New Beginnings: Day 1

 

New 2020 Lineman Of The Week Belt

This is the new 2020 version of the "Lineman Of The Week" award.  This is the forth version of this weekly award, and I think it keeps getting better and better.  This award is reserved STRICTLY for offensive linemen....no one else is eligible to win the prestigious weekly prize.  Here is the story of it's beginning.  

It all starts when these kids are in Youth Leagues.  As the teams form, a Coach will often spread his/her  coaches around the field and say:  OK....all running backs go with Coach so and so.  All QBs go with Coach so and so.  All defensive players go with Coach so and so.  All wide receivers go with Coach so and so (usually the largest group)    Finally, all Offensive Linemen go with Coach so and so.....but there is generally no one left to go.  Even at that age, no one wants to play on the offensive line.  This job is considered boring and usually taken for granted.  However, every Coach knows the big boys up front are the most important people on the entire offense.  Without them the offense cannot run.  I needed to change this; thus, the belt was born.  

I knew the weekly award had to be special.  I purchase the blank leather belts from an awards supplier  My wife Marty decorates the belt with designs dictated by some of the Senior Linemen on the team.  Marty can do just about anything with her Silhouette vinyl cutting machine.  Each belt is unique to each year.  This year Elijah Bacon (Sr Offensive Tackle) decided this years theme.....(Indians and Pancakes)  Then, I turn the belt over to the players. After each game, the players are graded on their performance.  The player who grades the highest  has his name added to the belt, and the winner gets to keep the belt for a week.  He can take it anywhere he wishes... to school, to church, to a restaurant....wherever.  The belt has become a symbol to their hard work, and it is a reminder of how much we appreciate them   They fight for it....and I love that.  

Past Winners: (Sorry If I missed You....ran out of space. )  

Louie Rahal  

Bacon 

Austin Maxwell 

Carlos Perez

Jarvis Jones 

Carlos Perez 

Jarvis Jones  

We have officially started football practice for this year.  We are working under strict COVID 19 restrictions, but it's still football.  I will get into our local schedule later this week, but rumor has it that we will be playing a State Powerhouse in week one (September 11th)  We are still waiting for confirmation.  

I will write again tomorrow.  Day 1 is in the books.  

later 

FINALLY! New Year-New Life!

2017 Lineman Of The Week Belt

Not much to write about until recently.  FINALLY, we were given clearance to start regular (if there is such a thing) football practice on July 24th.  We have been waiting for this day since we were ordered off school grounds in March.  We are way behind.  We missed Spring Football practice.  We missed our Spring football game.   We missed 7 on 7 over the Summer.....dozens of them.   We had to adapt to these new Covid19 and Social Distancing regulations.  We have learned new ways to keep our kids and our staff safe.  We have worked out close to 175 kids all summer without any problems, so I guess we are doing a decent job.  One more week of summer conditioning, then we can put on a helmet and get back to the new normal....whatever that may be.  I am sure we are not alone at being behind...everyone is behind no doubt  So, it will probably take us a few weeks to come up to speed along with everyone else.....I hate being sloppy though.  I guess I am allowed to say that.  

Generally speaking Vero Beach Football plays a pretty good statewide schedule against known football powers.   This year will be different for everyone.  We are going to play a local Treasure Coast schedule against other local teams.  I am looking forward to this; for Its been a few years since I have seen some of the teams we will be playing.  During this time of a Pandemic, this is a way to keep our athletes playing in the Treasure Coast bubble,  and not travel so much to other areas that may  be having a hard time with outbreaks.  We will still be playing all of our normal district opponents, but I am not sure how the playoff system works yet.  I will find out shortly.  

This is my Granddaughter KELSEY, and she is a cheerleader at NEASE High School up in St Augustine.  This whole Pandemic thing has affected every high school in the State.  Even the cheerleaders had to make adjustments to keep themselves safe in our strange new normal.  Kelsey is my oldest grandbaby...and I probably owe my life to her.  This one little baby changed my life, and she made me realize that life offers so much more than a oblong pigskin being tossed and run up and down a 100 yard field of grass.  Unknown to me, I have changed my coaching style along with Kelsey's arrival.  I may have a little more patience with my athletes, and I may approach problem solving a little differently.  Without Kelsey changing my life, I would probably not be writing this...I probably would have been dead.  God knows what he is doing for sure.  

