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Post by mwpilots on Jun 23, 2008 7:03:22 GMT -6
We are going to order new uniforms for a team that I just took over recently. I will get to pick the numbers that will be printed. I am seriously thinking about not having single digit numbers. These kids are trying to request numbers and we don't even have new jerseys yet. They keep talking about they want to look "sweet". I keep telling them to make whatever number you get look "sweet" by how you play. I could give a rat's a$$ about "looking sweet". This is not what football is about in my opinion. I told a coaching buddy of mine about it and says his favorite player was Warren Moon and what if he wanted number 1. I told him that it would be too darn bad and that I guess he would have had to get a Warren Moon poster for his wall. And thus the question: Am I too old school?
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Post by justryn2 on Jun 23, 2008 7:20:40 GMT -6
I don't know if I would call this old school exactly, maybe more just "hard nosed." And there really isn't anything wrong with that at all. Personally, I take a different approach. I believe when players feel better about themselves they will play more aggressively. If that means that a guy wants number 00, or whatever; as long as its not going to be a distraction to the team, I say go for it.
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Post by superpower on Jun 23, 2008 7:30:51 GMT -6
When I order uniforms, I get several single digit numbers as well as the double digits. I just make sure that we don't have #69 as some kids would choose that number just to be cute. I have no issues with single digit numbers though.
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Post by brophy on Jun 23, 2008 7:35:14 GMT -6
pick your friggin' battles.
Are these kids playing a game, or joining the French Foreign Legion?
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Post by schultbear74 on Jun 23, 2008 7:41:41 GMT -6
I have to say that I don't like single digit numerals either. I am old school and I don't like prima donnas. That being said, it is a good problem when you need more skill numbers and have to have single digits to accommodate them.
The "ME" thing going on rather then that "Team" thing is always a problem.
I also dislike having names on the back of the jerseys. I think that it becomes a good thing when you use it as a reward for people who do what you want them to do in the off season and the preseason.
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Post by schultbear74 on Jun 23, 2008 7:44:10 GMT -6
good question Coach Brophy.
The answer is somewhere in between is it not?
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Post by brophy on Jun 23, 2008 7:47:35 GMT -6
The answer is somewhere in between is it not? not to raise a stink, but I fail to see how this is a big deal. If the kids are 'selfish', there are bigger issues than jersey numbers to address. Shoot, if kids are excited about football (wanting a number) what more do you want? Now we want to tell them HOW they should be excited about? What are we afraid of? |
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Post by schultbear74 on Jun 23, 2008 7:55:06 GMT -6
You are right. I need to keep my eye on the prize.
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Post by CVBears on Jun 23, 2008 11:18:57 GMT -6
I don't have an issue with single digit numbers in their entirety, but I do have an issue with the number '1'. Can't stand it. I have seen several number '1' jersey numbers on teams I have been affiliated with, playing and coaching. Over the years, I have only seen one player that didn't fit the other's mold of a number '1' personality (and he was a kicker). And since I've seen one, I'm sure that there are plenty more examples across the country seen by countless coaches. But, in my experience, the kid that typically wants to wear number '1' is a "me" kid rather than a "team" kid and every time he puts on that jersey, he is reinforcing that to himself. If the number '1' jersey is never ordered, it never becomes an issue.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Jun 23, 2008 11:57:30 GMT -6
you are right on coach, the single digit number thing is "look at me" - you know it and I know it, the kids know it.
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Post by k on Jun 23, 2008 12:36:18 GMT -6
We hand out all the single digit numbers with both our freshman and varsity jerseys. I think it has to do with the kids. It isn't a problem with any of the kids we have now except one and if I was HC he wouldn't get it this year for darn sure.
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Post by coachbdud on Jun 23, 2008 12:52:12 GMT -6
we have no problem with numbers except #4
When i was a sophomore, my teammate, my QB died in a house fired midway through the season and he wore #4. so we unofficially retired his number
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Post by wildcat on Jun 23, 2008 12:57:39 GMT -6
If this is your biggest problem, you are in pretty good shape.
When I was in high school, I was #71. I wanted to wear #71 in college, too. Does that make me a primadonna? Some kids make a connection with a certain number, single digit or otherwise. It is not a big deal at all.
Order the new uniforms and then maybe let kids pick a number based on summer weightroom attendance.
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Post by wildcat on Jun 23, 2008 13:00:00 GMT -6
you are right on coach, the single digit number thing is "look at me" - you know it and I know it, the kids know it. I completely disagree. I have known several kids who have worn "1" and have not been self-promoters. It's just a number...like I said, some kids have a connection with some numbers more than others. |
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Post by groundchuck on Jun 23, 2008 13:18:02 GMT -6
I have found no connection between wearing #1 and being arrogant.
I did have a foriegn exchange student from Germany once and he wanted #88. I thought that was odd, and later found out that #88 is like #69 in the USA. Something about it having to do "H" being the eigth letter of the alphabet, and the 88=Hail Hitler........another kid told me the boy said when he went back to Germany he'd be the only kid on the street with anything saying "88" on it.
Don't know if this is real or just some German Urban Legend.
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Post by robinhood on Jun 23, 2008 13:39:16 GMT -6
I'm a serious Yankee fan, and so is my son. My son's name is Mickey. He wanted to wear, and I put him in #7. How did that make him a prima donna?
What's up with all this numerology? Next somebody will start talking about the bumps on players' heads.
