Post-Game Thoughts on Safford

Live to play another week. That's the theme of the playoffs. The game plans worked well and when we had to make adjustments the kids played smart.

I saw something in the kids that I've been waiting for; the determination to win. It's the one thing we want to see that we can't coach. The kids have to want it.

Excellence can be coached. I believe that demanding a lot as a coach trains the kids to demand a lot out of themselves and each other. Excellence is an attitude that is taught. I wish it was built by football but it's not. Football can't teach greatness, it brings greatness out of an athlete. It forces winners to excel. It forces quiters to quit. It forces kids (and coaches for that matter) to look inside and make choices about how to handle the grind.

My goal as a coach is to prepare kids and their parents for the grind. If we can do that then we have taken the first step toward being a championship program. So what is the grind?

1. Football takes practice. Practices are long and time consuming. However, it takes time and dedication to be great. What a great lesson to learn as a kid! Parents should be ready for the time commitment as well. Like it or not, a commitment to excellence is a family affair.

2. If you work hard you should expect to win. BUT...You might work as hard as you can and not get what you want. That doesn't mean you should quit. It's tough to put in the time at practice and not get to play but quiting is the wrong answer. Tough it out. That's what men do.

In my opinion, football, if coached correctly can help our kids by demanding a lot out of them. Our kids are responding well to the demands. Kids like Matt, Jason, Trevor and others are coachable and will do whatever it takes to win.