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Post by poorbob on Nov 18, 2009 2:15:25 GMT -6
Hey guys. I love this board but haven't been on in months. The thing is I was extremely arrogant and naive back when I posted on here. I was just getting interested in coaching and spouted "the way" to do things that you guys, whom have years of experience, do every day. I basically quoted a couple coaches and argued all the time that that was the way it was done. I know now that coaching is about philosophies on a lot of different issues. No one philosophy is right, but just the way someone might do things. Anyway, point is that now I'm back and am extremely appreciative of all the knowledge you guys bring to the football community. I read smartfootball.com every time it's updated, bookmarked a ton of articles for reading, and am looking at other resources online as well. I guess I should explain who I am and what I need from you guys. My name is Trevor and I'm currently a first year student at Texas Tech. I'm trying to get into the coaching profession and am slotted to be a Student Assistant starting this Spring due in no small part to being obsessive with trying to get ahold of people. I played football in HS, but not a ton. I started focussing more on academics. I'm not trying to be arrogant, but to let you get to know me better, I'm just being honest by saying I'm very smart. I definitely could have gone to better schools than Texas Tech academically, but I felt comfortable there and it met my needs with football, since I've been a fan since childhood and am a big Leach fan. I have a great capacity for hard work and determination. Basically, I'll work as hard as I have to to be the best. Imo, I will be great, it's just a matter of time and hard work. I'm not trying to boast, I'm trying to explain that while I'm young, I'm smart enough and highly motivated to handle the things I need to in order to progress rapidly. What I'm trying to do is become a lot like Ernie Adams of Patriots fame. sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=adams I identify with a lot of the qualities associated with him, but the thing I lack is access to all the books and film he went through as a kid. I might have access to that type of stuff, but I just don't know it. That's part of the reason I turned to this place. I need to know what I need to know from experienced coaches before I'm asked to prove myself with the Tech staff. I want to be the best, so I have to prepare better than anyone else. So with all that, what I'm asking is that if you guys have anything, and I mean ANYTHING, you think would be helpful in my quest for knowledge, if you could bring that to my attention, I would greatly, greatly appreciate it. I already have a ton of books and DVDs, but if I only gain one more resource out of all of this, it would be worth it. I know you all can't say, "Check out all these books," but even if you said something like, "Make sure you know about so and so's defense of the '40s" or this or that aspect of WR fundamentals, it would be helpful. Thank you very much. |
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Post by John Knight on Nov 18, 2009 6:10:39 GMT -6
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Post by julien on Nov 18, 2009 7:09:22 GMT -6
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Post by brophy on Nov 18, 2009 8:25:22 GMT -6
good luck.
Honestly, I'd say you have the best opportunity as a student assistant (work your way to a GA) as anyone on this board, so just keep grinding. I don't know if there is a book or whatever to give you the magic bean of "football knowledge". I am ASSUMING that you are doing this because you are eager and that you don't want to just show up green and ignorant and you want to have some understanding of what is going on. That is understandable. However, I would almost caution against this because you don't want to ingrain yourself with "your way" as the only way to do something, when you're in the midst of a grand learning opportunity (causing you to be more closed-minded than had you not learned about a particular system, whatever).
Just remember, god gave you twice as many ears as he did mouths.....meaning, listen more than you talk. Soak it all up. It doesn't matter how much you know, just how much you hustle.
Good luck
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Post by morris on Nov 18, 2009 8:42:01 GMT -6
Funny thing is I was going to refernce something from that book before I looked at the link. In that book Gruden was asked to chart every time a team used the veer scheme while he was a GA at UT. The thing was he had no clue what a veer scheme was. He had to ask Fulhmer to explain it to him. My point with that is here is a guy that played QB all the way up through college and had no clue what the meaning of a term was. You do not have to know everything. You do not need to try to impress anyone with your knowledge. Impressive everyone with how hard your willing to work and how much your willing learn. General knowledge is more important along with everything Brophy explained. Listen, listen, listen. Watch everything you can get your hands on while there. Be around as many meetings as you can while there. There is a ton of people that would KILL to be in your position right now. |
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Post by gacoach on Nov 18, 2009 14:38:02 GMT -6
I'd go to any clinic, Glazier, Nike, etc., to listen and make connections. Try also going to some of the smaller local clinics where more high school coaches speak. They usually get into more depth on subjects....usually.
One more thing. Stop telling people how smart you. Most of the people on here have forgotten more football than you know.
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Post by poorbob on Nov 18, 2009 15:39:59 GMT -6
Thanks for the advice. What I got from it is more important than checking out a book or any other piece of info. Listen up and work hard. That's more impressive than anything I could know.
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Post by brophy on Nov 19, 2009 5:21:08 GMT -6
how about this?
Along with that, be mindful of where you are at. You are in a unique situation and if you DO tough it out a season (or two) in this capacity, keep your wits about you. It will likely be the WORST experience in your life if you don't put things into perspective. Know your role and where you fit in the program. You may be treated like a glorified gopher, but just keep grinding. It will pay off. The things you'll be able to absorb just by being a fly on the wall, or by observing HOW things are done are worth more than a dozen years of Glazier clinics.
Pace yourself. Enjoy your college years. The main thing anyone cares about (especially at the college level) is your GRIND. This is probably one of the most refreshing things you'll be able to experience. It is cutthroat, but it isn't the pettiness of HS football (outside the state of Texas), where people only regard W/L records or teaching tenure.
If anything, I'd encourage you to journal. Try to brush up on basic things like practice plans, MS Office, and any other facets to make yourself a well-rounded administrative assistant.
Ernie Adams? Sounds like you have a good role model. That guy has 40 years of hustle in, though, he makes it look easy.