Kelsey and Kirby....Football Sisters.  

You know....I was a pretty lousy father when I think about it.  Because of my obsession with my football, my two kids were raised on the athletic fields..  Both of my kids (Kristin and Michael) practically learned how to walk on the gridiron.  I remember them missing Halloween because we spent too mush time at the practice field preparing for an opponent.  We never had fancy family vacations because of my obligations to my football family over the summer. The one vacation we did have was to South Bend Indiana to see the Notre Dame campus.  I was obsessed with football, and I do regret it...sort of. 

Kristin....My Daughter.  

This is my daughter Kristin...do you think she and Kelsey look alike?  As much as I regret raising my kids on the athletic field, Kristin and Joe (her husband) and doing the same thing with their kids.  Kristin has told me that she probably had/has hundreds of brothers over the years, and she never had to worry too much with her football family (coaching staff) looking after her at school.  Coaching does have advantages for a father.  

Kristin will be mad at me for posting a photo of her without permission.  I don't care....I will take my chances.  

Later.  

Too Young For Decisions

One bad thing about getting older is that no one really asks for your advice anymore.  I guess our old-school answers may no longer have much value to the newer generation.  Yes....sometimes the younger generation will listen to you, but I am not  sure how many will actually "HEAR" you.  I remember my Dad used to say: "I'm Just A Dumbass"  and I never really understood what he was talking about.  Today was different though...today I got to play a different role....today I got to play  "PawPaw" and my experience and advice was asked for.  Felt good to be heard.  

This is my Grandson Grice.  He is the 8 year old son of my daughter Kristin and her husband Joe.  They all live in St Augustine about 2.5 hours up the road.  My boy Grice (Dawg) is quite the baseball athlete himself...he has been playing travel ball this summer all over North Florida.  He is a catcher and center fielder, and he also swings a pretty wicked bat.  Obviously, his coaches want him to continue playing baseball this fall, and I think there may be a little pressure for him to do so.  Truthfully, this is kind of pissing me off.  

Today I got a phone call from his dad wanting some advice.  Like I stated earlier, Grice is feeling a little pressure to play baseball, but his Dad Joe (A former QB who played for me at SRHS) is a second year youth league football coach.  Obviously, he wants his own son to play some football and be introduced to the sport.  I could not agree more.  My feeling is that GRICE may LOVE to play tackle football, but then again, he may not...he won't know until you introduce the sport to him.  When Grice finishes the season, he will be able to say if he likes it or not.  If not, then he can always go back to baseball....even if its regular Little League.  Don't put any more pressure on the boy.  Sounds funny huh?  Especially coming from me. Apparently people take this travel baseball thing pretty seriously.  

I am a football coach no doubt....and I know his daddy is a football guy too. I won't lie, I would LOVE to see Grice play some football.  I would have something else to talk about with him. Maybe I could even offer some tips.and coach him up myself!!!  NO....WAIT.... I would not do that.  I would stay in the end zone with my daughter Kristin (who is a female version of myself) and just watch....and keep my overbearing mouth shut.  I just want to be PawPaw......not Coach PawPaw.  

Later.  

Living The Dream

I am not sure what it is, but my alarm clock seems to go off earlier and earlier each year.  Football season means very long days for me.  Most of you know that I do have a regular job along with being a football coach.  My family business is called "Sebastian Blinds and Shutters" and we have been in business for since 1984.  We sell custom made Plantation Shutters, Blinds, Shades, and Draperies....this is how I support my family,  and it also affords me the chance to fulfill my passion....coaching high school football.  I am so thankful for this.  After football, I am back to work at my business until late in the evening....every day.  People often ask me:  "What comes first, the business or football?"  I think we all know the answer to that crazy question.  

