MENTAL TOUGHNESS IS BUILT NOT BORN

This article sums up my feelings on where our program can find that winning edge.  
Coach Larsen


"GATORS HAVE PLENTY OF FOURTH-QUARTER CONFIDENCE"

By Robbie Andreu
Staff writer
Published: Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

Ask the Florida Gators to explain their amazing fourth quarter in last year's SEC Championship Game and the response is immediate, and always the same.

Mickey Marotti.

The players credit their strength and conditioning coordinator for that 14-0 fourth-quarter dominance that propelled Florida to a 31-20 victory over No. 1 Alabama and into last season's BCS Championship Game.

"Absolutely, a lot of (the credit) goes to Coach Mick," quarterback Tim Tebow said. "He brings a lot to our program, just the toughness, the character aspect of it. What he brings to the table is huge.

"Very little of our offseason program is getting physically strong. It's getting mentally stronger. When your back is against the wall, what are you going to do? The flight or fight syndrome. That is so much what our team is about."

The Gators found themselves in a flight or fight situation heading into the fourth quarter of last year's game.

Alabama had just physically dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Gators 10-0 to take a 20-17 lead. Alabama's touchdown drive covered 91 yards in 15 plays, consuming almost half the quarter. The other scoring drive covered 65 yards in 10 plays.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Tide seemed in control.
Somehow, the Gators turned the game back in their favor.
Tebow engineered two touchdown drives and the Florida defense held Alabama to 1 yard in the quarter.

How did that happen?

"Mickey Marotti," strong safety Ahmad Black said. "He does things in the weight room that keep us physically prepared, keep us mentally prepared. And we were able to stop them in the fourth quarter."

Coaches always stress that big games are won and lost in the fourth quarter, that the fourth quarter is the ultimate test of mental and physical toughness, of manhood.

The Gators passed the test in a big way in what will go down as one of the greatest fourth quarters in school history.

"It was because all year long we had been working on finishing. We had been striving to finish," Tebow said. "That's something that Coach Mick preached in the weight room, on the practice field, to our coaching staff. We have to finish. We have to be a tough team in the fourth quarter and we have to have heart.

"In that fourth quarter, we really rallied together and really came up with a lot of heart, found ways to finish. We just kept finding ways to get a first down, put it in the end zone against a great team. We weren't going to leave anything on the field. That's what I'm most proud of."

After getting punched in the mouth and knocked down in the third quarter, the Gators got up and delivered the knockout blow in the fourth quarter.

"To be honest with you, I don't even remember the fourth quarter," Alabama cornerback Javier Arenas said. "All I remember is we didn't finish strong.

"We didn't finish strong and that's something we've worked on all season. It's something that we tried to improve in, and I think we're better at it. So, I mean, we'll basically see."

We'll see early Saturday evening, because this SEC title game likely will come down to the fourth quarter, too.

"We always pride ourselves on dominating the fourth quarter," Alabama middle linebacker Rolando McClain said. "We didn't dominate the fourth quarter last year. Consequently, Florida won the game.

"This whole season, we pride ourselves on the fourth quarter."

So do Mickey Marotti's Gators.

"We feel we've won these games because of what we did in January, February, March, April and May," Tebow said. "The work that we put in then, that's why we feel we're 12-0 right now. The work we put in with him. He does such a great job."

Throughout the offseason conditioning program, the focus is on winning the fourth quarter, on finishing.

"Coach Marotti builds our bodies and minds to last the whole four quarters," offensive guard Mike Pouncey said. "We play our best in the fourth quarter."

END OF SEASON WRAP UP

"If you don't win it all, you can't feel like you've accomplished anything." - Ben Rothlisberger, Pitsburgh Steelers QB. 

I wouldn't go so far as to say that the above statement sums up how I feel because there were a lot of good things that happened this year.  We won more games this year than we ever have.  We built a coaching staff that will bring about great things in the future.  We had a great group of guys.  We are building a program that will be competitive.  All positive. 

Having said that, I also saw how far we can go.  And thankfully I feel like I know how to approach making the changes that will make us more competitive. 

I want to thank the seniors that have walked down the path of growth with me and the program.  Every graduating class is hard to lose but these guys have brought about some real change and we'll be able to grow from their examples.  Thanks guys. 

To the up and coming classes, I have a challenge for you.  Be leaders.  Be determined to succeed.  Be willing to put in the time and make the sacrifices to be champions.  Be mentally tough and don't back down from a fight.  We've been told to fight good fights and I believe that has everything to do with learning how to put your whole soul into accomplishing something.  Learn to be the guy that wants the ball when the game is on the line. 

ADDRESSING A CONCERN

Everyone, and I mean everyone, I've talked to is very concerned about our turnovers.  So, let me address it here. 

1.  Two of the turnovers were called turnovers when they shouldn't have been.  It wasn't that the calls were questionable and I'm complaining, it's that the man was clearly down and mistakes were made. 

2.  We made some adjustments that caused our timing to be a little off.  The adjustments made it so we ran the ball for more yards than we ever have but it also took some time to get used to.  As we went on we did better. 

3.  We had some legitimate fumbles and we've worked on how to fix those.  Our fumbles came from kids trying too hard to gain more yards.  It's a problem we are glad to deal with. 

So, for all those that are Lobo fans:  Keep cheering, look forward to a good night of football, and don't worry, the kids and coaches have addressed the problem.  I'm confident the kids will do very well. 

ADVERSITY AND COURAGE: A PLACE FOR BOTH

Great teams are born out of adversity and courage.  Both of them are good for you.  But it's like going to the dentist.  It's scary, but in the end you're better for going through it.

These past few weeks have been tough for us.  Emotionally, it's tough to find out you aren't perfect.  It was hard to bounce back.  But I feel like I've learned some lessons from our boys. 

Here are a few:  

Adversity strips a team down and exploits it's weaknesses.  It creates doubt and humility.  Adversity is a fire that burns to ashes all of the facades and false pretenses.  It chases away false friends and scourges pride out of a heart.

