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Post by dblwngr on Nov 25, 2019 15:09:32 GMT -6
Well, after 20 years I'm heading to my first big dance! More than anything I wanted to thank all you guys that have helped me out along the way. Everything I've had my hands on that has been good has come from a post, email, or phone call from guys on this site.
To those of you who frequent deep post season runs here are a couple question.
#1 Is it always this exhausting?? You would think that ridding high on an undefeated season it would be a cake walk but that has not been the case. I am physically and emotionally exhausted even though I try to stay in pretty good shape.
#2 What have you done to make this last week special? We want to keep things as normal as possible but is there anything you've done to make this week memorable? With Thanksgiving coming up, I'm doubting we will be doing a team dinner this week.
#3 Were you able to stop and smell the roses? Everyone keeps reminding me to take time to breath it all in. I'm usually pretty good about that kind of stuff when it comes to life events but football has been different. It seems like once we head up to the locker room from the field game night, my mind is already scrambling to our next opponent.
Thanks again fellas, and good luck to all of you still grinding this week!
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Post by 44dlcoach on Nov 25, 2019 16:07:05 GMT -6
Ive been lucky enough to coach on a few teams that made a deep run. Yes, it is always this exhausting haha.
One thing we've done in the past was allow 3 or 4 seniors each day to say a few words after practice, just about what the program has meant to them, that kind of stuff. That's been hit and miss honestly.
No, I have not done a good job stopping to smell the roses because there's always something else that you need to get done. Hopefully you can do a better job of that than I have. Good luck coach, kick some butt!
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Post by mrjvi on Nov 25, 2019 16:25:08 GMT -6
CONGRATS. Even though it was exhausting, I was doing some preliminary planning for the next year on the bus ride home. Then I fell asleep.
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Post by **** on Nov 25, 2019 17:40:35 GMT -6
Well, after 20 years I'm heading to my first big dance! More than anything I wanted to thank all you guys that have helped me out along the way. Everything I've had my hands on that has been good has come from a post, email, or phone call from guys on this site. To those of you who frequent deep post season runs here are a couple question. #1 Is it always this exhausting?? You would think that ridding high on an undefeated season it would be a cake walk but that has not been the case. I am physically and emotionally exhausted even though I try to stay in pretty good shape. #2 What have you done to make this last week special? We want to keep things as normal as possible but is there anything you've done to make this week memorable? With Thanksgiving coming up, I'm doubting we will be doing a team dinner this week. #3 Were you able to stop and smell the roses? Everyone keeps reminding me to take time to breath it all in. I'm usually pretty good about that kind of stuff when it comes to life events but football has been different. It seems like once we head up to the locker room from the field game night, my mind is already scrambling to our next opponent. Thanks again fellas, and good luck to all of you still grinding this week! Yes it is. Practiced at college/nfl facilities throughout the week. No not really. |
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Post by kylem56 on Nov 25, 2019 18:14:55 GMT -6
practice at a nearby college if possible
We havent done this but a buddy of mine coaches at a school where if they are lucky to make it this far, they practice in the morning on Thanksgiving at Michigan, then have a Thanksgiving breakfast and invite alumni (alumni buy a ticket for $10), and then everyone is home by 12:30pm for the football games.
do your damnest to enjoy the moment as much as possible. Have someone take pictures throughout the week, film a little extra. Enjoy every single second of it. I know some GREAT coaches, Hall of Fame coaches who never made it that far.
Remember, regardless of what happens, your building memories that these kids will never forget. Youre giving a community, school, and alumni memories theyll never forget. Have fun and enjoy the ride! We all work too damn hard to not enjoy it
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Post by carookie on Nov 25, 2019 18:15:18 GMT -6
Well, after 20 years I'm heading to my first big dance! More than anything I wanted to thank all you guys that have helped me out along the way. Everything I've had my hands on that has been good has come from a post, email, or phone call from guys on this site. To those of you who frequent deep post season runs here are a couple question. #1 Is it always this exhausting?? You would think that ridding high on an undefeated season it would be a cake walk but that has not been the case. I am physically and emotionally exhausted even though I try to stay in pretty good shape. #2 What have you done to make this last week special? We want to keep things as normal as possible but is there anything you've done to make this week memorable? With Thanksgiving coming up, I'm doubting we will be doing a team dinner this week. #3 Were you able to stop and smell the roses? Everyone keeps reminding me to take time to breath it all in. I'm usually pretty good about that kind of stuff when it comes to life events but football has been different. It seems like once we head up to the locker room from the field game night, my mind is already scrambling to our next opponent. Thanks again fellas, and good luck to all of you still grinding this week! Yes it is. Practiced at college/nfl facilities throughout the week. No not really. Nailed it (outside of #2, which is a case by case thing) |
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Post by coachjm on Nov 25, 2019 19:23:03 GMT -6