After the alarm goes off, I usually lay in bed for a minute and try to get everything working again.  My knees ache, my ankles are sore, my shoulders are sore, my hands are stiff, and I usually have a headache.  I get dressed in practice clothes I usually have ready to go from the night before.  I make my morning stop at Cumberland Farms to grab a Diet Dr. Pepper (I allow myself one soda a day) and a large Iced Tea in a foam cup .  I will stop by my office for a hour or so, then I will make my way to school for the morning workout.  I usually meet my buddy Pete Deluke at the locker room door, and together we get the water machines ready for the morning workout.  The kids are supposed to have their own water (Covid 19 thing) ...but we have ours ready for emergency purposes.  We are NOT  practicing at this point, we are simply conditioning our kids to get ready for the actual start (we hope) of our season on August 24th.  At this point, I am usually wondering why I put myself through this every year?  

The practice field is empty when I arrive.  The kids have not started filing in yet, so I usually snake walk the entire field every morning.  My shoes get soaked with the dew that covers the field on these early humid Florida mornings.  It's hot...Its wet, and our state bird (The mosquito) makes its presence known in swarms as they bite at my legs.  The smell of the freshly cut grass permeates my nostrils while I walk the lines of our field.. then I realize:  

There is no place I would rater be.  

Later  

I am a Lucky Man.

There are people out there who who have an issue with our mascot, and they are trying to force us to change our name much like The Washington Redskins were forced to do.  There is actually an internet page taking votes on whether we should change it or keep it.  The last time I looked, the voting was not even close....I guess we are going to be The Fighting Indians for some time to come.  I would be so disappointed if we caved in and were forced to change our mascot and our name to something stupid.  

I may have one of the best specialty position jobs in the country...let me explain my reasoning.  Vero Beach High School is certainly one of the best football programs in the state of Florida, and perhaps one of the best football programs in the entire country.  I coach the running backs for this program; therefore, according to my reasoning, I must have one of the best coaching positions in the country!  Makes sense...right?  

Bobby McMillan - Senior RB  

The above photo is one of my players when he was a 10th grader.  He was just a pup when this photo was taken, but he has matured into quite an athlete.  Under The Coach Bethel weight program, Bobby has put on about 25 lbs of good football weight, grown a few inches, and has kept his speed....a deadly combination.  If he stays healthy, Bobby will make some real noise this year.  

I do not have photos of the rest of my running back group yet this year, but rest assured I will get some and introduce each of them on this blog.  So, OMAR, REGGIE, QUINCY.....your time is coming.  Nothing is set in stone about the depth chart yet, for this season has not even started.  But I will say this:  We are a talented group.  Probably the deepest backfield I have ever had  to start the season.  

Can I say this???  I love all these boys like they are my own sons.  I care about each of them both on and off the field.  I will coach the hell out of them on the field, but I will treat them like my sons off the field.  

I guess I am getting soft.  

Later  

Changing Times

My daughter Kristin (Westberg) sent me this old photo a couple days ago with a note:  "I remember you running this drill"   This iconic drill was brutal. This head to head tackling drill quickly sorted out who wanted to hit, and who did not. Usually the coach would set up cones, or bags, or players or something to form a chute no wider than five yards.  The two participating players would get on their backs with helmets facing each other.  Usually, the players were separated by five or six yards (helmet to helmet)  One player would be the runner, and the other player would be the tackler.  The coach would give the ball to one player.  The object of the drill would be: When the coach hits the whistle, both players get off the ground quickly, and the runner would try to run through the tackler.  The chutes kept the runner from running around the tackler....had to be head to head.  Nasty drill that worked. YES, I used to run the drill...back in the day, but its been years since I have seen it.  In today's world, we cannot run this type of drill too much.  You may see a few youth league teams running it though.  Today I believe we all would be fired for running this stuff.  

The Meat Grinder:  

My dad was a coach in Kentucky.  His teams were known to be very physical and very tough.  He had a version of the old Oklahoma drills he called the MEAT GRINDER.  One on one, two on ones, three against two and so forth.  We would run this drill at the end of every practice....BEFORE wind sprints.  Dad will yell: "MEAT GRINDER" and we would come running and gather in a group.  Whatever drill he set up we all would participate.  No one was spared.  If you did not jump in the drill, he would single you out and make sure you participated.  Every player on our team quickly learned what it took to excel and survive to be member of our team.  This single drill is still talked about among my teammates today back in Kentucky.  The MEAT GRINDER made players out of us all.  