Courage rises up out of the ashes.  It heals the wounds.  It reminds us of those who have stayed by our side and it brings hope and faith back to the heart.  Courage replaces facades with brick walls and creates iron out of raw ore. 

Every team deals with fear, doubt and discouragement.  Every player questions the ability they have to succeed.  That's a part of life and, honestly, it's healthy.  Great teams fight back through the adversity and show great courage.  Great players fight back the doubt they feel and find renewed purpose.  The team that goes through adversity and doesn't give up finds stockpiles of courage that make it better than the team that hasn't been challenged.

My kids have learned the lessons that adversity had to teach.  They have been through the fire and they have found the courage to work on the weaknesses and fix the problems.  I feel very proud of each of them because they each made a conscious decision to fight back and improve.  I can't see the future so I don't know how the story will end but I will step out just far enough to say this:  I wouldn't want to play us. 

SHOW LOW GAME THOUGHTS

I can't say enough good about how tough our kids played this week.  They were especially stingy on defense.  Coach Reidhead has created an identity and personality for our defense.  Show Low was a great opponent and a good football team and it was a great game.  Final score 35-14 with Snowflake on top.

A ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS

We've spent the last week evaluating and changing our practice schedule.  It's been a tough process because we had to look at the way we were doing things and ask hard questions.  Why isn't this working?  Why are we still doing that?  Is this worth our time?  Tough questions, but necessary ones.  We really feel like the process of improving at something takes time, evaluation, change and reevaluation. 

There's no question that I work with great coaches.  The best thing about them all is that they take criticism well.  It's hard to be the best at what you do if you aren't willing to change the things that don't work.  So, when we evaluate ourselves we are pretty critical.  Pointing out weaknesses in the program is tough.  This program and it's kids are my biggest concern outside of my own family.  To hear that it's not perfect is tough.  Having said that, the progress that this kind of assessment has lead to is staggering. 

The other great thing about my coaches is that we aren't convinced that the way we are doing things is the only effective way.  They are constantly learning, studying and evaluating.  They are willing to listen to others that have a different viewpoint.  I believe this is the key to our success.  Everyone has a voice in the success of our program. 

It's fun to work in an environment when the people around you are like this.  It's a breath of fresh air to work with men that are so eager to succeed.

Robby Martindell gets ready to play.

The guys on the car at the homecoming parade. 

GOOD JOB LOBOS

The Snowflake Lobos beat the Payson Longhorns 31-0.  Watching game film gave us more things to work on.  Even with a great win we can still improve.  So we move on to another week of improvement and look forward to another great test this weekend. 

Shawn Walker getting ready to pass.
Ammon McKinlay in the background.

BLUE RIDGE GAME OVERVIEW

Nobody wants to lose but, if you do lose, it's nice to be able to walk off the field with your head up. 

We learned something about ourselves and how fast we can play the game.  We learned something about how far our program has come.  I'm not going to spend too much time doing "If only..."  because we learned what we needed to learn and we walked away from the game with respect.  Self respect. 

We now are very confident in our abilities.  We made mistakes in alignment that we can fix.  We made mistakes in execution that we can fix. 

I'd expect to see a much improved team for homecoming.   

STATS, RECORDS, AND RUNNING UP THE SCORE

I've never been one to put much stock in stats for high school players.  If it were up to me we wouldn't keep track of any of them because they turn the game into a horserace.  Everybody worries about who's ahead and who's behind.  I was raised in the John Wooden camp of, "play every down hard and the score will take care of itself."  Having said that, I believe that creating a winning program is important.  It reflects the skill level, hard work and mental toughness that you've taught your young men.  Besides, it's fun. 

The really fun games are the ones that take all your skills to win.  The coaches use strategy, the players use skill, the fans cheer their brains out and win or lose you come away better for it.  On the flip side, we've all been a part of boring blowouts where the game is out of reach by the end of the first half.  In my opinion this is where you utilize a totally different set of skills as a coach and try to keep the game fun and interesting. 

I've run all my linemen as running backs and receivers.  I've played the kid that has never played and helped him get 50 yards.  I've let the worst kickers kick.  I've even had the majority of the freshmen team take the field.  I've kept my third string in at the expense of a shutout. 

I've also been on the other side of the blowouts.  You just try to survive.  I've always appreciated the coaches that have realized that the game was over and tried to work on their plays without humiliating me and my kids. 

Those experiences, both the good and the bad, have helped me to keep a little perspective. 

The bully wins the games when he plays the 1st graders.  He should!  He's more skilled, bigger, and faster.  But no matter how much he tries, he'll never win the respect from his peers for wins, records, or stats he gained playing the little kids.  No matter how many newspapers cover it. 

REPUTATION CAN'T TAKE THE FIELD

This is the week of the question, "Well coach, how are you guys going to do against Blue Ridge?" 
I love that question because I get to talk about how good we've been practicing and how much I enjoy a good game. 

I spent a few minutes at practice this week teaching the kids about reputations.  I thought it might be worth repeating what we talked about.   

Blue Ridge has a great reputation as a winning program.  You've really got to give their coaching staff and kids credit for creating and continuing a great tradition.  Their kids are fast and strong.  I have a lot of respect for all of them. 

Over the past three years I've watched our program turn a huge corner.  The athletes enjoy playing and THEY AREN'T AFRAID OF A REPUTATION.  Our athletes have earned the right to line up against a great team and believe they can win.  We're just as fast if not faster.  We're just as strong if not stronger. And we are just as big if not bigger.  

So, when you ask me how we will do, don't be surprised when I say, "We're going to win!"  

Congrats to the Freshmen

I forgot to give congratulations to the Freshmen team who played Show Low on Saturday and won 30-14.  Great job guys!

FINALLY COMING TOGETHER

In our game against Globe we finally got it all together.  Our running and passing game were clicking and our defense was dominating.  With more practice we'll be able to take our program to the next level of execution.  I'm looking forward to playing a great team like Blue Ridge.  They are a great opponent and that will bring the best out of us. 

CONGRATS TO THE JV

The JV had a great game last night beating Globe 56-0.  Congratulations guys. 