Well, after 20 years I'm heading to my first big dance! More than anything I wanted to thank all you guys that have helped me out along the way. Everything I've had my hands on that has been good has come from a post, email, or phone call from guys on this site. To those of you who frequent deep post season runs here are a couple question. #1 Is it always this exhausting?? You would think that ridding high on an undefeated season it would be a cake walk but that has not been the case. I am physically and emotionally exhausted even though I try to stay in pretty good shape. #2 What have you done to make this last week special? We want to keep things as normal as possible but is there anything you've done to make this week memorable? With Thanksgiving coming up, I'm doubting we will be doing a team dinner this week. #3 Were you able to stop and smell the roses? Everyone keeps reminding me to take time to breath it all in. I'm usually pretty good about that kind of stuff when it comes to life events but football has been different. It seems like once we head up to the locker room from the field game night, my mind is already scrambling to our next opponent. Thanks again fellas, and good luck to all of you still grinding this week! Yes it is exhausting, we made 3 deep trips in a row (semi, runner up, and champ) and I remember at the end of the runner up year being out of juice.... With that said the following year it didn't seem as hard, I do think the more deep runs you have it does become a little less cumbersome. Not sure we will get back to they point again but if we do I know I'm more conditioned to it due to the prior experience. 2. Keep everything normal, you are preparing for a football game nothing more nothing less.... Everyone around you will be making it in to the biggest event in the world you have to prepare like it is another friday in the fall. 3. Yep twice, first time in the finals I saw my boys running around ford field and I remember stopping and feeling grateful for this moment. Second time there was a pause before the national anthem and we were all looking towards our stands in which the american flag was seeing this sea of Navy and yellow supporters there to cheer us on was one of those moments of wow we have come a long way in our time here thoughts.... Finally, walking off after we one it I run into my father who coached for 40 years who said enjoy this no many people get to have these moments..... With that said no a couple years later the memories and images that come up from those years are all pretty special there is plenty of time to smell the roses after you get the W! |
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Post by 44dlcoach on Nov 25, 2019 23:45:41 GMT -6
We also sell the heck out of the idea to our kids that there's nothing like Thanksgiving morning practice. Not many teams earn that right so if we are there together it's a pretty big deal.
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Post by silkyice on Nov 26, 2019 4:40:49 GMT -6
Well, after 20 years I'm heading to my first big dance! More than anything I wanted to thank all you guys that have helped me out along the way. Everything I've had my hands on that has been good has come from a post, email, or phone call from guys on this site. To those of you who frequent deep post season runs here are a couple question. #1 Is it always this exhausting?? You would think that ridding high on an undefeated season it would be a cake walk but that has not been the case. I am physically and emotionally exhausted even though I try to stay in pretty good shape. #2 What have you done to make this last week special? We want to keep things as normal as possible but is there anything you've done to make this week memorable? With Thanksgiving coming up, I'm doubting we will be doing a team dinner this week. #3 Were you able to stop and smell the roses? Everyone keeps reminding me to take time to breath it all in. I'm usually pretty good about that kind of stuff when it comes to life events but football has been different. It seems like once we head up to the locker room from the field game night, my mind is already scrambling to our next opponent. Thanks again fellas, and good luck to all of you still grinding this week! 1. Yes. 2. My advice is to keep it as normal as possible. The banquet, rings (if you win), t-shirts, etc. that follow can make it all more memorable. 3.. That being said, nothing wrong with stopping for a minute and soaking it in. But keep it at a minute. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2019 7:10:57 GMT -6
Enjoy your team while you have it. You will never get this particuliar team back. Its gone forever. And that is true whether this is the only ship you win or go on to win 5 ships.
Never been to ship. State semi. And that was pure exhaustion.
We went to pro team facilty, practices were different, tone was different...lot of things were going into that semi..
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Post by veerwego on Nov 26, 2019 7:36:53 GMT -6
1. Yes it is. In a few years where we were really good and had a stretch of conf games and early playoff games where we were way better than the other teams, it gets a little bit boring. Can be dangerous and you have think about getting better each day as the little boost you might need later on in the playoffs or championship. We played 15, 14, and 15 in three years. That is 14 more games than a team that didn't make the playoffs during that span, another season and a half. It was fun, but tiring.
2. Keep it normal with the exception of, at one place we would go the college during the week and practice on Wed. Walk around the game field. It sort of got that in awe part of it out of the way. At my high school where I played and first coached, we never did that and we won 4 in 8 years, so you don't have to do it. I do think if it is your first time in a while it helps.
3. Last time I was in it, 9 years ago, we lost a 12 point lead in the last 14 min or so. I panicked a little as OC and got too much away from running the ball and tried to hit a big play in the passing game. Have recently gotten to the point where I do not think about it all that often, probably because HC now and too busy. It still eats at me. Think about that one way more than the two I've been a part of winning. Take some time to enjoy it with your family and players, but work like crazy so that you can win the game and not regret it.
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Post by Coach Jennings on Nov 26, 2019 8:47:09 GMT -6
No matter what anyone says, the game is not like any other game. You can pretend all you want and try to trick the kids into thinking that, but they're smart enough to know.
In Indiana, we play in Lucas Oil where the Colts play, so we traveled down a few days before to practice in the facility. It's about a 3 hour drive by bus but we thought it was important that we did that. We treated them first class, fed them, had police escorts everywhere we went.
