Like many of you, once the calendar turns to August, my schedule really starts to heat up right alongside the temperature.  Do I have more deadlines at work?  No…  More outside networking engagements that eat up my free time… Nada…  Once August hits, I am about one thing every waking (and sometimes non-waking) hour that I am not at my REAL job: Coaching youth football!

Each fall, I coach no fewer than 2 teams, but usually more like 4 or 5.  This falls slate has me as the Defensive Coordinator for my son’s squad at Parish Episcopal School(5th grade).  In addition, I am D Coordinator for PES 8th grade, and an assistant defensive coach for the varsity squad.  You may have seen the recent news about our varsity squad here.  I also help run the Youth Football program at the Town North YMCA.  With all of this and the necessary practices, coaches meetings, parent meetings, and other administrative items, it is needless to say that there is hardly time to BREATH from August through November!

Many people feel it is very simple to coach/mentor young kids.  I was the same way… Until I started DOING it.  Getting your point across to kids of ranging ages is sometimes MUCH harder than it appears.  In addition, it is sometimes challenging to shift your expectation level to the level of child you are coaching.   A motivational tactic, might work great for a 10th grader, but falls well short of what a 5th grader needs, especially in terms of coaching football.  An aggressive, in your face, coaching technique that works well for a high school young man is WAY over the top for a young kid who may or may not still sleep with a night light!

All of this is extremely challenging, but I also find it extremely rewarding.  In my 7 years of coaching at PES, I have seen boys turn into men before my very eyes.  I have seen internal demons overcome.  I have seen confidence blossom.  I have seen shy, introverted, downright petrified youngsters morph into type A leaders.  This, is as they say, WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT and the reason I cannot get enough of it.

We are a couple of weeks into this season, and although I am already exhausted, I am walking on air with excitement.  I find myself truly having to challenge myself to concentrate at work each day instead of diagramming a new defensive formation.  I have to actually tell myself to finish my REAL work before I examine our roster.   I have even caught myself forgoing lunch so I can draw up more inventive ways to get to the QB or stuff the run!!!  But, I wouldn’t have it any other way!  I am 100%, FULLY, addicted at this point.

How bout you guys?  Have any of you had some similar positive experiences with mentoring/coaching/teaching youngsters?  What are some of the techniques you employ to garner positive results?

The story broke last night that Brett Favre will not come back for another season with the Vikings. I write this as I try to fight through a GIANT YAWN!

His on again, off again, flirtation with the NFL has grown so tiresome over the last couple of years and has hidden the fact that he simply does not have what it takes to compete at the NFL level anymore. Although this decision was painfully drawn out and kept the Vikings and the rest of the league on hold for a long time, I ultimately think it is the right decision. This will give Favre more time to possibly coach younger kids (he has mentioned he might like to do this), and promote more Wrangler Jeans.

My question is now who will the Vikings try to go after in his stead? My initial thought would be {GULP} Michael Vick. Is this crazy? Maybe so. He and Tavaris Jackson are kinda the same player right? But what about Sage Rosenfels? If the Vikes could start him and bring in Vick for a Wildcat look with AP in the backfield… This could be kinda a nasty combination… Of course, this means the end of the Viking line for Jackson, but I am not so sure they were that excited about him anyway.

Just some thoughts to kick around as we watch all of this play out through training camp. I am fascinated by what is going to happen with Vick and where he is going to land. Which team will have the guts to give him a second chance? Will this team’s fan base embrace or hate him? All great questions… What are your thoughts???

There is NO DOUBT that VIck can PLAY:

Wow!  I have been TOTALLY busy out here.  This is the first time I have sat down to post….

I have been volunteering with the Gridiron Greats foundation for the events leading up to Super Bowl 42.

I think I have done it all:  load boxes, taken inventory, driven people around, thrown away trash, setup signage, print out press releases, updated the website, etc., etc., etc….

But I think the coolest thing I have done was help out Telligent with the official Gridiron Greats Blog.  Telligent has created the number one blogging platform in the world; Community Server.

They have done a wonderful job creating the blog and it looks FANTASTIC.  They have had some of the biggest superstars in NFL history post a blog at the site (Mike Ditka, Conrad Dobler, Andre Reed, Kyle Turly, Darryl “Moose” Johnston, Jackie Slater, and many others).  This has raised the exposure to the website, which in turn has raised the exposure to the foundation’s cause.  Mad “Ups” to Telligent for what they have done.

