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Post by airraider on Dec 22, 2011 16:35:56 GMT -6
I know in this profession alot of us spend most of the time thinking about how great of a coach we are... But... What are your weaknesses? Things you need to work on as this off season progresses? I tend to pay more attention to the big picture and not enough on details... and it shows in our execution... that crap always looks good on paper! My past 3 years as a HC, I have allowed a subpar assistant to coach Oline when I knew I should have been doing it... but was too stubborn to take my hand off the skill guys... this caused us to suffer in oline play. I am too much of a pushover... by pretty much everyone... With even a half way believable excuse I allow kids to miss. I allow coaches to roll with things even though I have a deep down feeling that we should do it a different way. I need a lot of work on organization skills... My desk gets far too cluttered with stuff and I lose stuff. I need to learn to delegate more... I try to take on too much... no reason a HC should be filling up water coolers on Friday nights... In games I need to pay more attention to what the other team is doing instead of watching the game. I need to make my self spend more time on the non game related stuff.. more work on field and such... I tend to forget about the past far too easy... I need to work harder to self scout and grade the past week's game... currently once sat morning hits I rarely watch film from "last night".. the key to tomorrow lies in door from yesterday...
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Post by coachbdud on Dec 22, 2011 17:39:12 GMT -6
great topic coach
I am always working to minimize, everything looks good on paper to me... I am always fighting with myself on... well what if we just added this, at some point it becomes too much and I KNOW IT, I PREACH IT, but I am a womanizer of football plays, they are all just so sexy
I need to demand more, year round... Last year I was too loose with the weight room, that is changing
with my OL group last year there were times were i had less intensity at practice and we suffered, the kids gave less intensity in drills and team, and we played worse as a unit. The times when I was super intense all week, we played much better. So if it means I have to take a 5 hour energy shot everyday before practice then so be it, but I have to keep my intensity up
I am always looking to become a better teacher of basic OL skills... down blocks, pulls, pass pro ... all of it
I think I make major strides in this area every year, scheme stuff is easy... anyone can get playbooks, but the teaching of skills, and getting your kids to move their kids is all football is. When I look back to when I started at age 18, I didnt know crap, I thought I did, but I didnt know crap. In another few years I'll probably look back at myself now (23) and think OMG what an idiot
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Post by cqmiller on Dec 22, 2011 18:25:32 GMT -6
Delegation of responsibility...
This being my 1st year as a HC, I had a guy that was going to be my DC but he was offered a better teaching job closer to home not long before the season started. I had to take over the defense. So in my 1st year as a HC, I was the OC, DC, and STC. Each morning I ran the weightroom at 5:30 AM and study hall from 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM. Who supervised all the fundraisers... me.
I guess in my past experiences as an assistant, I was always the only one on staff that the HC could count on to get anything done, so I did everything that the HC couldn't get done. I'm trying to train some of my assistants to take on more responsibility, but I know that I will have a hard time trusting that it will get done RIGHT.
Hopefully I get better at it this offseason as I move into my 2nd year as a HC.
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Post by cqmiller on Dec 22, 2011 18:28:12 GMT -6
great topic coach I am always working to minimize, everything looks good on paper to me... I am always fighting with myself on... well what if we just added this, at some point it becomes too much and I KNOW IT, I PREACH IT, but I am a womanizer of football plays, they are all just so sexy I need to demand more, year round... Last year I was too loose with the weight room, that is changing with my OL group last year there were times were i had less intensity at practice and we suffered, the kids gave less intensity in drills and team, and we played worse as a unit. The times when I was super intense all week, we played much better. So if it means I have to take a 5 hour energy shot everyday before practice then so be it, but I have to keep my intensity up I am always looking to become a better teacher of basic OL skills... down blocks, pulls, pass pro ... all of it I think I make major strides in this area every year, scheme stuff is easy... anyone can get playbooks, but the teaching of skills, and getting your kids to move their kids is all football is. When I look back to when I started at age 18, I didnt know crap, I thought I did, but I didnt know crap. In another few years I'll probably look back at myself now (23) and think OMG what an idiot You can always come out here to UT and I can work on my delegation skills by giving you some responsibility. I'm in the process of making a heavy push this clinic season to find 3-4 more coaches who can help out our staff. Mine is very inexperienced but eager to learn.
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Post by coachwoodall on Dec 22, 2011 18:30:50 GMT -6
Tall, long legged red heads.
Sorry couldn't resist.
I don't consider these weaknessess, but rather 'struggles'.... semantics, I know....
