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Post by touchdownmaker on Apr 8, 2009 14:54:34 GMT -6
I am not one to laugh at any of my players.
Last year I had a conversation with a Mom who told me that her son was going to the NFL though.
The young man asked if he could film JV games last year because he didnt want to play in them though.
Anyhow, fast forward to this year. I had a sit down with the lad and went over all of my expectations and discussed our intentions for the boy this coming year. He has been a weight room warrior ever since (even joined the track team).
Today he told me "I will play in the Arena league someday" which is the first time in my life I have ever heard a player say something like that.
I put it to him plainly "youd better run at least a 4.6 then or they wont even look at you" because the lad is all of about 5 foot 3 and 115 pounds maybe. He runs about a 5.6 right now.
he does lift hard (now) and has started running (with encouragement) and honestly, if this is what it takes to get the kid to work - WHO THE HECK AM I TO RAIN ON HIS PARADE?
usually its the opposite, the kids already think they are so good that they dont have to work.
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Post by jpdaley25 on Apr 8, 2009 15:00:20 GMT -6
I get the "My kid can't lift because he's going to be a major league pitcher someday and we don't want to hurt his arm" quite a bit.
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stylee
Sophomore Member
Posts: 178
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Post by stylee on Apr 8, 2009 15:14:58 GMT -6
Good luck to him.
Hey, who knows? I was slow and small when I was 13 and became...fast and small when I was 15. Got significantly faster AFTER high school.
A guy I played in HS with grew 4 inches and put on 40something pounds in college and was a 1st Round pick in the NFL draft last year.
Number one thing is - he's trying, right? And now you've got a kid who's an example to his teammates.
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Post by brophy on Apr 8, 2009 15:33:27 GMT -6
You won't even play in AF1 or AF2 unless you have played college ball. Explain that logic, mom.
You may have 1 or 2 guys who walk on off the street, but those would be genetic freaks.
Get a dose of reality. I wouldn't discourage, but I would give you the statistical probability that it doesn't happen and there really is no precedent. So, he is going to aspire to make less than the poverty level? That doesn't sound very intelligent.
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Post by fbdoc on Apr 8, 2009 18:28:20 GMT -6
Encourage him but also let him know what he'll need to reach breakthrough - height, weight, speed, strength... if nothing else, he may work even harder and drag some of his teammates along for the ride. "Wow! Look at little Billy bust his a$$. Maybe I should be working that hard" You never know  |
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Post by jhanawa on Apr 8, 2009 18:53:12 GMT -6
HEY, To all of you non believers, I'm 6'5, 280 and I'm looking to be a professional jockey.....it AIN'T my fault my damn Clydesdale can't keep up with those sissy fast ponies......LOL.......Uh, maybe post some statistics on probability of making it that far.......as well as the probability of making varsity by doing the things required.....
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Post by CoachDaniel on Apr 8, 2009 20:10:27 GMT -6
I agree with fbdoc, encourage him. But tell him what he CAN DO to get there, don't dwell on things he can't do anything about (like height, for example). Tell him he needs grades to get to play in college, hard work in the weight room, etc. You may only get a scout team hero out of it, or he may end up playing at a D-III school... or he may end up playing in the Arena leagues. I'd much rather have a kid with a goal that is going to be extremely difficult for him to attain, than someone who's only worried about how drunk they're going to get after the game on Friday. He will be more successful in life aiming for the stars, than listening to people who tell him he can't do something.
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Post by coachd5085 on Apr 8, 2009 21:40:43 GMT -6
So, he is going to aspire to make less than the poverty level? That doesn't sound very intelligent. You mean like those who aspire to be college coaches?? |
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Post by mariner42 on Apr 8, 2009 23:46:12 GMT -6
I get the "My kid can't lift because he's going to be a major league pitcher someday and we don't want to hurt his arm" quite a bit. I swear if I hear that line one more time, I'll have a seizure. Falling down, twitching, foaming at the mouth, seizure. |
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Post by tiger46 on Apr 9, 2009 0:14:47 GMT -6
I think everyone has covered it. No need to discourage him. He'll get enough of that from everyone else. But, he will need someone to tell him about the reality of what he aspires to do. Who knows, you may just have another 'Rudy' on you hands.  |
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Post by olinecoach61 on Apr 9, 2009 6:04:29 GMT -6
Didn't Arena Football go out of business? You may want to mention that.
