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Post by rcole on Nov 4, 2009 23:22:09 GMT -6
I've been going back to the oldest pages of threads and reading some of the discussions from the early days. Tog did such a great job promoting the site and I got on and read as a guest pretty early on in the first few months. I signed up in May of 2006 and really didn't contribute much until about a year ago. Over the years I would read daily for a few months and then take a month off...for no particular reason...lately I am a daily, throughout the day, reader and poster.
Having read the board from the early days I found it interesting to see some of the older discussions of some of the same topics we still discuss. I also noticed that the biggest contributors now were mostly around back then too. As I read through old threads I saw some names that I remember being big contributors, at least in terms of participating in discussions, who are not around anymore. Some are no longer "live" links to profiles, some just haven't logged in in over a year. It got me to wondering what happened to some of these guys. Did they lose interest, change careers, or just change user-names? Names like coachcalende, boblucy, wildcat, and lots of others...Where are they now?
What is the story of the evolution of this board and of this community? What periods or events have shifted the membership? In taking the occasional month off over the years I know I have missed some things. As a History/Social Studies guy I find things like this interesting.
Couple of other thoughts. What the heck is an invisible user?
Where are we now as a community of coaches (on this board)? Where are we going?
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Post by morris on Nov 5, 2009 7:27:51 GMT -6
coachcalende is on the board now under touchdownmaker. Some people may not be coaching any more. Some do not do much until the off season.
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Post by brophy on Nov 5, 2009 10:37:42 GMT -6
Yeah a lot of good stuff from years gone by. The (knowledge) EXPLOSION and degree of networking on here has been unreal  it is that humility and directed focus of Huey & tog that have made this a wonderful advancement of the game. FYI - this is probably my all-time favorite post (that really needs to be repeated every few months in the offensive section)
why don't you ever hear about a "blocking tree" and how people use those #'s to call their blocking schemes?
why do we name our run plays (counter, lead, etc.) but number our pass plays (297, 999, etc.)? don't the numbers in the run game pretty much indicate the direction or side that is playside? why couldn't we have a passing system that follows along the same lines -- use a number to inidicate protection & "playside" before a name -- pretty much like we do with our run game?
how many pass schemes do you really need? is 10 overall schemes plenty? so, memorizing the tree is no more lengthy than memorizing your route for 10 schemes.
do you have more than 10 actual routes? so how do you indicate those with only 10 numbers in tree? You pointed out that it has evolved...and I think that is most important. Because of the way it was set up, it wasn't a self-fellating enterprise of hero-worship.....it was "here it is....lets talk about it" approach, just like a coaches meeting (as compared to a coaching clinic). That method has allowed it to adapt to fit the needs of the contributors, and not the other way around. It causes it to remain fresh and not stagnant with the same people always posting the very same things. The more, newer, unkonwn faces, the better. When it first started there were more basic threads as I recall....about scheme, which made the weekly WhiteBoard (thursday night) sessions in the off-season so valuable. Then through 2006, it was about the explosion of the DW materials and AR. 2007 added the youth and technology (if I remember) and various threads about Hawaii's R&S as well as pages upon pages dedicated to the TFS. 2008 was all about A-11 and the 3-3 defense and film trades (and infractions). As it has evolved, new changes in discussions take place, with less focus on scheme now and more to do with player teaching and program management. After the season, there is an especially quiet lull around January - March, and picks up again in April. What is interesting is tracing the lineage (I suppose) of how folks get here, and how the original folks came from oldcoach.com / jc8b / toby's ....and what football coaching on the Internet was like before Huey's. |
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Post by amikell on Nov 5, 2009 13:12:56 GMT -6
I've been on here since the beginning (well close to it anyway) and I can safely say that this has been my #1 resource and reference site.
I was never on toby's board or oldcoach, but was on jc8b (I assume you mean jerry campbell). I think I found this site through let'stalkdefense.com
Remember the days of having to visit 8 different message boards to find the info you wanted or the discussions you were in? Back in my day....
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Post by Coach Goodnight on Nov 5, 2009 13:36:40 GMT -6
I found this site from a post by a member of coachesaid's oklahoma football forum before it went to pay to post.
I have learned some things from people like Brophy, kw, tog, huey, OJW and many others as well. I promote this site every chance I get and am glad to be a member. Good job and keep up the good work to all who contribute!
