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Post by coachcb on Mar 1, 2016 11:07:09 GMT -6
I was watching a movie last night where a coach describes an athlete as a "once in a lifetime" type of kid. He was the kind of athlete that you never forget because of their hard-work, dedication, and perseverance within a program. I started thinking about the kids I've coached over the years and a few stood out but there is one kid that I can honestly say is my own personal "once in a lifetime" guy.
He was a 5'6'', 160lb DE that I started working with when he was a sophomore. The kid is a bowling ball with legs: short, squat and and you never would have guessed he was a football player or really an athlete of any kind. The kid knew that the deck was stacked against him as he was playing for a successful program in the largest classification and he was continually competing for playing time. But, not only did he get a ton of playing time as a sophomore and a junior: he ended up being a starter on varsity for two years and ended up on a team that played for a state title. He was never an all-conference or all-state player but he worked hard to make sure he was the best DE we had and we had some good ones.
The kid listened to everything you said at practice, he hit the weights as hard as he could in the off-season and played with guts that I have never seen out of another player. He went up against OTs that had 6'' and 100lbs on him but it never stopped him from flying off of the ball and hitting that guy in the mouth.
This kid has a motor in him; period. It doesn't matter what he's doing in life. He pours his heart into everything he does. I watched him walk out of college with a 4.0 and is now making a very good living in his current profession. I'm very proud to have been a part of this young man's life and I don't know that I'll ever have the pleasure of working with another one like him.
So, who is your guys' once in a lifetime player?
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Post by John Knight on Mar 1, 2016 11:19:51 GMT -6
I had one like that, he was an undersized OL at 6 foot 280 and was a coach on the field and off. Won co-lineman of the year in the conference his senior year and Unlimited class power lifting state champ. Got good grades and was set to play div 2 football but shattered his ankle in baseball game halfway through his senior year and still was team MVP. Plates and screws in his ankle made college football too painful.
He will graduate with a degree in Special Education and has been coaching High school football and baseball for the last 3 years while maintaining a 3.8 GPA.
Great kid, Lucky for me he is my son.
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Post by CoachMikeJudy on Mar 1, 2016 11:34:20 GMT -6
I'm coaching one right now. He can do it all.
5'9, 195lb soph RB. 4.4-4.5 40yd, Stud in weight room, humble, 3.5gpa. Can run the ball with power and vision, catches the ball better than most WR I have coached, and can pass the ball. He can punt, he can kick...basically it's Boobie Miles from Friday Night Lights (he'll sweep your front porch for you if you ask). He has an offer and more to come.
I've coached D1 guys before. Coached NFL guys before. This kid is the total package. He's not the greatest athlete I've ever had, but from a whole person perspective he's the best. He's also a kid that lives in a Habitat for Humanity house...has next to nothing on the home front.
Amazing kid. Never let's someone outwork him even though he a talent that could dominate without working hard.
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Post by eaglemountie on Mar 1, 2016 11:56:53 GMT -6
He will graduate in June.
Got him in his 9th grade year in the spring, coached him for 3 years. He had a special senior year. He squatted 600 (legit and I made him do it twice just to make sure), accounted for 3000+ total yards of offense and 40 touchdowns, 150 tackles on defense, hardly ever came off the field, led the team to first winning season in 7 years, received every pre and post-season award imaginable, etc etc etc.
The best part of all he's a great kid. Zero off the field issues, loves football, always has a smile on his face, not a great student but will have an opportunity to play some Juco ball.
Best player I've ever coached.
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Post by coachwilliams2 on Mar 1, 2016 14:25:24 GMT -6
Ive got one right now.
I have coached some really good players (14 D1 in 7 Years). This kid is NOT one of those guys. Too small, too slow, etc. but all he does is all we ask. Works like a dog and went from a guy who didn't start on the Fresh team to an all-region player his Jr. Year. Just a program kid.
Plenty of guys with more talent, skills, size and speed than him. But I wouldn't trade him for the world.
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Post by 44dlcoach on Mar 1, 2016 15:52:46 GMT -6
Mine is about to graduate from college. He was a 3 year varsity starter, 2 time captain, 2 time state wrestling champion, and the closest thing to a coach on the field I've ever had. He hasn't gotten anything less than an A in any college class, and he's the nicest, most mature kid you could ever meet. Comes from a great family too.
I might coach a better football player at some point but I doubt I'll ever coach a better more well rounded person.
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Post by mariner42 on Mar 1, 2016 21:04:40 GMT -6
Two years ago he was an All-State QB for us that had been an offensive guard his freshman year. His teammates went to the HC and said, "This guy should be the QB" because his personality and work ethic were so powerful. You CANNOT find someone with a negative thing to say about him. Always smiling, always work his butt off, always helping everyone around him as much as he can, really special kid. The kind that you have to remind yourself not to compare others to because it's not fair to anyone involved.
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Post by fantom on Mar 1, 2016 21:53:25 GMT -6
Had a kid a while ago who was the best technician that I ever had. Got him by accident. My son went to a a middle school for gifted kids.When I went to pick him up when he stayed late to work on a project his teacher told me that there was somebody I had to meet. My eyes almost popped out. This kid was about 6'0" and 190 as an 8th grader. He was at a gifted school so you know he was smart.
Funny thing is he almost quit football as a freshmen. Said it was too violent for his religious beliefs. Fortunately, he changed his mind. Most coachable kid ever. Decided football was a good way to work out teenage anger. Got a schollie to William and Mary.
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Post by jlenwood on Mar 2, 2016 7:13:14 GMT -6
Had one several years ago. He only played defense for me his senior year, was a 4 year varsity starter on offense though. I would watch him and he would be out of position so many time during a game, but always made big plays. Best game of his career defensively, I bet he was not aligned correctly 6 times the entire game, but had two pick 6's, a sack and a truckload of tackles from the FS position.
Would take over the position group at practice and make sure players were in line and getting EDD's done correctly, always communicated exactly what was happening on the field on game night to the coaches, and on and on.
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Post by funkfriss on Mar 2, 2016 13:59:38 GMT -6
I had one like that, he was an undersized OL at 6 foot 280 and was a coach on the field and off. Won co-lineman of the year in the conference his senior year and Unlimited class power lifting state champ. Got good grades and was set to play div 2 football but shattered his ankle in baseball game halfway through his senior year and still was team MVP. Plates and screws in his ankle made college football too painful. He will graduate with a degree in Special Education and has been coaching High school football and baseball for the last 3 years while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. Great kid, Lucky for me he is my son. Where can I find one of these "undersized" 6' 280 OL? He'd eat half of my OL! |
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Post by John Knight on Mar 2, 2016 20:01:46 GMT -6
Undersized for D1
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Post by wibblemonkey on Mar 11, 2016 4:30:51 GMT -6
Was gonna say, I coach in the UK, I'd bite your hand off if you offered me five guys who were 6' and 235lbs.  |
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Post by wolfden12 on Mar 13, 2016 15:57:52 GMT -6
Topics and Stories like these are what make the profession worth while. Makes up for the ones who you do everything for with all the talent and waste it!
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