- Trying to do too much - Assuming kids know what I know - Being flexible IE once I make up my mind on 'this is what we should/shouldn't be doing' I struggle with deviating from that assumption. - organization
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raiderx
Sophomore Member
Posts: 222
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Post by raiderx on Dec 22, 2011 18:31:25 GMT -6
I have to work on the passing game and how to attack defenses with it. I am on OLine guy and run is my baby...pass pro is easy for me but the route combos and how to use them against a defense etc... are still a weak point for me.
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Post by mariner42 on Dec 22, 2011 18:51:20 GMT -6
My biggest issue this year was that I let one of my assistants push me around. I hated myself every time, but he was such a manipulative, aggressive, and confrontational son of a bitch that I caved consistently.
Speaking to the bigger picture, I have a hard time reconciling all the aspects of my personality into something consistent. I'm goofy, laid back, and more than a little sarcastic, but I find those things to be conflicting with traits that I see from a lot of top coaches (specifically defensive coaches), notably being focused, detail oriented, and intense.
I'm also streaky. I work in furious bursts where I get a lot done, and then I get distracted by something else. I read through 4-5 books on something in the span of two weeks, then don't touch it for a month because I'm learning something else. I've the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel. I'm totally absorbed into my current acorn and OH LOOK! SHINY!!!
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Post by grouchy71 on Dec 22, 2011 19:14:14 GMT -6
My biggest issue this year was that I let one of my assistants push me around. I hated myself every time, but he was such a manipulative, aggressive, and confrontational son of a {censored} that I caved consistently. Speaking to the bigger picture, I have a hard time reconciling all the aspects of my personality into something consistent. I'm goofy, laid back, and more than a little sarcastic, but I find those things to be conflicting with traits that I see from a lot of top coaches (specifically defensive coaches), notably being focused, detail oriented, and intense. I'm also streaky. I work in furious bursts where I get a lot done, and then I get distracted by something else. I read through 4-5 books on something in the span of two weeks, then don't touch it for a month because I'm learning something else. I've the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel. I'm totally absorbed into my current acorn and OH LOOK! SHINY!!! Relate big-time to this post Mariner. I didn't have any problems getting pushed around this season (my 1st as HC), but I'm real aware that it's a danger for me, I'm still learning how to manage coaches and my personality sounds similar to yours, so I know I need to try to guard against this. I know what you mean about the non-traditional personality too, though I'm starting to think more and more that just because I'm not the over-caffeinated, screaming jackass type, doesn't mean that I'm not effective as a coach. There's no one way to skin a cat, and styles are always evolving. I know my head coach wouldn't be able to coach the way he did 20 years ago if he were still in the business these days, and even if he did, it wouldn't work that well. Anyhow, my weaknesses... not demanding more from assistants as far as keeping up the energy at the end of the season. Too many offensive wrinkles in the gameplan for our playoff game. Short-changed special teams as the year went on. I'm sure there's many more, but that's at the top of my head. Great topic, Grouch
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Post by cwaltsmith on Dec 22, 2011 21:01:34 GMT -6
This is a great topic. I beleive uncluttering my desk is the biggest problem. lol. seriously though... i completely have the problem of adding too much. micro managing. and mariner my advice to you take it or leave it.... be who you are... Who cares what the prototype big time coach acts like. You are who you are. If you try to be someone else it wont work. Work to better yourself, and learn from mistakes, but be true to yourself. Anyway, good stuff to read
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Post by carookie on Dec 22, 2011 23:58:03 GMT -6
1) I have no coaching pedigree. I never played college ball, never had a mentor coach who taught me his system, I just kinda figured it out. Which is good in someways, but hurts me in others. Particularly when there are coaches who use their knowledge of vernacular to talk over my head in an attempt to win arguments.
2) Like most, I have a hard time delegating. I work with some good coaches, but there are times I'll wander over to their drills and start coaching up myself. Our HC has got on me about delegating more, but I'm never overwhelmed with the work load. But I guess it must be a problem because even here I am trying to justify it.
3) I've never coached QBs. As a DC that may not seem like much, but if I ever HC I feel like I need to better learn passing fundamentals (ditto for kickers).
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Post by julien on Dec 23, 2011 0:21:21 GMT -6
Again, great topic Coach...
I need to be more flexible.
I need to be better at teaching my ideas to the coaching staff.
I need to focus more on details on the game field (I "watch" to much)
I need to be better at teaching fundamentals.
I need to improve my defense knowledge.