Intro 2020

Well, here I am again with a new blog for this season.  I was not going to coach again this year...really I wasn't.  After 36 football seasons behind me,  I thought I might retire, take it easy for awhile, go fishing, and maybe enjoy watching high school football from the stands as a regular spectator.   I was worn out from last season.  Really, there is no off season anymore.  At Vero Beach, after the playoffs, we only have about a month off before we go right back into the weight room and conditioning for the next season.  We have football camps, 7 on 7's, and other activities which requires the coaches to be with the kids.  Therefore, this does not leave much time for other things such as MY BUSINESS, MY FAMILY, MY BOATS, working around the house etc...  I had my mind made up.....I was going to retire.  Then, I made a mistake....I opened our locker room door and took a big whiff....the hairs stood up on my neck and my arms.  I saw a few rising seniors in the weight room.  I knew....I wanted to come back for one more season......a season on the brink of disaster.   More on this later.   

I really wanted to start writing again for my grandchildren..Kelsey, Kirby, Grice, and Mason.  Someday, I would love for the kids to read my words for a single day, and what I was thinking, what I was dealing with etc...  This will be my last year coaching, and I wanted the kids to remember me as I used to be....not the same PawPaw who may be peeing and crapping in my diapers and being a pain is the ass....or even dead.  

The Grandchildren:  

Kelsey Age 14  

Kirby Age 9   

Grice:  Age 8   

Mason: Age 3  

Kelsey, Kirby, and Grice are the children of my daughter Kristin and her husband Joe.  They reside in St Augustine, FL. about 2 1/2 hours away.  Kelsey is a cheerleader at NEASE High School.  Kirby is a Level 4 Gymnast and probably the best athlete in the family.  She amazes me with her athleticism.  Grice is my first grandson and quite the athlete himself (Basketball, Baseball, Football)   Finally, MASON is the child of my son Michael and his wife Alex..they reside in Rochester MN.  My son is a military man, so they move around quite a bit. 

All these kids like to watch our games on YouTube, and they look forward to see PawPaw on TV and maybe hearing their name on the air.  I live for these kids...they are my world.  I was a lousy father, but I am trying to make up for that with the babies.  My daughter Kristin is raising her kids on the field and in the gym as well.  Maybe I did something right afterall.  

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                              Football 2020  

Covid 19 

Early February.  This season started out just like any other season.  We were in the weight room working out the kids, and doing normal off-season drills on the field.  Just normal stuff you.  We started hearing about this new Chinese Virus sweeping the world.  All of a sudden, the virus is here in the United States.  The Center For The Disease Control started calling it a Pandemic.  Then, our world as we know it changed forever.  I am just talking about football here.  

All of our workouts were cancelled.  We were not allowed in the locker rooms or weight rooms.  We could not assemble.  School was cancelled.  All sports for the schools were cancelled...including football.  Spring Football was cancelled.  All the 7 on 7's (off season) were cancelled.   All camps were cancelled.  All clinics were cancelled. All college visits were cancelled.  Everything was in limbo.   All we could do as coaches was stay at home, get fat, have Zoom meetings with players, and wait it out.  Finally, things started to open up a little bit.  

Just recently,  we have been allowed to start conditioning our kids under strict COVID social distancing regulations.   We have to keep our assembly limited in all groups.  We must practice social distancing rules.  All the players have their own water on the field (we do have our water cows for emergency.)  We have weight room rules in effect.  We are doing the best we can considering we have 170+ kids in the program.  I am sure all the schools in Florida have the same issue, so we are not alone.  

We are officially allowed to start fall practice  on August 24th RIGHT NOW.  But this could (and probably will) change.  Until it does, we are planning to be in helmets on the 24th.  We will continue our summer workouts until then.     

I will be posting as often as I can....or when I have something to say.  

Thanks 

"Coach" George