WINSLOW GAME IN REVIEW

The game against Winslow showed us that fixing a few things can make a huge difference.  We ran the same plays against Holbrook but with one more week of experience and a few more reps we were a lot more successful.  Everyone is excited about the turn around we saw in one week but nobody's more excited than I am.  Great win guys. 

CONGRATS TO THE JV AND FROSH

The JV team beat Winslow 57-0 last night and the Freshmen beat St. Johns 44-48.  Great job guys. 

Week 2: HOLBROOK GAME IN REVIEW

We learned a lot from a very good Holbrook team.  We are definitely still working out the kinks of our offense but I think the potential is there to be explosive.  Overall I was pleased with the intensity we played with and the effort the atheltes put out.  When we watched film there were very few, if any, times that our players weren't hustling.

With a few more reps and more game experience this squad will do very well.  Take my word for it. 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE JV/FROSH

It's great to see the younger teams succeed.  Everyone played well.  This game was unique because we combined the JV and Freshmen teams.  It presented some challenges for us because we wanted to give the Freshmen team an opportunity to have a game experience this week but we knew it would be hard to get them all in the game.  I have to applaud the coaches at making such an effort.  For those that didn't get to play, we're looking forward to the game against St. Johns and Winslow next week. 

INSANITY AND CHANGE

"I am told that the clinical definition of insanity is the tendency to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results." Stephen F. Lynch

Every year, around this time, I get asked the same question, "How's the team look? Are they going to be better this year?" That's a great question and I appreciate the interest of the people that talk to me. However, I'd rather them say something like this, "Last year you were 7-4. What are you doing different this year to help the kids improve on last year's record?"

You have to understand. My philosophy is based on the quote above. I believe that changing the way we do things in Snowflake is the only way to win games. Let me give you an example that will help illustrate this.

A shipping company owner bought a new boat. He hired a good captain and set them both out to sea. At first the ship and its captain were very profitable. But as the years went by the profits became less and less and the owner knew he needed to make a change. He hired a new captain but the profits didn't increase so he hired another one. Still nothing changed. Finally he found a captain he thought would really make a difference. He hired him and sent him out to sea and sat back and waited for the first reports to come in but the only thing that returned was a list. The captain wanted to clean the barnicles off the boat and give it a new paintjob. He wanted to buy an updated engine and new sails. The boat had potential but in it's current state it wouldn't run fast enough to be profitable. The owner realized his folly and made the changes and the profits rolled in.

Now don't get me wrong, this story is an illustration of a mindset, not an individual. We're all owners of the boat and we've spent too long looking for a different result while we've continued in the same rut of activity.

As this season starts I expect differrent results because we've changed some things.
We've installed an offense that will benefit our atheltes.
We've hired a Defensive Coordinator that will take our defense to a new level.
We've changed the way we train in the off season and we are stronger than we've ever been.
We are continuing to train during the season so we can be stronger at the end of the season.
We've changed the way we practice.
Weve hired new coaches that bring a fresh perspective to the program.
We've started a Freshmen lifting time after school to make sure our Freshmen aren't a year behind the teams they play.
We've started an "athletic weights" class where the atheltes are pushed to improve.

I'm expecting to see results because we've cleaned the barnicles from our boat and we've bought a new engine. I expect to make future changes but I'm excited for the season ahead.

IT'S ABOUT TIME

I'm excited for fall practices to start. This is where the off season work pays off and the coaches and players can finally get to work.

I want to welcome all of you to another season of Lobo Football.

PHILOSOPHY: PART 7

Part 7 may be the most important principle of my philosophy. Support and believe in your teammates.

We believe in and support our teammates unconditionally.
As a member of our team you are accepted with all your strengths and weaknesses. We understand that you'll have great performances and others that are less than perfect but you'll always be supported by your teammates.

We talk positively about our teammates
We defend them whenever needed.
We celebrate with them when they succeed.
We pick them up when they fail and remind them of our support for them and that we believe they'll improve.
No player is alone in success or failure.

PHILOSOPHY: PART 6

The next bullet in my philosophy is about keeping a positive turnover ratio.

Turnovers are the biggest factor that can swing a game. That's not to say that if you recover a ball you can rest easy but the numbers are in your favor if you stay in a positive ratio. We want to have a plan to stay on the winning side of the turnover battle.

Turnovers are going to happen. If you play enough games the law of averages says someone's going to fumble and interceptions will be thrown. We want to make the other team pay for turning the ball over and we want to do everything we can to avoid turning the ball over ourselves.

Statistics show that if we can keep a positive turnover ratio when we'll be scoring more than the other team and that means we'll be more successful.

PHILOSOPHY: PART 5

The 5th part of my philosophy is to execute with exactness, confidence, and passion.

If there's one thing that I believe will make an immediate difference in our competitiveness, this may be it. This is the indicator we can use to see if everything else is working. The unspoken theme behind this point is effort. It takes hard work to learn how to play football correctly.

It's not enough to just be at practice. It's not enough to play in the games. It's not enough to participate in the season. You have to make a difference. You have to be the kind of athlete that inspires others. You can do that no matter your physical talent or mental ability. Everyone respects hard work and passion.

I can always find a place for an athlete that wants to win really, really bad because that athlete will do what it takes. We have some great examples of this on our team right now.

I'm committed to helping our athletes learn how to enjoy playing the game so they will look forward to every practice and give great effort on every play of every game during every season.

PHILOSOPHY: PART 4

The fourth bullet in my philosophy is: “We will fear nothing.”

All of these points are important but this one may be my favorite. I think facing your fear is critical in becoming a well balanced human being. When I describe fear I’m talking about the paralytic, crippling effect of self-doubt.

One of my favorite analogies that describe fear is walking on the plank. If I put a plank on the ground and ask you to walk across it you’d do it with no problem. You might run. You could probably even skip. If I place that same plank 20 feet off the ground there are very few people that will choose to cross it. What’s changed?

You’ll notice that the task is the same. Cross the plank. The result of missing the board is still the same. You will fall off. The risk has increased! You may die if you fail!