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sbv
Sophomore Member
Posts: 171
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Post by sbv on Apr 9, 2009 8:01:02 GMT -6
I'd put his sites on AFL2 since AFL may never come back. Maybe steer him towards Canada in the CFL.
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Post by fatkicker on Apr 9, 2009 8:10:45 GMT -6
and they pay like 50 bucks a game.....
last summer our best player missed all summer to stay with his cousin.......
then missed 3 of the first 5 fall practices......
THEN missed the first game because his mom was in a car wreck......he had to stay home and take care of her..........i was in the box.....saw him and mom in the stands that night.......for some reason they came to the game........she was laughing, cuttin' up....no signs of being in a wreck that warranted 24 hour care from her 16 year old.......
after the kid was fired.........dad said we were ruining his NFL career...........
i guess those pros don't lift weights or practice.....or attend the games.....
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Post by brophy on Apr 9, 2009 8:19:12 GMT -6
So, he is going to aspire to make less than the poverty level? That doesn't sound very intelligent. You mean like those who aspire to be college coaches?? you mean the profession that requires a 4 year degree and that (GA) allots tuition for a Masters? That sounds very similar to not getting a degree and pursuing a 'career' that cannot sustain a family and that only will last 2 or 3 years. |
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dabears54
Junior Member
Pressure Pursue & Punish
Posts: 324
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Post by dabears54 on Apr 9, 2009 8:23:48 GMT -6
We had a parent visit with our HC the other day about his kid's dream of playing at OU and eventually playing in the NFL. He's a good kid. He's the strongest kid on our team. He's a 5'11'' 260 Offensive Lineman who is slow of foot...and brain. He's a good HS football player and will be able to play football at the next level, just not where he wants to. It's tough, squashing young people's dreams. It's too bad that parents and kids aren't realistic.
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Post by phantom on Apr 9, 2009 9:11:59 GMT -6
We had a parent visit with our HC the other day about his kid's dream of playing at OU and eventually playing in the NFL. He's a good kid. He's the strongest kid on our team. He's a 5'11'' 260 Offensive Lineman who is slow of foot...and brain. He's a good HS football player and will be able to play football at the next level, just not where he wants to. It's tough, squashing young people's dreams. It's too bad that parents and kids aren't realistic. I think "squashing" is too harsh of a term. Virtually every player below the scholarship D. 1A level has had their dream "squashed". When I was 13 I dreamed of playing at Penn State not Mansfield State. That doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy playing there. If you choose to look at it that way life is a series of squashed dreams. I dreamed of playing in the NFL, then coaching in the NFL, then coaching in 1A, then becoming a HS HC. None of those things happened and I don't have a moment's regret about how things turned out. Dreams are great things. They drive us to attempt to be great. It you fall short what's so horrible about that? |
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dabears54
Junior Member
Pressure Pursue & Punish
Posts: 324
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Post by dabears54 on Apr 9, 2009 9:24:08 GMT -6
"In life, as in football, you won't go far unless you know where the goalposts are."
Unfortunately, the goalposts are pretty far away for this kid. Again, great kid-good HS player, and will have the chance of getting his school paid for. All I'm saying is that a fundamental part of setting a goal is to make sure that it is attainable.
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Post by bigm0073 on Apr 9, 2009 9:30:23 GMT -6
The odds are highly stacked... % is that it will not happen.
I would bet if you look at the history of MOST of our schools many lf us may not have had ONE player in the schools history do it.
My current school has been opened since 1981 and as far as I know there has NEVER been a professional football player come out.
My prior school that had been opened since 1973 and has around 2600 students has not had a player drafted until this upcoming spring (This is a school with a TON of athletes and some great talent). The % are really stacked. I would break it down that way to the parent.
Something I do is keep a tape on file of a player that was the best I coached:
In high school he was 6'2" 210 lbs and ran Nike Combine 4.57. For me he was like Jim Brown (all everything RB.. District, region, state.. All Met in the DC area...). When you watch his senior hi-light tape it is like watching old tapes of Bo Jackson, Jim Brown.. Type. He was just a man among-st boys. He had over 10 TDs his senior year of 50 yds or more (Several 70 ++). I pop that hi-light tape in and I tell the parents this:
He is currently a back up LB in a SEC School... Linebacker NOT RB!!