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Fridge
Sophomore Member
Re-Building the Bocholt Rhinos (18+) in Germany for 2024.
Posts: 148 
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Post by Fridge on Nov 6, 2009 8:16:22 GMT -6
I´m here since April 2006. I am coaching youth football in Germany, so there are so many things I am not aware of. Not only tactics (which I guess swap over much faster now, than 3-5 years ago), but of course your high-school football system. Dealing with principals, coaching for money, dealing with old-school (or call ´em traditional) coaches who risk their team with their old-school thinking and stuff like this.
So I always feel like a 5yr-old watching his dad doing something he enjoys, when I read your posts here. I think I know something you´re talking about, and sometimes I feel like "better don´t write, this will look dumb."
I always found coaches, who wanted to help me, if I got some issues, and I never felt as a stranger around here (although I pretty much am, knowledge-wise and from a nationality-standpoint).
Thanks everyone for making this board special.
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Post by bmarsh07 on Nov 6, 2009 16:10:37 GMT -6
I was recommending this site to a couple of my players the other day, and one asked how I came upon it- and for the life of me, I can't recall how I found this place. And I've been here since Jul of 2006- I didn't realize the board was so new then- I assumed it had been here QUITE a while.
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Post by coachmacplains on Nov 6, 2009 16:29:42 GMT -6
You pointed out that it has evolved...and I think that is most important. Because of the way it was set up, it wasn't a self-fellating enterprise of hero-worship.....it was "here it is....lets talk about it" approach, just like a coaches meeting (as compared to a coaching clinic). That method has allowed it to adapt to fit the needs of the contributors, and not the other way around. It causes it to remain fresh and not stagnant with the same people always posting the very same things. The more, newer, unkonwn faces, the better. I think this captures it for me. It's a great place to exchange ideas. I believe my first post had to do with what to do about having two very good backs, and what would others do...I don't remember all the particulars; the response I got was practical stuff. I do remember that it germinated some ideas for where we went with our offense, one of which was adding midline to our option oriented offense. (Maybe some of you wouldn't think that very practical -  I appreciate many of the ideas on this board; you catch nuggets here and there from simply taking in and considering what others have learned during their time in the game. To me, that is its usefullness. |
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Post by coachorr on Nov 6, 2009 16:43:35 GMT -6
coachcalende is on the board now under touchdownmaker. Some people may not be coaching any more. Some do not do much until the off season. Morris, That is some great info. I have wondered were Calende has been for almost a year and a half, little did I know his new identity. I used to always enjoy his discussion on the facemelter offense and man coverage. Thks |
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Post by utchuckd on Nov 6, 2009 18:02:53 GMT -6
When it first started there were more basic threads as I recall....about scheme, which made the weekly WhiteBoard (thursday night) sessions in the off-season so valuable. Then through 2006, it was about the explosion of the DW materials and AR. Hey brophy, don't forget those early discussions on platooning! They might not have been as abundant as the DW threads, but there was some good stuff in there. I also remember kw's zone threads from way back when. Good stuff! |
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Post by tog on Nov 6, 2009 19:15:53 GMT -6
I am still addicted. I just don't post as much anymore. There is a conscious effort amongst staff to not "overlord" the board with perceived football knowledge. Other boards have died that way with one or two posters being the end all/be all final answer. We started this board with the antithesis of that in mind.
The many many many ways of thinking here are awesome. It allows a doublewing guy to think about how he can use an air raid concept. It allows for the opposite. It allows for thinking as opposed to copying by rote.
I have read all of the "religious texts" of football. I still like seeing mixtures and interpretations of those things that allow me as a coach to take absolute full advantage of the best talents of the players that I will have from year to year.
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Post by julien on Nov 7, 2009 8:19:16 GMT -6
I´m here since April 2006. I am coaching youth football in Germany, so there are so many things I am not aware of. Not only tactics (which I guess swap over much faster now, than 3-5 years ago), but of course your high-school football system. Dealing with principals, coaching for money, dealing with old-school (or call ´em traditional) coaches who risk their team with their old-school thinking and stuff like this. So I always feel like a 5yr-old watching his dad doing something he enjoys, when I read your posts here. I think I know something you´re talking about, and sometimes I feel like "better don´t write, this will look dumb." I always found coaches, who wanted to help me, if I got some issues, and I never felt as a stranger around here (although I pretty much am, knowledge-wise and from a nationality-standpoint). Thanks everyone for making this board special. I should have write that! Execpt that I am a French coach. |
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Post by justryn2 on Nov 7, 2009 14:34:23 GMT -6
I've only been on this board since Feb '08 but I think its one of the best coaching resources on the net. I'm just thankful for the many brilliant coaches who take the time to share their thoughts and experiences here with those of us who have so much to learn.