The brain is an amazing tool! It can’t tell the difference between imagination and the real thing. So, when you start imagining yourself falling, when you introduce doubt of your ability to cross the plank, your brain does a miraculous thing. It acts to preserve itself and introduces a built in protective mechanism and shuts down. Your body will literally freeze because your brain will stop your muscles from moving. In sports psychology the term is “choking”.

My goal as a coach is to teach our athletes to deal with self-doubt and as a result become their own master. This blog post isn’t long enough to give a lot of details on how we plan on doing that but here’s some important points in overcoming fear.

1. Imagine yourself being successful.
Watch others be successful and then mimic them. Don’t ever imagine failure.

2. Practice being successful.
This is critical. Confidence comes from success. Whatever you’re doing, do it right and do it right as many times as you can.

3. Keep the results of success and failure in perspective.
Don’t wrap your self-worth around your success. Winning is important but it’s not the end. Football tests you. Be happy to be tested, not afraid of it.

4. Remember, your coaches and teammates are there to support you.
We believe in you and will be there whether you succeed or fail. If you succeed we’ll celebrate with you. If you fail, we’ll all be disappointed together and then we’ll come back the next day and work to make you successful.

“We will fear nothing” is a tall order but something that is critical to becoming a championship football team.

PHILOSOPHY: PART 3

The third part of my philosophy is to respect your opponent.

My definition of respect is built around honoring the game. I believe honoring the game brings out the best in the athletes. I’ve included some of the major teaching points we use when we talk about respecting our opponents.

1. We will always respect those who play the game of football because it takes courage, hard work and determination to compete in a sport like this.
2. Our opponents are a reflection of our skill level. A good opponent brings out the best in us. We respect the synergy that happens when two great teams play.
3. Recognizing 0ur opponent’s strengths makes us stronger. We’ll train harder. We’ll be prepared tactically and emotionally to deal with their successes.
4. Respect is a sign of our confidence in our abilities.

There’s no place for anger or hatred on the field. We want to teach our athletes to execute with power but that execution can’t be motivated by anything other than a desire to perform at our highest level.

PHILOSOPHY: PART 2

The second point in my team philosophy is about working with our school, student body, and community.

We understand that we can't be successful alone. We need the support of our school, it's faculty, staff and administration. One of my goals is to show our appreciation for all those at the school who make our success possible. Everyone wants to be associated with winners. People will go out of their way to spend time supporting people they feel connected to. We want the people we represent to feel proud of our team and to feel like they are connected to what we are trying to accomplish. We want to show our respect to the Snowflake High School faculty and staff by being outstanding representatives of what they've taught us.

We also want to connect with our student body. Not all students can play football but we want them to be a part of our success. We want to give them a sense of pride by performing our best when we take the field.

Our community is what drives our school. Our alumni, boosters, and parents are all a part of the tradition we are building. We can't win games without their help and we want them to know we appreciate their hard work for the school and the football team.

As a demonstration of support and teamwork between the school, student body and community our football team will join them in singing the fight song before every game. I believe this can be a great tradition we bring back to the school.

PHILOSOPHY: PART 1

The first part of my team philosophy is to have fun. To me, fun is a descriptive word that you use when you are talking about something you like doing. Most coaches wouldn't describe football as fun at the high school level. There's pressure to win, high expectations, hard work and tough decions to make. Having said that I look forward to the process. It's "fun" to me.

I think it's important to point out that "fun" activities aren't always accompanied by laughter and cotton candy. Fun activities can include hard work (and most of the time they do). The younger we are the more instant gratification we need. What little kid doesn't love getting a trophy for being on the team. As kids get older, however, they have to learn that to be good at something you have to work for it. That process can be fun.

So, where does "fun" fit in our program?

1. Athletes need to choose to participate. That choice makes all the difference. I've talked with the kids a lot lately about choosing to improve. I don't want to force the kids to come to passing league and weights. I want them to want to be there. I think they are doing that.

2. Athletes must feel like they are progressing and becoming better in the sport. The end goal is to perform well. It's not fun to look like a fool. Most kids will persist in hard work if they feel like it's worth something. Practices, drills and weightlifting can be a fun part of the learning process if they can see that it's helping them improve.

3. Athletes need to feel like they have something to contribute. Every athlete can find a place on the team. Not everyone can start but everyone can find a role to play.

I believe football can be a great tool for learning to have fun while working and playing extremely hard.

PHILOSOPHY

Creating and implimenting a team philosophy may be the most important thing we do this year. I'm not talking about a "theme". A theme is something you function under for a while and then discard. NO, I'm talking about a team philosophy. It should be deeper and more foundational than that. It's what drives you. It's your identity.

It's been said that a team philosophy is a reflection of what's important to the coach. So, here's some things I think are important.

1. We will have fun.

2. We will work as a team with the school, student body, and community.

3. We will respect our opponent.

4. We will fear nothing.

5. We will execute with exactness, confidence, and passion.

6. We will end every game with a possitive turnover ratio.

7. We will support and believe in our teammates.

I believe these things are fundamental to our success. I'll spend some time explaining these over the next few posts.

For now, I think it's important to point out that I'm trying to focus on the "controllable" things. John Wooden is one of my coaching heros and I have to give him credit for driving this home for me. You'll notice the words "State Championship" or "Win the East Region" aren't in that list. They are important bench marks that let us know how we are doing but they are an outcome of action not an action you can control. We definitely think winning is important but how you win is more important.

More to come.

WHO'S ON YOUR TEAM

I've always found it ironic that people will join a team, set goals to accomplish something and then fight with the very people that can help them accomplish the goals. I think we do that as coaches. I'll be the first one to admit that it's a weakness of mine.

How can you make sure your team doesn't fall apart because of petty disagreements or differences of opinion? I'm not sure I know enough to have the final say on what works and what doesn't but here's what I've learned so far:

1. Have the courage to approach disagreements head on.
Whether you are the leader or the follower you have to be willing to deal with differences of opinion. If issues are unresolved and you keep them bottled up you'll never work effectively. You may even be tempted to voice them to people outside of the team or coaching circle and that's when the real problems start.