We have two more days of events before I head home to big D.  I will try to update another blog or two prior to my departure.  Not sure I will be able to however as they have me running!!!

Oh, by the way… Pats by about 10… (But I want the Giants…)

Yes, I know I am a broken record…

 But it is one more day closer…

Well if you don’t already know, tonight is the announcement of this year’s Heisman trophy.  If you don’t know this, you are either not a football fan, or you have been under a rock somewhere.

This year’s finalist are a decent batch, but probably not the most impressive ever:

Tim Tebow – QB – Florida

Darren McFadden – RB – Arkansas

Chase Daniel – QB – Missouri

Colt Brennan – QB – Hawaii

My money tonight is on Tebow.  He has been great all year.  He runs for TDs as well as passes for them.  His only drawback might be his age.  The trophy has never been given to a sophomore.

I think McFadden has a shot also.  I think if he wins it, it will be for the body of his work at Arkansas.  I think it is arguable that this year was not his best year in his collegiate career.  Do you remember last year when he was the Heisman runner up?  Personally, I thought he deserved it more last year than Troy Smith.  If only I had a vote…

 Daniel is a scrappy young Texan that just knows how to win.  He is undersized, but is a baller.  He has a bright future, but I just don’t think that he will win tonight.

Brennan is the longest shot just because of where he plays.  This is unfortunate because I think he is as talented as any of the others, but honestly, no one saw him play.  Also, they didn’t play anyone decent other than Boise State.  He has the disadvantage of playing in a week conference.  This is the major thing that Tebow and McFadden have going for them the most… They played in the very tough SEC.  Daniel has the Big 12 going for him…

I would expect a fairly close vote this year as none seem to be the true standout.  Maybe we will see a close race.

I have to admit that I am a little depressed each year on this night.  This truly means that college football is over except for the bowls and the bowls tend to be somewhat boring at times except for the big ones.  I am facing another 9 month waiting period…  I HATE IT!!!!

Well somehow I will survive…

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I have to admit, every year at this time, I am a tad bit melancholy.  The last of the regular season and conference championship games have been played.  This leaves us with some low tier type game next weekend (Army/Navy, etc.).  It seems that every year, the college football season goes by quicker and quicker.  How can we slow this down?  Please, slow down time….  I don’t want to see CFB go away for another 9 months!

Anyway, the bowl matchups are set:

• LSU vs Ohio St. for the National Championship – I am a big LSU fan in this one.  Somewhat for the close proximity to Dallas of LSU, but also because I think OSU backed their way into this one.  Sure, they only had one loss, but the Big 10 was weak this year and they didn’t have to win a conference championship game.  This team just seems blah to me.  Nothing outstanding, just kinda lucky.  Geaux Tigers!!!
• Oklahoma vs. West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl – I always root for the conference in bowls.  Boomer Sooner!  I think this will be an interesting matchup if Pat White is healthy for the Mountaneers.  He is an exciting QB that runs their spread, zone read offense perfectly.  OU will be challenged to stop this attack.  OU’s offense has been solid all year with a somewhat under publicized QB in Bradford.  This will be a good game.
• Kansas vs. Virgia Tech in the Orange Bowl – I gotta root with my heart for the Jayhawks.  I can remember so many fall afternoons in Lawrence watching the Hawks get killed by Nebraska, OU, etc. in the old Big 8.  For this reason, this year has been pretty cool to see.  I only wish they could have beaten Mizzou and played OU for the Big 12 title.  Realistically, I think they will have their hands full vs VaTech.  This will be a battle of two solid special teams.  Hopefully they KU offense can move the ball on a rigid VaTech defense.
• Hawaii vs. Georgia in the Sugar Bowl – This will be a nice game to watch just to see what Hawaii is all about.  Is Brennan really that good?  Georgia has no way of winning in this game… If they win, they are supposed to… If the lose, they are a laughing stock losing to a non traditional BCS conference team.  Just ask OU about this after last year’s collapse against Boise St.
• USC vs. Illinois in the Rose Bowl – I always watch the Rose Bowl.  It is the Grandaddy of them all.  The pagaentry of the Rose Bowl is always incredible.  I think this years matchup is likely to be one sided the way USC has been playing.  They have shaken the cobwebs off from the early losses and are playing as well as anyone lately.  Illinois has had a surpisingly good year, but I don’t think they can hang with the Trojans.