Getting a certain number is exciting for the kids. They become attached to it - nothing more, nothing less.
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Post by davecisar on Jun 23, 2008 15:07:00 GMT -6
Just like the big tatoo wearers, those that usually want #1 are "look at me" types, they want to be noticed. They want and need the attention for some reason.
But just like the big tatoo wearers, some arent. That has been my experience. The last 2 kids I had that wanted #1 werent one of those kind of kids.
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dcoach84
Sophomore Member
If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven't done anything today. -Lou Holtz
Posts: 129
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Post by dcoach84 on Jun 23, 2008 15:17:31 GMT -6
I say let the kid have the number that he wants. You can use it as a motivational tool as well.
Example: Kids that have the highest attendance in the summer get first pick at jersey numbers.
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Post by rip60zgo on Jun 23, 2008 15:20:47 GMT -6
We had a great high school football player at linebacker a few years ago. Hard-nosed. Loved the game. Pleaded with coaches to stay after and work keys and reads. Superb leader in the weight room, in school, and on the field. The kind of kid you want on your team in every regard. He was an ILB, and he wore #3. My first assumption was that this was some type of trickle down deal from the college ranks. I asked him about it one time, and his response was awesome:
1 = God
2 = family
3 = me/football
Somewhat tangential I suppose, but sometimes the reasons they want the single digits may be better than you think.
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Post by airraider on Jun 23, 2008 15:56:06 GMT -6
Wow.. I decide who wears what numbers based on positions.. Only receivers and QB's wear 1-19.. DB's wear 20's LB's wear 30's and 40's if they do not play O-line all linemen wear 50-69 I hope to one day "need" those 70's and 80's.. but as of right now.. I dont like em.. But.. if a kid really just wanted a certain number.. I wouldnt be a thingy about it.. (I actually put thingy there knowing it would change it anyway  ) |
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Post by airraider on Jun 23, 2008 15:58:57 GMT -6
When I order uniforms, I get several single digit numbers as well as the double digits. I just make sure that we don't have #69 as some kids would choose that number just to be cute. I have no issues with single digit numbers though. Funny story.. this spring.. we had/have still a girl playing for us.. pretty big girl.. linewomen as I call her.. anyway.. we come out headed to the weightroom and he she comes down the hall from the girls lockerroom.. and she is wearing #69.. I somehow didnt think that would go over too well.. so we changed her number.. lol.. It was the only 2x jersey that we left when coach was passing them out.. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2008 16:18:31 GMT -6
I can't say I've ever seen a correlation between single digits representing arrogant players. Personally, I wouldn't make a big deal out of this.
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Post by coachorr on Jun 23, 2008 16:20:33 GMT -6
Why would you want to have "fun"? Pick your battles and make your program "user friendly". Is this an issue in which you can give some ground and still maintain decorum of a good football program? Kids do things now a days, because it is fun and they want to do something with their buddies. Here is an eye opener, do a survey which asks how many kids would be willing to give up playing time if it meant winning games.
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Post by mwpilots on Jun 23, 2008 17:13:49 GMT -6
I posted this in the morning and I am just getting back. Thank you for all of your insights. The impetus for this question was one kid in particular. This kid is about 6'1'' and 305 lbs. He will be playing the line. He wants number 7. And he was up in my face about it...not in a bad way but more annoying. This caused a couple of other kids to chime in with their requests. At this point I blew the whistle and told them all that I will be picking the numbers.I also told them the number I pick for you will have some meaning to it. I am going to use it as a teaching tool and have them look up players who wore that number.I want them to know some football history as well as X's and O's. I also went on to explain that certain positions have to wear certain numbers and there will not be a tackle who wear number 7 playing for me.....EVER!!!
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Post by airman on Jun 23, 2008 17:20:24 GMT -6
10 to 99 are the numbers I allow.
It is always cool to have a wr wearing 99.
I had a friend in college wear 00 as a middle lber.
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Post by ajreaper on Jun 23, 2008 17:24:21 GMT -6
Can someone, anyone explain to me how wanting #1 or #9 is any different then wanting #88, #34 or #92? If it's available and there position allows then to wear that # what the heck let them. IMO that's a silly damn battle to want to fight after all if you win what have you won?
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Post by fbdoc on Jun 23, 2008 17:43:55 GMT -6
We try to assign numbers with a nod to history - our own or something from college or NFL lore. We also have a few single digits including #1 and have not had problems, however we DON'T have 0, 00, or 69.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2008 17:47:49 GMT -6
The sad thing is, mwpilots, he may have gotten the idea from playstation. Every now and then they'll sneak in a lineman with a single digit number |
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Post by brophy on Jun 23, 2008 18:03:02 GMT -6
so does the kid ONLY play Defense? It would be an academic discussion (50 - 79) if he ever plays offense. If he only plays defense......well, would it matter if a LOT of Christian-centered players choose '7' because it represents, symbolicly is the 'perfect number of God', meaning completeness of the Spirit?  Does it matter what their motivations are? |
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Post by wildcat on Jun 23, 2008 18:31:56 GMT -6
10 to 99 are the numbers I allow. It is always cool to have a wr wearing 99. I had a friend in college wear 00 as a middle lber. Chris Bisaillon, who played WR at Illinois Weselyan University back in the early 90s where he broke Jerry Rice's collegiate career TD record in 1992 (since broken), wore #99. Also, had a TE/DE my first year coaching who wore #90. |
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