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Post by Defcord on Dec 23, 2011 9:25:09 GMT -6
Great topic...
My biggest problem this year as my first year as a head coach with a whole new staff was I didn't want to step on anyone's toes that I hired. I didn't get involved as much as I probably should have on the defensive side of the ball. I love our DC but he probably needed some more help that I didn't provide.
Also I have a hard time asking for help. Like someone else said the head coach shouldn't be carrying/filling up water bottles and those sorts of things. But if no one else volunteered I just did it.
Football wise I probably have a lot to work on!!!
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Post by coachhart on Dec 23, 2011 10:01:04 GMT -6
Mine is definitely line play on both sides of the ball. Even though I was an OC at my last stop, the HC was also the OL coach so I didn't get too involved in the pass pro and it was a detriment to my time there. I understood the basics of the run game, but logic from a pass first school to a run first school has really helped me learn about that. D-line is a foreign concept to me, but our DL coach and I are exchanging thoughts since he has no idea about the passing game.
Delegation is one of my biggest weaknesses as well. In the teaching world, I'm the PE department chair and I just say "screw it" and do most of the work myself (creating common assessments, data entry, etc). Something my principal definitely wants me to improve!
The great thing about identifying your weakness as a coach are that you know whatto work on!
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Post by airraider on Dec 23, 2011 11:09:40 GMT -6
I think this topic is good for a few reasons... and I would really like for a lot more people to join in..
It helps us all see that our weaknesses are shared by a good many in the profession...
It also allows us to reflect and actually uncover things that we may be too proud to actually consider a weakness.
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Post by jgordon1 on Dec 23, 2011 11:14:53 GMT -6
I need to get better at holding my coaches responsible for things I delegate to them..I feel that I am sometime an enabler..example...one coach is responsible to bringing the play charts to the game so we can write down the play..i bet this coach forgot at least 1/2 the time...of course, me being me, i always had a few extra and just told the coach hey remember to bring them next time...
I need to get better w/ equipment issues..i delagate this but then I don't have a handle of what we need
I need to get better dealing w/ managers..again this is sometihing I delegate but ultimnately I am responsible for
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Post by airraider on Dec 23, 2011 11:33:34 GMT -6
I need to get better at holding my coaches responsible for things I delegate to them..I feel that I am sometime an enabler..example...one coach is responsible to bringing the play charts to the game so we can write down the play..i bet this coach forgot at least 1/2 the time...of course, me being me, i always had a few extra and just told the coach hey remember to bring them next time... I need to get better w/ equipment issues..i delagate this but then I don't have a handle of what we need I need to get better dealing w/ managers..again this is sometihing I delegate but ultimnately I am responsible for I understand you here.. I only had 2 assistants and both were off campus... Several times I "let" them meet us at the game.. which made me be the one who had to get EVERYTHING ready to depart... I spent several nights after home games rounding up the field (pileons, coolers, post pads, etc..) Left the field after practice several times to find that they had already jumped in the car and left before we could even have a chance to discuss practice... This ALL falls directly on my shoulders... because I allowed it all instead of putting my foot down... all in the name of not being an arse... you sometimes have to be an arse to get people to do what they should be doing.
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Post by pvogel on Dec 23, 2011 12:16:13 GMT -6
great thread. I think the trying to do too much in terms of plays is probably a problem for most of us. Especially young guys. We're all trying to see how much we can do and we want to be able to do a million things.
I'm still learning how to teach. Havent had a classroom job yet so all my teaching experience has came from football.
I also tend to be looking ahead to something in the future instead of whats going on now. Thats the case in life too. really need to focus on the now a lot more.
Im sure I'll think of more as I spend more time thinkin bout it.
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Post by calkayne on Dec 23, 2011 13:36:35 GMT -6
Networking, this is a hige weakness. There are so many ideas just a phone call away. For a coach in Europe this is even more important.
Self Scouting, I need to kick my own butt.
Fundamentals, my highest priority, for the first time in my coaching career it looks like I will be able to focus on my own unit.
Special Teams play, particularly punters and long snappers, without these you dont need to practice special teams.
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63razor
Sophomore Member
Posts: 218
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Post by 63razor on Dec 23, 2011 17:32:13 GMT -6
I really get what you are saying about the "Coaching Pedigree" I have kicked myself so many times for not going the small college route to play football in college when the opportunity was there I passed. The semantics and vernacular are getting easier though...