2. Recognize the nature of disagreement and don't see them as a negative.
I used to think that anyone that disagreed with me was wrong. I was ready to defend my opinions at the drop of a hat. I had to learn that disagreement was healthy and if handled correctly could be a great stepping stone in building a team.

First of all you can't fear differences of opinion. They are the natural outcome of bringing individuals together. No two people have had the exact same experiences so everybody will look at the world just a little different. Building a team means you talk about your differences in a way that, when your done, you understand the other person's point of view, respect their right to have an opinion, and then find a way to make the difference of opinion a strength rather than a weakness.

3. Don't become defensive.
I believe it is a skill or a God given trait to not be defensive. Think for a second about what your opinions are. They are what you believe because of your experience and teaching. Are they you? Do they dictate who you are? If the answer is yes, then you probably get defensive every time someone challenges your opinion because they are attacking "you".

My wife gets the credit for kick starting my change of attitude. I was talking to her about how I was tired of getting everyone mad every time I talked to them. She said, "You should fight for correct principles, not opinions." That did it for me. There are things worth fighting for but my pride isn't one of them.

If you are going to be a good team member you have to let your pride take a hike. If you have a solid foundation of correct principles you can listen to other people's opinions, compare them to the principles you know and then deal with them in a productive way. Again, getting defensive is just pride at work and it will tear your team apart. Believe what you believe but be willing to change if what you believe is wrong.

4. Never leave a discussion angry or on the defensive.
This is great advice no matter what your doing. If you can avoid becoming angry and defensive that's always the best road but if things get heated, don't allow the conversation to end without letting the other person know you respect them and their willingness to have an opinion. Most importantly, you must recommit yourself to the goals of the team. It is possible to fundamentally disagree with someone and still be great teammates that respect each other.

Teams win when individuals can't because teams go through the process of growth that comes from melding opinions and then approaching their goals together.

FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME

This is just a reminder to take some time to breathe.

Summertime should be a time to build strength, size and generally rest from the specific sports you are involved in. Remember, sports are supposed to be fun and you'll enjoy them more when you're not burned out.

The only thing you should make mandatory for yourself is lifting weights. Your athletic talent will improve if your body is strong and healthy.

Take a break from the competitions, tournaments and all the other sport specific things for a while and I'll bet you'll have a better season this next year.

A CHANGE OF APPROACH

When I first started coaching I tried to motivate kids by showing them the personal benefits of their actions. "If you'll lift you may get a scholarship" or "If you'll come to the summer practices you will be able to play more" were common phrases for me.

My staff and I have discussed a different approach and I'll be introducing it this season. We want to encourage our athletes to play for something bigger than themselves. It's not a new concept but it's been underemphasized. We'll encourage our players to play for their teammates, community and school.

Playing for your teammates isn't an earthshattering idea. We just want to emphasize it. We hope that our athletes will be motivated by each other. It's easier to get up in the morning to lift weights if you know your teammates are expecting you to be there.

Playing for tradition is a lost art. Snowflake's tradition includes a great alumni and community base. I think our kids are very community minded. They are constantly doing service projects and other work in the community. However, I don't know if they understand that the Snowflake tradition was built by members of the Snowflake community and alumni. There's a disconnect from our past. I'd like to have our kids play in such a way that the community members and alumni can be proud of their team. I'd like to include our alumni and community in our program in any way I can. First however, we want our athletes to be taught where the Lobo tradition comes from.

That leads into the next point. School pride. Snowflake has a long, proud tradition of excellence. Our student body is made up of great students. Not all of them are athletes, musically minded or even academically gifted. However, they are all an important part of our school. Every student, past and present, deserves a team they can cheer for and be proud to call their own. Our football team is a representative of the school and it's students. I'd like our athletes to understand that. To help build that connection we'll sing the Fight Song or Alma Mater before every game we play. We'll do it in front of our stands and invite the fans to sing and the band to play. We're all on the same team and we all want the same thing, Snowflake success!

With this new focus will come change and that change will lead to great seasons to come.

WELCOME TO A NEW SEASON

Spring ball is in full swing. I feel very fortunate to have an athletic department that allows us to practice during this time. This will be the first time Snowflake will hold spring practices for the full time allotted to us by the AIA. It's experimental, but we are seeing the benefits already.

I want to wish good luck to the other sports as they move through the state tournaments. Make us proud!

I've passed on to the football players the following information.

2008 Football Awards Banquet
May 14, 7:00pm at the HS Cafeteria. Awards and Highlight Film (short version) will follow in the auditorium. Highlight films can be purchased for 10$.
This will be a POT LUCK dinner. Please bring enough for 10 people.
Freshmen – Desert
Sophomores – Salad /Bread
Juniors – Main course
Seniors – Main course

More announcements will come.

DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT WE WERE?

I met this week with a man from the state department of education. He was reviewing our academic offerings at the high school and recommending changes that would help us improve. Over and over he would compliment our work and then say, "now, this is great but how can we take this good program and make it great?" He was a former coach so he kept using analogies like, "OK, this is a 7-4 team, how do we become undefeated." The amazing thing is, decisions were made that the teachers bought into and when the meeting was over everyone wanted to improve their programs because they liked being challenged.

I walked away from that meeting asking myself the same question about the football program. How do we take our 7-4 team and create a great program? There's no question that it's possible. Snowflake was a terror 15 years ago. Nobody wanted to play them because they were big, strong and they always won. Then I realized, that's a long time ago.

Therein lies the problem. I think I can illustrate it best by relating a visit I had recently from one of our coaches. After smalltalk, he asked if I knew the proud history of the athletic program. He was concerned that I was discounting all that had been accomplished at the school when I was asking for change.

I grew up playing Snowflake in most of the sports. I remember getting beat by them 60-0 my Junior year. They went on to win the State Championship. So, yes I had a pretty good idea of the things that had been done in the past.

My question is, and I directed it to this coach, "Yes, we had a great winning tradition, we had state championships, we were a feared school. But when was our last state championship? I don't mean individual championship like Wrestling, or cumulative championship like in track, but a team championship? This coach couldn't think of one in the past 10 years. My point was proven.