Thank you tog, coachhuey, brophy, spreadattack, phantom, coachdoug, dsqa, dcohio, bobgoodman, OJW, touchdownmaker, and all of the many, many others I'm leaving out for making this site such a valuable resource for guys like me who are trying to give their teams the best possible chance to compete. What you do for us and for our teams is greatly appreciated.
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Post by coachorr on Nov 8, 2009 2:54:25 GMT -6
This is why I could not find it, it was relocated up here. Great thread. Good to think about all the short memories. Thanks to all for making me better.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Nov 8, 2009 4:53:17 GMT -6
I think in the time that coachhueys has been around I have been:
"in a year off" , a middle school head coach, a varsity assistant and a varsity head coach....
theres some history here.
I miss the white board discussions quite a bit but currently I get far more out of PROGRAM and PLAYER/COACH management discussions than any of the old x and os talks of the past.
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Post by phantom on Nov 8, 2009 10:56:29 GMT -6
I'm an old head from Toby's. I miss the old whiteboard chats and would love to see them revived in the offseason.
I also spend most of my time on the General board. Two things keep me off of the Defense boards: personally, I don't like hypotheticals; secondly, I've answered these questions before. It seems to me that this happens with message boards veterans- you can only answer the same question so many times.
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Post by coachorr on Nov 8, 2009 12:40:54 GMT -6
So phantom, how do you teach your run fits out of cover four against TF spread team?  Seriously, I have to agree with TD maker, the program management threads and scenarios have been invaluable. But, even more important I think is the ability I have to answer any question I have almost immediately, whether it is through searching or asking. I think that is awesome. |
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Post by bulldogoption on Nov 8, 2009 18:20:09 GMT -6
Sometimes, when I'm reading posts, especially wanting "answers", I wish that the posters had their position and years of experience listed next to them (that way I could get a proven idea).......but....... THAT is what this board is all about. Everybody's ideas are viewed equally regardless of title....it is our job as coaches to find the ideas that work best for us.
I know that this board has made me 1000x the coach I was....it helped me figure out what I DON"T know.
I'm sure that my story is similar to many posters on here and contributed to the explosion of knowledge. The board has evolved and become better as dumba$$es like me finally got a clue about coaching.
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Post by cqmiller on Nov 8, 2009 20:52:54 GMT -6
When I first got started coaching a few years back and wanted to start networking with other coaches, I can't believe I found this site. I don't remember where I first heard of it or how I stumbled across it, but I just know that it was one of the best things I've ever done. So many of you guys have helped me with making adjustments to what I thought was a pretty good system that I had, but have allowed me to make it much better due to the input and questions brought up by all the great coaches here.
Also on a personal note, I know that I have actually had the pleasure of meeting quite a few of the coaches on the board personally. We have had an opportunity to actually meet, put a face with a username, and do more than just talk football with you. I especially want to thank FBDOC and CASEC11 for showing my wife and I around Miami while we were on our honeymoon.
As most of you already know, my door and ear are always open to all of the great coaches on the board. If you are ever in the fresno, CA area, (usually people don't accidentally drive through here) you are more than welcome to contact me and can put you up for a few days if needed.
Hope to continue to get ideas, questions, and answers from all.
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Post by phantom on Nov 8, 2009 21:23:00 GMT -6
Sometimes, when I'm reading posts, especially wanting "answers", I wish that the posters had their position and years of experience listed next to them (that way I could get a proven idea).......but....... THAT is what this board is all about. Everybody's ideas are viewed equally regardless of title....it is our job as coaches to find the ideas that work best for us. . That's a big part of our philosophy here. We believe that each idea should be evaluated on its own merits not based on the pedigree of the poster. |
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Post by coachbdud on Nov 8, 2009 21:43:02 GMT -6
this site is amazing. I joined just after my first year of coaching ( i had just turned 19, 1 year into coaching, 1 year out of HS). I stumbled upon it by accident and i created an account because it was free and i wanted to see what was on it. BEST CHOICE EVER. I feel like i am wise beyond my years in coaching and i credit it all to this site. I have soaked up every thing i have gotten from this site, and the DVD trade feature it used to have was huge for me. I built a DVD library of 1 DVD into hundreds now. Its a great place because you can come here to help others out and receive help yourself. Whether you want info/advice on technique, scheme, weight lifting, program management, game management, or anything inbetween you can and will get help from men with decades of experience.