Many coaches we spoke to who played in the big game told us hydration is an issue so we purchased a lot of bottled gatorade for the morning of. The two coordinators and the head coach each gave a toast and we drank gatorade like it was going out of style. It became emotional but a memorable experience at 5:30AM in the locker room the day of the state championship talking with the kids.
We had a team photographer. Granted field access to many prominent alum. Had someone tape the video board for the introductions. As coaches we got a view of the intros as the kids stewed in the tunnel waiting to be called. I cried the entire time knowing how much work went into the moment (years). Then we heard "The Champions of the North, the Whiting Oilers!" and our guys sprinted out to the 50-yard line of Lucas Oil and we heard the roar of crowd and it was an unbelievable experience. I get goose bumpbs talking about it still as it happened in 2015.
It's not another game and I don't feel like it should be treated as such. Just my humble opinion.
BTW Thanksgiving practice was something we have dreamed of as players and coaches and it was every bit of exciting as we thought it would be.
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Post by CoachHam55 on Nov 26, 2019 9:00:28 GMT -6
Well, after 20 years I'm heading to my first big dance! More than anything I wanted to thank all you guys that have helped me out along the way. Everything I've had my hands on that has been good has come from a post, email, or phone call from guys on this site. To those of you who frequent deep post season runs here are a couple question. #1 Is it always this exhausting?? You would think that ridding high on an undefeated season it would be a cake walk but that has not been the case. I am physically and emotionally exhausted even though I try to stay in pretty good shape. #2 What have you done to make this last week special? We want to keep things as normal as possible but is there anything you've done to make this week memorable? With Thanksgiving coming up, I'm doubting we will be doing a team dinner this week. #3 Were you able to stop and smell the roses? Everyone keeps reminding me to take time to breath it all in. I'm usually pretty good about that kind of stuff when it comes to life events but football has been different. It seems like once we head up to the locker room from the field game night, my mind is already scrambling to our next opponent. Thanks again fellas, and good luck to all of you still grinding this week! First, congrats to you, your kids, and your coaches! 1) Like everyone else says, yes it is this exhausting but it is worth it regardless of outcome. 2) We invited the families out to the last practice of the season. It was a quick walk-through on Friday evening. It was a really cool experience. I even had my dad there. My family lives in NOLA and I'm in St. Louis so they don't get to see me coach very often. Was a great experience to have my first coach out there during my last practice of a really special season. Although he never coached me in football, I try to model how I coach after my Dad. I know a lot of our players felt the same way about having their parents there. 3) A little. As we took the field, I looked up into the stands to see my dad & mom (who passed away about a year and half later) my cousins, along with plenty of kids that I had coached previously. It was no more than 5 seconds but it was a great feeling knowing they were all there to support us. Once the game started, it was a blur. Standing on the field with my QBs (my position group) during warm ups was something that I loved; knowing that no matter what the outcome, we worked our tails off to get somewhere that this school had never been. AJ |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2019 9:10:30 GMT -6
I remember standing on sideline with a friend. We joked about holding clinics. The football gods would have rolled over into their graves. Running the same 90 pct of time. Practiced other things, but generally speaking it was 2 or 3 play offense. Really just one. No practice film. And practices that by any means today would probably be considered child endangerment. One practice was a 90 play scrimmage, full padded, tackle to the ground scrimmage and probably 75 of those snaps were the same play.
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Post by wingtol on Nov 26, 2019 16:15:51 GMT -6
Sure its easier now days than when I was last in the big game almost 20 years ago, but take pics take videos do whatever to remember it all. Actually put that smart phone to use and have some great memories for down the road. Don't take it for granted and have fun.
Also if you are up 6 and punting from your own end zone, take a safety and make them try and score again. Just sayin...
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RnS-OC
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Post by RnS-OC on Nov 26, 2019 16:47:55 GMT -6
We’ve been very fortunate and are in our third deep run in a row. I find that my level of exhaustion mostly depends on the character and personality of the kids we have. When they’re a good group it makes things easy.
We don’t do anything special this week.
We win a title a couple years ago and it wasn’t enjoyable until after we took the last knee.
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Post by aceback76 on Nov 26, 2019 17:09:42 GMT -6
Well, after 20 years I'm heading to my first big dance! More than anything I wanted to thank all you guys that have helped me out along the way. Everything I've had my hands on that has been good has come from a post, email, or phone call from guys on this site. To those of you who frequent deep post season runs here are a couple question. #1 Is it always this exhausting?? You would think that ridding high on an undefeated season it would be a cake walk but that has not been the case. I am physically and emotionally exhausted even though I try to stay in pretty good shape. #2 What have you done to make this last week special? We want to keep things as normal as possible but is there anything you've done to make this week memorable? With Thanksgiving coming up, I'm doubting we will be doing a team dinner this week. #3 Were you able to stop and smell the roses? Everyone keeps reminding me to take time to breath it all in. I'm usually pretty good about that kind of stuff when it comes to life events but football has been different. It seems like once we head up to the locker room from the field game night, my mind is already scrambling to our next opponent. Thanks again fellas, and good luck to all of you still grinding this week! STRESS to the players that they will face a greater INTENSITY LEVEL than they are used to (& must rise to meet or better that). This was the big thing for us! |
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