That was a major wake up call to the parents at my current school. Many since our January Recruiting meeting have become more reasonable in their expectations...
I have a few 5 10 or 5 9 something RB and they run like 4.7 or 4.6..(We all have these ok type of kids).. 160 - 170 lbs...
Well when there parents saw that tape and I told them this kid was not good enough to play D-IA RB... The looks on their faces. I told them every coach offered him as LB!! Now they are asking about the local D-II Schools in the area...
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dabears54
Junior Member
Pressure Pursue & Punish
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Post by dabears54 on Apr 9, 2009 9:50:48 GMT -6
The school that I started coaching at in 3 years (I was there for 3 years) had 3 pro athletes. One in the NFL, one in the NBA, and one in MLB. I coached 2 of the 3. But you're right...the HS I graduated from, I bet we don't have 1 in any professional sport.
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Post by videocoach on Apr 9, 2009 11:34:00 GMT -6
touchdownmaker - you wrote the kid played JV last year. What year in school is he? Asking this because sometimes a kid can have a sudden growth spurt from 5' 3" and 115 lbs to 6' 3" and 215 lbs. in a matter of time. I know during my years in high school I was 5' 11" my sophomore year and grew 5 inches at the start of my junior year.
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Post by coachd5085 on Apr 9, 2009 16:34:16 GMT -6
You mean like those who aspire to be college coaches?? you mean the profession that requires a 4 year degree and that (GA) allots tuition for a Masters? That sounds very similar to not getting a degree and pursuing a 'career' that cannot sustain a family and that only will last 2 or 3 years. You said a career that earns below the poverty line...which would collegiate coaching in many aspects. |
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Post by cjamerson on Apr 10, 2009 10:35:25 GMT -6
I honestly thought I had a kid that could have played significantly on Saturdays and maybe get some pro-looks. 6'4" 235lbs...was a freak of nature in our neck of the woods! Would have benefited from a collegiate weight program and maturation (he graduated from HS at age 17). He and his parents also think he can go pro...in basketball! Heck, I've always thought the odds of going pro in basketball were worse than football. They turned down several D-I football scholarships so he could play NAIA b-ball. Very disappointing. He's their 8th man...rarely gets any legitimate playing time!
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ccox16
Junior Member
Posts: 343
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Post by ccox16 on Apr 10, 2009 11:46:43 GMT -6
I honestly thought I had a kid that could have played significantly on Saturdays and maybe get some pro-looks. 6'4" 235lbs...was a freak of nature in our neck of the woods! Would have benefited from a collegiate weight program and maturation (he graduated from HS at age 17). He and his parents also think he can go pro...in basketball! Heck, I've always thought the odds of going pro in basketball were worse than football. They turned down several D-I football scholarships so he could play NAIA b-ball. Very disappointing. He's their 8th man...rarely gets any legitimate playing time! It is always sad when they turn down a D1 scholly for football because they think they have a chance to "go pro" in basketball. I wonder what him and his parents are thinking now about their decision. |
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Post by coachd5085 on Apr 10, 2009 13:43:50 GMT -6
I honestly thought I had a kid that could have played significantly on Saturdays and maybe get some pro-looks. 6'4" 235lbs...was a freak of nature in our neck of the woods! Would have benefited from a collegiate weight program and maturation (he graduated from HS at age 17). He and his parents also think he can go pro...in basketball! Heck, I've always thought the odds of going pro in basketball were worse than football. They turned down several D-I football scholarships so he could play NAIA b-ball. Very disappointing. He's their 8th man...rarely gets any legitimate playing time! It is always sad when they turn down a D1 scholly for football because they think they have a chance to "go pro" in basketball. I wonder what him and his parents are thinking now about their decision. A round of beers says that they are thinking that SOMEONE ELSE is screwing their kid. |
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Post by jgordon1 on Apr 10, 2009 15:16:21 GMT -6