My other weaknesses...knowing when to let that assistant go and when to pull him back. As a DC at 36 one of my assistants was a former D1 player and 48. He had the communication skills to make it go, but limitations on knowledge. What an asset and what a killer...so I had figure that thing out. I screwed up at times...
Patience with that player I think should know, but he doesn't.
Understanding that the way one player learns it or gets it is different than the others.
Letting the kids play the game and not trying to be a chess master is a big one
I don't know enough about the OLine and I haven't coached a Quarter Back
I used to think coaching special teams was easy
My biggest, I come across to gruff even when I am trying to use tact!
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Post by TMGPG on Dec 23, 2011 18:44:57 GMT -6
For me, this is an easy question. I need to do a much better job of teaching and trusting my assistant coaches. I often will just take the road of "I'll do it myself" so that I know how things were taught and how the players took to it. The second thing that I am going to try to improve on this off-season is creating practice plans a little differently. Things always start to get stale toward the end of the season and I need to be able to fix that since the end of the season is when we need to be playing our best. Good Topic
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Post by coachtds on Dec 23, 2011 19:01:11 GMT -6
I find it really amazing that most of us are talking about our assistants. That is for sure my biggest weakness. My coaches are great guys with a decent amount of knowledge and I didn't want to over-ride something they may have taught or step on their toes. I assumed my OL coach knew how to coach the zone scheme I wanted in this year and he really didn't. We were good enough to get by but I was lazy with it, and probably did some of our players a disservice by not stepping in. Next year, I am taking over the OL.
I was also weak with my CBs and S's physicality when going up for a ball. Their reads were great, their coverage great, but then it was like they got super polite (thats what I call it). Drove me crazy. I'm getting some better drills for next year.
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Post by carookie on Dec 23, 2011 19:24:21 GMT -6
I find it really amazing that most of us are talking about our assistants. That is for sure my biggest weakness. My coaches are great guys with a decent amount of knowledge and I didn't want to over-ride something they may have taught or step on their toes. I assumed my OL coach knew how to coach the zone scheme I wanted in this year and he really didn't. We were good enough to get by but I was lazy with it, and probably did some of our players a disservice by not stepping in. Next year, I am taking over the OL. I was also weak with my CBs and S's physicality when going up for a ball. Their reads were great, their coverage great, but then it was like they got super polite (thats what I call it). Drove me crazy. I'm getting some better drills for next year. Its funny that you write that; something I've learned over the past couple years is that if I ever become the head guys I am coaching each of my coaches exactly what they are to do. I'm sure there'll be some toes stepped on, and some pushy coaches who fight back, but its what I'd do
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Post by tango on Dec 23, 2011 19:47:52 GMT -6
1. Secondary play 2. WR play 3. I hate special teams. 4. Weight room 5. Teaching how to break down film to my assistant coaches. 6. Being stubborn and trying to make a play work. 7. Spend to much time talking about administration. 8. Not very good with the new tech. stuff and not caring.
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Post by airraider on Dec 24, 2011 0:06:58 GMT -6
I cannot stress enough about the Oline deal...
My first year as HC... had a guy who has been sticking around as an off campus guy who worked security... had handled the equipment mostly and worked with the freshmen group... really knew NOTHING... he was my Oline coach.. 1-9 season...
Second year as HC... had a student from the local college who was an olineman in high school on a pretty terrible team. Him forgetting the assignments was common place. 3-7 season.
3rd year as HC... had another student from a local college who graduated from the school... had the fire, but not the knowledge.... miss at least a once a week for this or that dealing with school... 4-6 season...
4th year as HC... Im going to do it myself and teach someone to work with the skill guys... if I dont break .500 this year... well then Im firing myself.
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Post by carookie on Dec 24, 2011 0:34:47 GMT -6
Someone brought up some things of mine that I think I'm kinda weak on, so here are my weaknesses part deux:
1) Networking- I go to clinics and everyone else knows 50 guys, me I know guys I coach with (and maybe two others I've coached with before). Its weird because I'm always the life of the party, cruise director, talk to anyone type; but I've never been a big networker with professional goals in mind. This may not seem so bad, but it could hurt in getting a kid recruited. Which leads me to.
2) I don't really know how to get a kid recruited. I've talked with college coaches about some of my guys but I feel as if there is a whole song and dance that I don't really know about, and I'd hate for that to hurt a player of mine.
3) I look like a player. During the first two-a-days at my current school the players initially thought I was a transfer (even though I was 28 at the time). I'm damn near 32 now, and can still pass for 17 or 18; and though this may not seem bad I have been in a number of situations where my youthful looks have caused others (parents, opponents, etc.) to think less of me.
