Monday, September 21, 2020

RIP Coach Wilson . Going to Miss You Dank

 

Dank   

"How Can You Coach Them All The Same, When You Don't Know Whats Going On At The House??  You Better Have A Little Rubber In Your Rules! 

Then, I got punched in the chest with that big ring he wore on one finger.  The message Coach Wilson was sending was clear...and it changed my coaching life forever.  

Coach Bill Wilson (Dank) died last evening at 11:55 pm.  He was such a great mentor in my Coaching career, and even today I use his lessons every single day on the football field.  The Bill Wilson School Of Running Backs is alive and well at Vero Beach High School.  I will get my thoughts together and put it in writing later this week.  

Rest In Peace Coach.  I will see you on the other side someday.  

Sunday, September 20, 2020

VICTORY: 35-0

 


We defeated Port St. Lucie 35-0 on Friday night to start our regular season.  It was not perfect, but we played fairly well all things considered.  It was great way to start an abnormal and already strange season.  Next game vs Centennial (away) Friday night.  Don't ask me about tickets....no one really knows.  

Covid 19 has played havoc with the school systems and with the football season.  I am not going to write much more boring stuff about this headache, but we are settling into our new normal ...not that we have much of a choice.  Our entire schedule had to be reworked...we are now playing more of a local schedule.  Only 1000 people (players and fans) are allowed into our home stadium.  This alone is a huge adjustment for everyone here, because we generally sell out every game.  We now have to wear face masks on the sideline, and its miserable.  We can no longer use our water machines on the sideline.  Now we have to use individual bottles of water for our athletes.  Covid shutdowns is always a concern now days.  Right now I just hope to get in a semi-regular football season.  Kids need team sports now more than ever, and I am going to make the best of it and finish with a strong season.  Can we talk a little football now?  
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(L-R)  Bobby, OMAR, Reggie, Quincy   

These are MY BOYS, my position group, The Running Backs.  I really like this bunch of kids, and they are all very talented.  I jokingly call this bunch "The Glory Boys" because they will get a lot of press during the season.  But, I also teach them to be humble, love your mother, be respectful, and ALWAYS thank your offensive linemen.  WE DO NOT FUMBLE...

 

Bobby McMillan (Senior Night) 
Omar G.  (Senior Night )  

Bobby McMillan:  (Sr.  RB)  Bob was just a puppy when I got him three years ago.  Young skinny kid, but his talent was coming through.  Now days Bob is a well developed and powerful RB who will be playing on a Saturday somewhere.  Any school would be lucky to have him.  At the end of last year, Bob asked me how much he should weigh for his senior season.  I sort of half-jokingly said 190 lbs...knowing he was about  175 lbs at the time.   After a winter of good Bethel work, Bob came in at a powerful 190 lbs...and had not lost a step.  In fact, he is even faster.  A great combination.  

OMAR G:  (Sr. RB)  Sorry, I can't spell his last name.  OMAR is one of the smartest kids we have on Offense.  I also had him for a little bit three years ago....I was wondering who the kid was with a mohawk haircut?  he was playing on the JV last year, and when I had the chance to grab him last year I did.  Omar is a Coach on the field, and someday I really believe he would be a great coach.  I love having him with me.  

Reggie Ferguson:  (Junior RB)  Started working with Reggie last year when he was a tenth (10th) grader.  Reggie is a different type of runner than Bobby.  Reggie is taller RB with long legs. I can't believe how much he has grown over the past year.  Big wide shoulder, thin waste, thicker in the hips...and just plain powerful.  Reggie is my other "Coach On The Field" and shares his knowledge.  Reggie has a goal of playing college and pro football,  and I would not be surprised to see him at all levels.  I am constantly negotiating with other coaches to get him on the field somewhere.  Reggie is paying his "Vero" dues right now, and you will see him quite a bit this year...but next year?  Watch Out!  

Quincy Rogers:  (Soph. RB)  My youngster.  I used to coach his older brother Bryan Primus Winston.  Quincy is very talented, and I can see him progressing and maturing everyday.  Quincy is like a sponge and soaks up everything you show him.  This young man can/will be very dangerous on the field.  

I love my group,  I have asked the older boys to help me make corrections with the younger guys...make sure we protect (with knowledge) our group as a whole.  We all will make corrections....we all will remind each other to protect the ball.  If Bobby makes a good run, we all celebrate.  If Reggie crushes someone with a block, we all celebrate with him.  Good or bad, we are a tight group.