We are hanging on to a past life of greatness. I'm not a part of that past life. All I see is what is. Every coach laments for what they could have had if only something would have been different. I want to say at the end of my coaching career that I never sat back and waited for someone to do something so my teams could be successful. I don't care about what we were. That's for the old men to talk about. I care about what we are because that's what my players will remember when they are the old men.

THINGS I WISH I KNEW IN HIGH SCHOOL

Everyone has a different experience with high school sports. I had the experience to be trained by one of the better coaches in the state in Coach Hoyt. When I graduated 8th grade, the weight program was non-existent and I watched as Coach Hoyt took that program from nothing to something special in four years.

With all this great teaching, I still look back and would improve on what I did. This list is short because of great coaching but if it helps anyone, then it's worth writing.

1. I would lift harder.
First of all I didn't start lifting until I was a sophomore. Lifting weights wasn't a part of the athletic programs like it is now. I lifted hard and had some good max lifts for a high school athlete but now that I know more, I wonder how much better I could have been if I'd actually been in a "program" that pushed me.

I think one of the reasons I really like the program that I'm using now is that it is what I wish I had when I was in high school.

2. Running long distance doesn't have much benefit for trained athletes.
I ran about 5-9 miles a week depending on what we were doing at practice. I had been told that running would get me in shape; so I ran. I didn't work on agility much and sprinting was a necessary evil that I would do once a month.

The real problem was that I burned off most of my calories by running. I'd eat like a horse, (8 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch) and then work out and then run 2 miles home. Instead of letting the calories build muscle, I burned them off by running. Make no mistake, I got ripped but not very big and my strength suffered for it as well.

3. Getting a scholarship takes effort and you need to start your sophomore year.
I was the typical small town athlete. I assumed someone would walk in and hand me a "full ride" if I was good enough to deserve it. Since then I've realized that getting a scholarship is all about networking and getting your name out to the coaches. I was offered a full scholarship to NAU because I attended one of their camps and they noticed me. I had letters coming from all over because my coach put my name on a mailing list.

4. You don't have to choose between going on a mission and getting a scholarship.
Knowing what you will do when you graduate will allow you to make good decisions. I sat across from the table from the NAU coach and he offered me a full ride and I had to turn him down because I was going to go on a mission. My mistake was trying to pursue two things that I couldn't do at the same time, a mission, and play football in college.

There's a rumor out there of the phantom "school that will hold your scholarship" but most of the time that's just a promise to look at you again when you get back. BYU now has a "prefered walk on" program for athletes they are interested in that have recently returned from missions. But make no mistake, no school is going to keep a scholarship in their hands when they can give it to a good player immediately. If you come back and they want you bad enough, they will find a scholarship for you.

If I could do it over again I would pursue a college scholarship differently. I would make it very clear to all the coaches that I was interested in playing for them after I returned from my mission. Then instead of remembering me as the kid that lead them on and then dropped the "mission bomb", I could be the kid that was a good player that was worth talking to when I got back.

5. Having no regrets is awesome.
I can honestly say I did everything I knew how to do to improve and to play hard. The awards and certificates don't compare. When the final whistle blows, it's a great feeling to know that you left it all on the field, not only in how you played, but in how you prepared. If I could give my athletes one thing it would be the experience of walking off the field having spend their time wisely.

6. You don't need a girlfriend, parties, or video games to survive.
This is more of a truth than a regret. I never had a girlfriend and I still survived socially. My parents made the expectations very clear and I'll set those expectations with my kids. "DON"T GET A GIRLFRIEND." It just makes the world less complicated and safer. I was focussed and I was good and that helped more than any physical preparation I could have done.

As for parties, I'm talking about booze and drugs. Obviously you don't need those.

Video games are a scourge to our kids. They are an alternate reality that makes us feel like we've accomplished something. There's nothing wrong with taking time off every once in a while but don't sacrifice your time for worthless play.

It takes hard work to be great. It takes more now than it did 10 years ago. What I did in high school isn't enough to win now. As the sports world gets more competitive Snowflake is going to stay on top because we like hard work and we're willing to do it.

IT STARTS THIS SUMMER

I've spent a lot of time looking into different strength programs and researching the programs that bring the best results. I believe I've found the program that will take us to the next level. Now, before we break out the party hats, you have to remember some things.

First, programs are tools and they only work as well as they are followed. We will see results when the athletes comply with the workouts. I think these workouts are fun and challenging and leave enough room for variety that the athletes will want to work out.

Second, we still have a lot of work to do to get a weight room that meets the minimum needs of the atheltes. I'm not talking about machines. I'm talking about good old fashioned dumbbells. I know it's hard to believe but we need about 30,000 to get the weight room into decent shape. However, we'll make due and improve what we can.

I'm going to adopt Joe Defranco's training system that he's used for years to train some of the best atheltes in the country. The results of his program speak for themselves. The workouts are exciting and, more importantly, are built on good science.

I've included a link under the "LINKS" section to the right if you'd like to do some research of your own on what he does.

WINNING ISN'T EVERYTHING? WHY NOT?

Have you ever worked around somebody that didn't put on deodorant? How about talking with someone that has bad breath? It doesn't matter how great a person they are, you are always distracted by the smell. Eventually you move away from them because you don't feel comfortable around them.

That's how I feel about the phrase "winning isn't everything". It stinks. It's a cop out. It says to me that you aren't willing to work to be the best.

The problem is the concept is true in principle. There is more to life than always winning. Coaches that don't remember that fact get lost in the game. Parents that don't remember that fact become critical of the coaches and their athletes. Players that don't remember that fact are doomed to disappointment. In the larger scheme of things winning a state championship is an accomplishment that means very little by itself.

So, if winning isn't everything, what is? To me, learning how to be a winner is everything. It stays with you forever and is applicable in any circumstance.

When you're faced with getting an education but the road is hard, how do you win?
When your marriage is struggling, how do you win?
When you've done things you aren't proud of, how do you win?
When you watch your kids doing things that disappoint you, how do you win?