you mean the profession that requires a 4 year degree and that (GA) allots tuition for a Masters? That sounds very similar to not getting a degree and pursuing a 'career' that cannot sustain a family and that only will last 2 or 3 years. You said a career that earns below the poverty line...which would collegiate coaching in many aspects. The thread seems to be changing a little so I would like to chime in here. I always felt like these guys that were D1 Ga's were purchasing or maybe investing in a lottery ticket. man if you can hit it you could be set for life. albeit w/ a ton of hard work. I don't want to be a name dropper but an NFL head coach and I were ga's together back in the early 80's., I'm still friendly with the guy, he's not but best friend but I think that if I needed something me might oblige (not a job) anyway. we got to drinkin over a couple of cool ones and he told me hey jgordon1, I've been very lucky in my career, I,ve kept my mouth shut and I worked hard it was luck. I was talking w/ an sec HC last year and he basically said the same thing, only he thought he could narrow it down to one particular play that his team won in an overtime game on national tv, again he said it was luck. I know a Pac 10 HC not my friend but was a coach in the same league that I used to coach in bac in the day. I can remember him saying he was worried aboout getting fired after their first team qb got beat up, well #2 goes down and in comes #3 and literally lights the world on fire (no it's not Doug Flutie). The difference between him and the other coaches on his staff.. non that I could tell. Hey to me I'd rather earn my lottery ticket tahn buy one. I was one of the lucky ones. I actually had a job that could support a family pretty comftable. I am currently only making about $10,000 more than what I made in 1997. Thatbeing said there are some DII coaching jobs like the the Pennsylvania conference that pay decent at the coordinator level. these jobs are state jobs thatalso provide a pension. IMO, You just have to work hard, keep your mouth shut and gey some luck. An understanding wife helps alot too |
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Post by coachnap1987 on Apr 10, 2009 15:34:36 GMT -6
I coached in a smaller arena leauge. It was ligit tho. I will tell you this. You would be suprised the gentic freaks you get walking in on tryout day compared to some that have college referals and playing time. Our best athlete that year didnt even play football in high school. That guy was 100 % RAW. The higher up levels wouldnt even look at him because they said no past playing time at college. I ll tell you this too, they missed out, the guy didnt even belong in our leauge he made everyone look silly.
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hoosier
Sophomore Member
Posts: 176
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Post by hoosier on Apr 10, 2009 17:00:43 GMT -6
well you never know. sometimes a grocery bagger will turn into a super bowl MVP. (kurt warner) but is the Arena League even around anymore?
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Post by coachnap1987 on Apr 10, 2009 22:24:27 GMT -6
The one I coached in yes. Very succesful too, many CFL or AFL or AFL2 guys play in it, sometimes you get an EX- NFL guy the year I coached Omar Jacobs was a QB for the Florence Team.
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Apr 12, 2009 12:08:20 GMT -6
Today he told me "I will play in the Arena league someday" which is the first time in my life I have ever heard a player say something like that.
I put it to him plainly "youd better run at least a 4.6 then or they wont even look at you" because the lad is all of about 5 foot 3 and 115 pounds maybe. He runs about a 5.6 right now.
he does lift hard (now) and has started running (with encouragement) and honestly, if this is what it takes to get the kid to work - WHO THE HECK AM I TO RAIN ON HIS PARADE?
Sounds a lot like me 25 years ago (except I was heavier...I wrestled 132 as a soph.). I had the same ambitions/delusions. I was encouraged... mostly encouraged to take a peek at reality. A lot of people told me there was "no way" I would ever play on the varsity (I attended a 5A school)... let alone beyond that.
25 years later... I never made it to the NFL (or CFL... or AFL- arena just had started with 4 teams). What we needed was about 10 more leagues. Still, I was a two-way starter in HS- earned all-conf. as a senior and played all through college (lettered 3 years- HM all-conf in my last year), and have spent my entire professional life coaching football. Had I listened to reason 25 years ago, I might be the night manager of a 7-11 right now...
"Hitch your wagon to a star" (Emerson). I never made it to the star... but I'm still enjoying life "in the clouds".
It seems like you are handling this well...
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Post by coachcb on Apr 12, 2009 12:43:06 GMT -6
I think that you can give him a dose of positive, honest reality. Let him know that if he keeps on working the way he is, he may play varsity, if he works hard enough on varsity and then he may be able to walk on/play small college football. If all of that pans out, he may have a shot at small time Arena football.
It's tough, but I don't even want to crush kids' dreams, especially when those dreams will motivate them to work harder and make themselves better.
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