I have not been writing much this season, and to be honest, I have just been too busy to do so. This Covid-19 football season has totally wore me out. Aside from my coaching duties, I have been extremely busy at my business. Usually my day starts at 7am and I end up back at my house at 10pm or so. Then, I end up watching film of some type (game, scout or practice) most every night. It starts all over the next day. This is the price I paid for 37 years doing what I loved most in this world...coaching football!
Year 2018
I have a story to tell, so please indulge me. I am the running backs coach for Vero Beach High School (VBHS) I consider this to be one of the best position jobs in the State....if not the entire country. It is widely known that VBHS is a quality program. Naturally, I get to work with some pretty serious athletes. When I started coaching RB's for VBHS three year's ago, Coach Jankowski gave me this skinny kid (#8 Bobby McMillian ) to groom. I was not very impressed at first. Big thick glasses, skinny legs, not all that fast, not very strong, and had an issue hanging onto the ball. Back then he weighed about 140 -150 lbs. He was playful, he would poke at me and run. He was just a fun kid to have around. Bobby was just a puppy, like a Golden Retriever Puppy... full of energy, but he still drove me crazy! Through it all, I could see some talent there. I really liked this kid! He rapidly began to improve.
2020
Bobby waited his turn to start playing for us. He had a decent second (Junior) year but had some ankle issues which really slowed him down, so he played behind a senior most of the year. At the end of last season, Bobby asked me what I wanted him to weigh this year to start the season, because he wanted to get a college scholarship. I said (185-190 lbs) would be about right. After an outstanding off-season in Bethel's weight room, I was shocked when Bob came in at a solid (185 - 190lbs)...and strong! I just knew if Bobby had a solid year, he could be playing on Saturday somewhere.
Then Covid 19 hit....and it changed everything. We could not have Spring Football; naturally, the college recruiters were not allowed on campus. We could not have our regular 7 on 7 off-season passing workouts either. Basically, colleges could not see any of our players...including Bobby. That worried me, and I am sure it worried most the boys too. Usually, our practice field is crawling with recruiters. However, I am responsible for just my position group, so together Bobby and I formed a plan. Really, the plan was pretty simple. I asked him to practice hard every day. We began filming every practice and uploading it to QwikCuts so everyone could see it....even the college recruiters could watch it they wanted to see a player, so to me, it was important that we practiced hard. It was important that we practiced the little things....take nothing for granted. It was important that Bobby become a leader on the field.
The Plan:
1.Be A Leader on / off the field
2. Weight and strength gain which was already completed. (Randy Bethel...Thanks)
3. Run our drills at 100% Take Nothing For Granted
4. Condition every day (Getting better)
5. Know what you look like on video (the eye in the sky don't lie)
6. Avg 7 yards per carry.
7. Smell The Goal line
8. WE DO NOT FUMBLE.
9. Hug Your Mother everyday. (Keep Mom Happy)
I figured if Bobby would do all these little things, the big things would take care of themselves. Bobby worked hard all season. All year we kept talking about "The Plan" "Bob would mess up on something, and I would say: "That's not part of the plan!" All these little things produced some pretty impressive numbers for Bobby....including scoring over twenty touchdowns. Coach Jankowski (HC) did not have to yell at me too much this year, so I am sure he was pleased with Bobby as well. The season ended...and we waited. Would the colleges show up? Would Bobby be rewarded for following "The Plan?"
(L-R) Davon Hicks, Bobby McMillian, Travonte O'Neal, Keanu Koht
Today was national signing day, and we had four players up on stage signing paperwork for a full Division 1 scholarships.
* Davon Hicks: South Florida
* Bobby McMillian: Arkansas State
* Travonte O'Neal: Florida International University
* Keanu Koht: University of Alabama
I am so proud of ALL these kids I can't stand it. All four of these kids are home-grown talent, and they all are being rewarded for their efforts and dreams. However, I am a position Coach....and Bobby was my position group, so I am going to say something a little extra about him .
I have been coaching running backs for many years....I came from The Bill Wilson School of Running Backs. I have seen and coached some great athletes....perhaps a few even better than Bobby McMillian. But NO PLAYER (in my history) has worked harder to get better than Bobby McMillian. His hard work has paid off in a big way. His coaches at the next level will love him...just like I have loved him for the past three years. I consider him my family...no different than my Grandson. I could not be more proud of him.
I am now a HUGE Arkansas State Fan.
It's Been Fun.
"Coach" George