Winning a state championship may not be the pinnacle of all achievement but does that mean it isn't worth working toward? No. Accomplishing it is a training ground for learning how to win. If you consider the process of becoming a state champion, the title itself means very little but what it stands for means everything.

What does becoming a state champion mean to me?

1. You were willing to sacrifice to achieve your goal.
2. You faced the fear of failure and won.
3. You became strong physically, mentally and emotionally.
4. You worked with others.
5. You were dedicated and overcame obstacles.

So, winning isn't everything as long as you have trained yourself to become a winner. If you've left behind your old self and became a better, stronger person then winning the game is just a part of the process. But when a winner loses a game he figures out why and tries not to do it again. He may accept the loss but he doesn't accept losing. He may believe winning isn't everything but he never uses the phrase as a cop out.

AN EYE OPENER

Every once in a while you see something or hear something that changes you in such a way that you look at the world differently. Last week I watched Joe Defranco's DVD called "Strong". From very humble beginnings he has built a reputation as someone that gets results. His philosophy is "if you have one more in you then you should do one more." His workouts are so tough that only the very motivated can complete them, yet, people travel from all over the world to train with him.

As I watched the movie, I expected to see a documentary on his training methods. Instead, I saw a documentary on his athletes. I saw tough minded people seeking out this coach because they wanted to be pushed. They wanted to win so bad that they were willing to put their bodies through workouts that pushed them to the edge of their abilities.

The results speak for themselves. All of his athletes had become successful. Joe said it best in one of his interviews. "When these kids come up against their opponent, they know the kid across from them couldn't survive the workouts they had to do. They know they are tougher and want it more. They know they are going to win."

One thing I noticed about all the atheltes is that they all were driven by their goals to achieve. They all had a reason to be there. When the workouts were at their worst the atheltes would remind each other that they wanted to be a champions. They wanted to work so hard that nobody could intimidate them.

The workouts this summer will be reflective of what I've learned. Instead of forcing all the atheltes to come in and work out I'll invite them to find the courage themselves.

MISTAKES I'VE MADE

Everybody makes mistakes. It's part of the learning process. Although I wouldn't give up what I've learned over the past 5 years of being a head coach, I regret that the people I coached with and the kids had to go through the growing process with me.

1. Support the head coach. When I started coaching in Winslow I didn't do a very good job at this one. I thought the coach had some flaws that I had to personally point out to him. If I had to do it all over again I would assist the head coach more and criticize him less.

2. Don't take a job where the employer is desperate and you are the only applicant. I would never say that becoming a head coach when I did was a mistake but the circumstances could have been better. When the employer takes the time to search for a good candidate and you are the one they choose, the employer has to take responsibility for the choice they made. I will never forget the conversation I had with my administration when I was trying to make some improvements in the program and the reply was, "We did you a favor. Aren't you lucky to be a head coach at your age? Don't ask for so much."

3. Have a solid plan and then don't change too easily. I don't know if I could have avoided this mistake because of my inexperience but I think this is very important. This will be my third year in Snowflake. I'm going to put in a system that I believe will help us win. The problem is this will be the third different system I've introduced.

When I first came here I introduced the Wing-T that I had been running for 2 years at Winslow. The next year I saw the A-11 and was introduced it in an attempt to make up for some weaknesses I thought we had. I learned quickly that the A-11 wasn't going to work and switched back to the Wing-T. This year we are making changes that I believe will be my signature as a coach and I will stick with for a while.

Like I said, I wouldn't change the things I've learned because I think we will be at our best this year because of the changes, but I have to rebuild some of the trust I've lost because I seem to be ungrounded.

4. Don't put up with a lack of committment from the players. This one is simple. If an athlete doesn't want to put out 100% effort, train someone that will. I've spent a lot of time and effort trying to force kids to work hard. If I have a lazy senior and a hard working sophomore, I'm going to play the sophomore.

5. Communicate clear expectations to coaches and players. When I started coaching I assumed everyone, coaches and players, knew what to do and how to do it. Everyone wants direction and leadership from the leaders. Don't assume anything. If you want something done, it's up to the leader to make sure the expectations are communicated clearly.

I think above all I've learned that mistakes aren't fatal and if you approach them correctly you can improve yourself.

HOW DO I GO TO COLLEGE FOR FOOTBALL?

This is one of the best articles I've ever read on the recruiting process. Take a look!

http://magazine.stack.com/TheIssue/ArticleDraw.aspx?CID=5050

SUREFIRE WAYS TO WIN

How do you win? It's the question that drives me. I've read books, gone to clinics and interviewed coaches to find ways to win. The more research I do the more I keep coming back to the same answer, "There are no secrets!"
You win because you are:

1. Disciplined
2. Talented in Leadership
3. Mentally Tough
4. Physically Prepared

There's no shortcuts. No special program. No magic pill. Just hard work and grit and committment.

At the beginning of every season Bobby Bowden would always tell his coaches, "If all things are equal, the team with the best talent and best leadership will win."

I used to always think that meant that if you trained leaders and had talent you would win but I was wrong. I had it exactly backwards. Bobby Bowden was telling his coaches to cover the basic keys to success so their good leaders and talented kids could do their jobs and win.

So what are the keys to success? I listed them above. Discipline, Talent in leadership, Mental toughness, and Physical preparation.

Discipline
I think discipline comes from a committment to excellence. You don't get sidetracked. You don't get distracted. You have a job to do and you do it regardless of what else happens. I believe you can teach discipline.

Talent in Leadership
In the end the kids have to play on the field and the leaders on the field are the ones that run the team. There's no mistaking a good leader. He takes the responsibility for those around him. He is passionate about accomplishing the task at hand. He motivates through possitive feedback and a sense of unity. He's committed. I believe you can teach leadership.

Mental Toughness
Mental toughness comes from sacrifice. It is the inability to give up because of a sense of confidence, ownership and committment.
Confidence comes because you know what to do and have done it well and you know you can do it again.
Ownership comes because you've put in the time to demand the respect of your opponent. You are a part of what is happening around you.
Committment comes as you are tested over and over and successfully keep your priorities in line. Every time an athlete works so hard that they have to ask themselves if it's worth it, they get a chance to develop toughness by answering "Yes!"