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Post by jgordon1 on Dec 24, 2011 6:53:37 GMT -6
Someone brought up some things of mine that I think I'm kinda weak on, so here are my weaknesses part deux: 1) Networking- I go to clinics and everyone else knows 50 guys, me I know guys I coach with (and maybe two others I've coached with before). Its weird because I'm always the life of the party, cruise director, talk to anyone type; but I've never been a big networker with professional goals in mind. This may not seem so bad, but it could hurt in getting a kid recruited. Which leads me to. 2) I don't really know how to get a kid recruited. I've talked with college coaches about some of my guys but I feel as if there is a whole song and dance that I don't really know about, and I'd hate for that to hurt a player of mine. 3) I look like a player. During the first two-a-days at my current school the players initially thought I was a transfer (even though I was 28 at the time). I'm {censored} near 32 now, and can still pass for 17 or 18; and though this may not seem bad I have been in a number of situations where my youthful looks have caused others (parents, opponents, etc.) to think less of me. #1..I personally think networking is overrated unless you aspire to be a college coach...If you simply ask a coach a direct question, unless he is our competition, you will 90% of the time get a direct answer #2. Not sure that this is imperitive for a program... #3 you can't change it so just be yourself
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Post by jgordon1 on Dec 24, 2011 6:54:23 GMT -6
I really get what you are saying about the "Coaching Pedigree" I have kicked myself so many times for not going the small college route to play football in college when the opportunity was there I passed. The semantics and vernacular are getting easier though... My other weaknesses...knowing when to let that assistant go and when to pull him back. As a DC at 36 one of my assistants was a former D1 player and 48. He had the communication skills to make it go, but limitations on knowledge. What an asset and what a killer...so I had figure that thing out. I screwed up at times... Patience with that player I think should know, but he doesn't. Understanding that the way one player learns it or gets it is different than the others. Letting the kids play the game and not trying to be a chess master is a big one I don't know enough about the OLine and I haven't coached a Quarter Back I used to think coaching special teams was easy My biggest, I come across to gruff even when I am trying to use tact! Dang except for the oline stuff you might be my twin brother
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z
Junior Member
Posts: 332
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Post by z on Dec 24, 2011 7:38:09 GMT -6
This is a great topic! What I am going to list, all coaches (but especially young coaches just getting started in this business need to take to heart): 1) Your faith walk!-In this game, so many times you are going to be second-guessed, criticized, lied on, etc. When you are all alone, your faith will be tested. You need to make sure that you are a frequent caller on God, and not a "new contact". 2) Your health!- You cannot lead from a hospital bed! Neglecting your health will get you out of the game quickly. Watch what you eat (too much of that fast food or skipping meals will throw you out of "whack". Go to the doctor and dentist on a regular basis-not when things get to the point where you can't bear it anymore!) 3) Your mental health!-Football is what you teach and coach, it is not who you are! If it defines you, sooner or later it will eat you up! If you don't believe in burnout, wait and see! 4) Hire good teachers who are good people!- You cannot coach everything (although we do try to). Good coaches are good people who can teach. If you hear a coach always "chirping" about what the kids cannot learn/do, you need to find another coach ASAP! If a coach is lazy (you always have to tell him/her what to do, please let them go ASAP-either they will drag you down to their level, or they will kill you because you are worn out from doing your job and THEIRS!) 5) Sometimes you have to be a SOB!-There are not many successful people who are not obsessive over some aspect of their career or life! They have some things that they will not compromise! Sometimes they have to say NO, and deal with the consequences that come with that answer!
Some will and will not agree with those 5, but coach long enough, and you will find that they are true!
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Post by TMGPG on Dec 24, 2011 7:44:05 GMT -6
It does seem like a lot of us are talking about how we don't let our assistants have a lot of freedom in how they coach or what they tell the players. Do any of you all let them have total freedom for their position group and how do you go about it?
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Post by blb on Dec 24, 2011 8:18:30 GMT -6
As I approach my 38th year of coaching and 29th as a header I am pretty set in my ways.
Or as Jud Heathcote told Tom Izzo toward the end of Jud's reign in East Lansing, "I know you're right but I'm too old to change now, so we're going to do it my way."
Now it's not all bad because we're still having success, I had some great mentors, and a lot of what we do I learned from trial and error - in other words from screwing something up, admitting it (not blaming someone or something else), learning from it, and not doing it again - most of the time.
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