many years, and I have watched the game evolve in several ways.  Back when I played...or even when I first started coaching, not much thought was given to concussions.  (A concussion happens when your brain rattles around in your skull causing bruising.)  Seeing stars, numbness or stinging (stinger) in your extremities, or even a temporary loss of consciousness after a vicious hit on the field was commonplace.  If fact, it was almost considered a badge of honor to hit someone so hard you got a brain freeze doing so.  Coaches back then carried ammonia capsules in their pockets, and when you got the fuzzies, they used to shove these capsules up your nose until your head was supposedly clear.  An "all clear" call would be a simple question:  "You ok?"  or  "How many fingers am I holding up?"  These questions would usually be the medical diagnosis for determining if you were cleared to go back in a game.  I do not remember ANY athlete not cleared to go back in a game because of a head stinger.     Little did we know these episodes were actually brain concussions.  Coaches and trainers just did not have the knowledge and training for recognition of concussions that we have now.  Back then, we as a society just did not know any better.  I am not at all surprised that many athletes in my generation have cognitive and cervical issues from all the brutal and untreated head and neck injuries we endured.   

Now days, the equipment (helmets) is much better, and the coaches and trainers are well schooled in concussion recognition.  Obviously, there are different grades of concussions, but each concussion is treated seriously.  A player today will NOT touch the field until all concussion symptoms have subsided, and they will NOT participate until he has been cleared by medical personnel.  Today's athletes are bigger, stronger, and faster than we ever were; naturally, vicious contact is just part of the game.  Contrary to popular belief,  today's athletes are well protected and safer than they have ever been.  

Today was a good day.  The kids are allowed to wear "shells" today after spending a couple days in helmets only.  Today the kids wore their helmets, shoulder pads, and shorts.  We will spend a couple days in shells, then probably go full equipment on Friday.  Officially, football season started Monday. Even though we attended camps and 7 on 7 tournaments where full equipment was allowed, The State -of Florida requires that we spend two days in helmets only, and then spend two days in shells-only for practice.  That's fine...as long as everyone is playing by the same rules there is not an issue.  Besides...it is HOT outside, so the kids enjoy a little bit of non-equipment time.  

Today was Day 2 of the offensive install.  Looks like we are pretty talented.  I hope we can be competitive on the field when it counts.  

Later...

GZ 

Day 2 Good Start

New Vero Beach Football Helmets 

Started putting new emblems and stripes on our new helmets today.  The chrome emblem and stripes are new for Vero Beach, and I kind of like it.  The new style will be perfect for our new uniforms this year.  I will be showing those to you later in this blog.  Also, we are going back with white face masks again this year.  Something Old - Something New.  I can dig it.

Penn State....Old School Cool  

ALABAMA ....Classic  Cool  

I know some of you will find this hard to believe, but I tend to be more traditional in my favorite uniform choices. lol.  The simple uniforms worn by teams like Penn State, Alabama, Georgia, Nebraska etc.. are still my uniforms of choice.. But now days the kids like something more flashy, and I get that.  I was young once too.  I remember when mesh jerseys and water football helmets were considered all the rage.  For us to wear anything other than white socks was a real stretch.  Players and fans like the new uniform designs of today, and to be honest, I don't mind them at all either....as long as everyone looks the same on the team.  These Louisville uniforms look pretty cool.  

Louisville Cardinals Uniforms  

Today we had a great practice early this morning.  Since we got rained out yesterday, Coach Jankowski (Lenny)  just used yesterday's practice script for today's practice.  Offensively this means we are in Day 1 of our offensive install. By day 3 we should have some great groundwork established for what we are trying to accomplish in this offense.  Every drill we run, and every play call we make is tightly scripted.  I love a good scripted practice.  Rarely does Lenny venture off his practice plan; however, we can modify it a little if necessary.  I love this offense.  

I had a chance to watch our defense a little bit today, and I think they are crazy fast.  That's all I am going to say about this.... but I think we can hold our own this year.  

See you tomorrow. 

GZ