Physical Preparation
I believe physical preparation is the avenue to all the other keys to success. Not only can you train the body to play at a high level but you can also train the mind. Leadership is taught during physical preparation as the athletes work together and encourage and teach each other. Confidence comes as the athletes get stronger. Discipline comes from attending workouts on a regular basis. Mental toughness comes from completing tough workouts and then getting up the next morning when you are sore to do it again.

If you'll remember back to what Bobby Bowden said, "If all things are equal..." As a coach I am committed to improving in the "things" that will make us competitive with the best team in the state. As the other teams around us ask more of their kids we have to ask more from ours. This season will be the year to catch up and play with the big boys. We will be expecting more of them because we want them to be winners.

WE NEED LEADERS, NOT MANAGERS

A great article came out recently in a business magazine. The author talked about the need for more leaders and fewer managers. I agree. Drawing the distinction is as easy as defining the terms.

A leader - sets the philosophy, sets goals, organizes how to get there and then moves his people in the right direction. A leader is constantly evaluating those he works with because he wants to reach his goals. He is also evaluating himself.

A manager - looks just like a leader in most respects but lacks the vision and direction and the desire to get there.

A leader will challenge the system to find a better way. A manager doesn't care what the system is as long as it doesn't interupt his management.

People like managers if they like being told what to do and just getting by.
People hate managers if they are driven.

People like leaders because leaders stand for something and believe in it. they set clear guides of what will be happening so the follower can decide to follow or not.
People hate leaders if they don't like change and being asked to fit into a program.

Managers like keeping themselves out of the spotlight of decision making because they fear what people think.
Leaders like being able to make the decisions because they are achieving something.

Leaders stand out in a crowd because they almost always have an oppinion and don't mind expressing it.
Managers are a dime a dozen and you find them around you all the time but you never notice them.

Leaders make enemies because taking a position means others will disagree with you.
Managers avoid conflict because they don't feel like they have a position worth fighting over.

Managers don't instill much confidence because they don't have high expectations.
Leaders create life long friends because they inspire others to do their best. Whether they mean to or not.

The world needs more leaders. Our programs need more leaders. Our schools, communities and businesses need more leaders. I love football because it trains people to be leaders.

I'M DONE. FINALLY!

This week I finished my Masters degree in PE and Coaching. To say I've learned a lot would be an understatement. The only bad thing about getting my masters degree is that I have to pay for it now. It's unfortunate that the economy had to go bad at the same time I finished.
Now instead of making money because I'm educated, I'm actually losing it.

I figured out today that if I used my coaching stipend to pay for my masters it would take me the next 15 years to pay it off. I'm not bitter, just laughing at the irony of the situation.

However, no matter the situation, I'll always be glad I went through the struggle to learn what I learned and get the expertise in the field so I can be better.

HIGHER EXPECTATIONS

In January I attended a football clinic in southern California. I learned more than I could ever use in one season. I met with coaches from all over the southwest as well as some college and NFL coaches. Without a doubt it was the best learning experience I've had as a coach so far.

So, what did I learn?

First, and probably most important, I was reminded that the kids in California and the kids in Snowflake are the same. I expected to see kids on film that were 6'2", 220 lbs. Instead I saw kids that were the same as our athletes. One school of 2000 had linemen that averaged 200lbs. Our linemen are bigger than that. That school was the Division 5 CIF champions.

Second, their athletes are required to work out year round. Even the small programs that share athletes require their athletes to lift year round.

Third, I was reminded that we set our own limits. As soon as we sit back and say, "That's all we can do," then our progress has stopped and we won't get better. The programs that are winning year after year are functioning at a different level from ours. Rather than sitting back and being satisfied with taking 3rd place in our conference every year I'm committed to kicking our apathy in the teeth.

We have the potential to be the best team in the state. We have the athletes. We have the numbers. We have the coaches. Now we just need to have a winning attitude and a commitment to take ourselves to the next level.

WHAT IS A REAL WORKOUT?

What is a real workout? Everyone has their oppinion on what works and what doesn't but everyone agrees on one thing, workouts are supposed to be hard. You are supposed to push yourself. If you are really serious about getting better you should get a coach to push you.

How hard can you go? How hard is too hard? There are some basic factors on making sure you get strong the right way.

1. You have to build a base of strength. Can you do 10 pushups with perfect form? If not there's no need to bench press. You have to work from weakness to strength. It takes time and patience.

2. You have to work on speed and explosiveness to become explosive and fast. Have you ever heard about the strongest kid in the school that was never much of a football player? Every school has one. That kid never got out of the weightroom and worked on agility and skill specific work. You have to apply your strength and train your muscles to create power. Being strong is important but it's not enough.

3. Getting a good workout takes mental toughness. Tough workouts are the training grounds for mental toughness. Every coach tries to recreate competition by having their athletes compete in the off season. However, it's just not the same as the pressure of the state finals. Looking at a weight that you don't know you can lift or a workout that you aren't sure you can finish and then having the mental toughness to attack it and win is as good as anything I've ever seen to teach mental toughness.

Take a look at Joe Defranco's idea of a tough workout. Take a look at the grit and toughness in the eyes of the kids he's training and ask yourself if you attack your training like these guys. http://www.strongmovie.com/

A UNIFIED APPROACH

When I first came to Snowflake the school sponsored a clinic put on by Bigger Faster Stronger. It was increadible. We were taught the correct techniques of lifting and Mr. Scurran gave us some great advice. I was excited to get into the nuts and bolts of the high schools weights programs.

I like a lot of the BFS principles, especially for high school students. However, there's one thing that is more important than any exercise and that's unity in purpose. It's extremely important in the BFS program that all the sports buy into the same system. Without this unity there's no chance that the kids will reach their potential.

I am going to start working to create this unity. I'm inviting our athletes to buy into the system that will help us be winners. Whatever it might be. We are not as physically prepared as the teams we are coming up against and that can change.

I hope this will be something that will help us reach our potential.