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Post by John Knight on Nov 19, 2009 6:17:37 GMT -6
Yeah, I went to college with a guy who no one thought was going to amount to much. Flunked out at Salem College then went to Iowa Wesleyan and didn't even register for school, played some basketball in Scottsdale AZ then decided to be a football player in Baker KS. Got into a GA program at Fort Hays KS and then learned to grind, worked with Jim Haslett at Pitt and worked the graveyard at the PA Turnpike. Just kept grinding, He is now the Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers.
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Post by pantherpride91 on Nov 19, 2009 6:27:29 GMT -6
Try and find a couple of people that you truly trust and they trust in you.
By this, I mean guys that you know will be there no matter the situation and will have your back when in a pinch. I can not speak to fact on the college level, but I assume its even worse than hs, but one of the keys to getting places is latching onto good people.
Find guys that are willing and have the ability to teach you the nuances of the game, something no book will ever be able to do. I have learned that there are so many things in coaching football that you just have to learn by doing. You may be able to x and o on paper, but until you translate it to game situations it really does not mean much.
Lastly, and going on what gacoach said, do not tell people how smart you are. In the beginning, just shut up and listen. Even if you are just trying to explain your situation, no coach, and this is all the way down to the high school level, will bring a guy in that he believes is going to show him or the program up.
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Post by oguru on Nov 19, 2009 6:50:37 GMT -6
Yeah, I went to college with a guy who no one thought was going to amount to much. Flunked out at Salem College then went to Iowa Wesleyan and didn't even register for school, played some basketball in Scottsdale AZ then decided to be a football player in Baker KS. Got into a GA program at Fort Hays KS and then learned to grind, worked with Jim Haslett at Pitt and worked the graveyard at the PA Turnpike. Just kept grinding, He is now the Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers. Being from Wisconsin. Most Packer fans would hear this and say no wonder McCarthy is such a BUM. LOL I like him as a coach. Unfortunately he will be ever known for telling #4 to GET LOST. Good luck kid bust tour ass,and work hard and learn a thing or two along the way. I started out as a student assistant and by year by my fourth year. I was on the 61/2 yr plan I was the full time RB coach as a student assistant and went to three national titles. Winning the third one. Will always remember that one for the rest of my life. |
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Post by John Knight on Nov 19, 2009 7:05:10 GMT -6
oguru, believe or not I was a Packer fan before Mike got the job and could not believe that he forgot who I was and Salem is not even on his resume. I will be a Packer Fan when he and TT are gone. Go Pack Go! My point is he has made it and even if he gets the boot he will coach somewhere. Not bad for a cop's son from Pittsburgh. Top Row, #2  |
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Post by casec11 on Nov 19, 2009 7:58:00 GMT -6
oguru, believe or not I was a Packer fan before Mike got the job and could not believe that he forgot who I was and Salem is not even on his resume. I will be a Packer Fan when he and TT are gone. Go Pack Go! My point is he has made it and even if he gets the boot he will coach somewhere. Not bad for a cop's son from Pittsburgh. Top Row, #2 Wheres your pic? Poorbob, I will also say don't state how smart you are, let others form that opinion for themselves |
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Post by John Knight on Nov 19, 2009 8:38:30 GMT -6
My picture has nothing to do with this thread.
LOL!!!!!!
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Post by spartancoach on Nov 19, 2009 9:40:53 GMT -6
Work on being perceived from day 1 as "Mr. Reliable." Nothing is worse then when a student assistant, assistant coach, player or anyone else for that matter is asked to take care of something, and instead produces an excuse or explanation for why it wasn't done. Whether it is charting plays, breaking down film or getting coffee for a coaches meeting, do whatever is asked of you enthusiastically, timely and perfectly.
Also, do not offer advice or your "football knowledge" unless asked or you are sure your input is welcomed. As a OC at the HS level, I cannot begin to tell how annoying it is when a student assistant approaches me about how we need "the wildcat." I suspect at a level like TT, such unsolicited suggestions will not be well received. As others have said, listen, don't talk.
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Post by poorbob on Nov 20, 2009 0:52:15 GMT -6
Thanks guys. About stating that I'm smart, I was only trying to show that I have the capacity to learn. In hindsight, it was stupid. I would never dream of telling anyone at TT that. Also, I wouldn't dream of suggesting anything without being asked. No matter what I know, just by experience I know much less than a HS assistant. I'm definitely going to be a fly on the wall and try to soak up everything. Also, even if all I do is get coffee for three years, there's no way it would be a bad experience. I will love it, no matter what low-level role I have. Thanks again.
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Post by John Knight on Nov 20, 2009 6:12:50 GMT -6
Ask Coach Leach how much he liked Mt Pleasant Iowa? That is where he and Mumme first started the Air Raid stuff. My wife is from Mt P and her brother played at Iowa Wesleyan before Mumme came there. Coach Mumme once told me that he enjoyed his time in Iowa as much as anywhere he has been. It just didn't pay well enough to stay there. The job is open BTW if anyone is interested.
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Post by brophy on Nov 20, 2009 6:42:44 GMT -6
good luck, bob.....and a fitting moniker if you're going to be a student assistant. Here's to hoping you're lucky with the ladies, at least
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Post by jpdaley25 on Nov 20, 2009 8:24:13 GMT -6
In my younger days I was all about learning the fundamentals of every position and I neglected studying the offensive and defensive schemes that they fit into.
I didn't understand that certain fundamental techniques didn't apply to every scheme. I thought what we were doing was the best way and what we taught was the right way.
If I could go back, I would do a much better job of learning the big picture as well as the details.
Good Luck!
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Post by morris on Nov 20, 2009 9:53:43 GMT -6
good luck, bob.....and a fitting moniker if you're going to be a student assistant. Here's to hoping you're lucky with the ladies, at least I just keep hearing "fat little girl friends" when I read that. |
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