I explore this site everyday, ill admit that during the season i dont check it out too much. But in the offseason i am on here much more and this is what makes me a better coach each off-season
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hawke
Sophomore Member
Posts: 209
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Post by hawke on Nov 8, 2009 21:52:54 GMT -6
I'm much like phantom only a few years older (LOL). From Toby's to here and the transition is great. Some great info on here especially for an "old guy" like me. I do miss the whiteboard exchanges. It seems as though there are too many who wish to claim their way is the right way and it makes others stay away. 'This is my way, what is your way, there is no right way." I learned that a long time ago. An example is the backpedal/shuffle discussion. each has its merits. What fits you and yours best is the best in all phases of the game. The site is here to open eyes to new ideas, not to to justify what each of us is doing as the "correct" way. Thak you to all for what help you have given me.
Hawke
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Post by macwomac on Nov 9, 2009 11:34:13 GMT -6
this site is amazing. I joined just after my first year of coaching ( i had just turned 19, 1 year into coaching, 1 year out of HS). I stumbled upon it by accident and i created an account because it was free and i wanted to see what was on it. BEST CHOICE EVER. I feel like i am wise beyond my years in coaching and i credit it all to this site. I have soaked up every thing i have gotten from this site, and the DVD trade feature it used to have was huge for me. I built a DVD library of 1 DVD into hundreds now. Its a great place because you can come here to help others out and receive help yourself. Whether you want info/advice on technique, scheme, weight lifting, program management, game management, or anything inbetween you can and will get help from men with decades of experience. I explore this site everyday, ill admit that during the season i dont check it out too much. But in the offseason i am on here much more and this is what makes me a better coach each off-season This hit the nail on the head for me. I'm sure it's difficult, but we sure appreciate the balance the elder-statesmen find in re-answering questions and just sitting back. I tend to be more of a lurker as most of my questions get hashed out; then re-hashed several more times. It's great to get the multiple viewpoints from experienced coaches to some that are just getting started! |
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Post by Sparkey on Nov 9, 2009 11:51:20 GMT -6
Speaking of Toby's Page.....what happened to it???
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splitbacks
Probationary Member
OL/DL coach
Posts: 10
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Post by splitbacks on Nov 9, 2009 12:28:51 GMT -6
I was once known as Gatorball and playbooks were my big thing. I got into some discussions on other info as well. I was sorry to see Huey take down the playbook link, but too many lurkers and law breakers ruined it for us all
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Post by rcole on Nov 9, 2009 13:30:10 GMT -6
Now Gatorball I know. How many other posters have changed their names? Those of you who have, what prompted the change?
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Post by tog on Nov 9, 2009 19:15:03 GMT -6
playbooks trade is still there
it isn't given out to people that just want to take however
gotta earn it---and we are not talking about real money here
just talking legit---no inflated post count bs
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Post by dubber on Nov 10, 2009 8:09:28 GMT -6
I am still addicted. I just don't post as much anymore. There is a conscious effort amongst staff to not "overlord" the board with perceived football knowledge. Other boards have died that way with one or two posters being the end all/be all final answer. We started this board with the antithesis of that in mind. The many many many ways of thinking here are awesome. It allows a doublewing guy to think about how he can use an air raid concept. It allows for the opposite. It allows for thinking as opposed to copying by rote. I have read all of the "religious texts" of football. I still like seeing mixtures and interpretations of those things that allow me as a coach to take absolute full advantage of the best talents of the players that I will have from year to year. I think it's great that many of us "plebian" posters feel the freedom to challenge the mods.... If tog says something I think is wrong, I can call him out on it, without fear of my account being deleted. That, allows for a more fluid, more honest exchange. |
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Post by brophy on Nov 11, 2009 8:03:49 GMT -6
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Post by coachorr on Nov 12, 2009 2:57:14 GMT -6
Interesting. I think a better question is, "What keeps you coming back?"
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I appreciate many of the ideas on this board; you catch nuggets here and there from simply taking in and considering what others have learned during their time in the game. To me, that is its usefullness.