There are a bunch of other good bowls that I might breakdown sometime later.

I am always happy to see the bowls come around, but sad to see the CFB season go…

Ok, so here is my game coverage blog for the Packers vs. Cowboys…

It looks like the Packers will get the ball first. 

Nice interview with Roger Staubach.

Nice opening kickoff with a return to the 30.

First play, nice slant pass by Favre.

Second pass was almost picked on the sideline.

I like these Cowboy uniforms.  Especially the helmets.

Favre goes deep to Jones, but overthrows him.  They are going at Reeves.

3rd and 10… Offsides on Ware…

3rd and 5…  Complete to James Jones.  Nice catch.

First run off tackle to the right for about 5.  Decent run by Grant.  The Pack are moving the ball.

Same play, other side.  Now 3rd and 2.

Great play by Newman

Field Goal attempt is good.  3-0 Packers.

First Cowboys series will start with good field position after a good return by Miles Austin.

Cheerleaders are sooo hot…

 Run by Jones for not much to start the series.  Sets up 2nd and long.

Throw to the sideline to TO.  Harris appears to intercept and makes a huge argument after not getting the call.  Delay of game called on him for spiking the ball.  Was the ball stripped by him or not.  McCarthey is challenging whether the catch was actually made or not.

ANOTHER COMMERCIAL!!!!

Cowboys win the challenge.  Green Bay charged a timeout.

First and ten.. Short field. 

Swing pass with nice run by Jones.  Good 20 yard or so gain.

Nice Run up the middle by Jones to the 10 or 11.

Throw to Crayton… Incomplete.

Inside run.  Short of first down.  4thand 2.

Great play by play online coverage: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?season=2007&week=REG13&game_id=29371&icampaign=dw6_001

Field goal to tie….  Good.   3 – 3  with 8:23 to go in first.

I like the NFL Network commercials…  Funny stuff.

Green Bay to get ball on their second series….

Start at 18 yard line after interesting return.

7 yard pass to Robinson on the sideline. 

Green Bay is coming out in their 5 receiver set quite a bit.

Run on 2nd and 3… Incredible hit by Roy Williams….

3rd and 3… 5 wide… Incomplete… Great pressure by Spencer.

Punt on 4th and 3…  Short return to 37 yard line.

2nd series for the Cowboys…. coming up….

Barbers first run on 1st down… Gets about 5.

1st down toss to TO…

Bryant Gumble keeps calling the Cowboys… the Packers… Moron!

Toss to the left side to Barber.  3 yard gain.

Very nice run for about 20 by Barber.  Another first down…  Huge hole… Run out of the shot-gun formation.

Incomplete pass to TO.  Now 2nd and 10…

Barber runs for very short gain.  Sets up 2nd and 8…

Throw to TO… Dropped.  Probably would have been a first down.

4th down…51 yard field goal is good.  Nice kick… Probably would have been good from 60.  6-3 Cowboys…

Texas Stadium looks cool tonight…

Kickoff to Green Bay…  OK return to 23.

Favre goes deep – intercepted by Ken Hamlin.  Poor throw by Favre.  He appeared to be hit as he threw.

Cowboys ball at midfield.

Rollout throw to TO.  Complete.  First and goal for the Cowboys.

Jones off tackle on the right side to the 3 yard line.

TD pass to Crayton.  Great route.  Great protection.  Great throw.  TD Cowboys.  12-3.  PAT pending…  13-3.

Very efficient drive by the Cowboys.  Very good job of taking a turnover and making it pay for you.  Excellent drive.

Romo throws his 30th TD of the season.  New Cowboy season record.

Kickoff to Robinson.  Return to 28.

Play action throwback to back side.  2 yard gain.  Nice defensive play by Brady James.

Favre overthrows Driver deep to the corner.  3rd and 6 now.

Throw to Jones, dropped.  But flag in secondary. 

12 men on field penalty. 

Timeout Dallas.  Dallas appears to be confused on defense and called the timeout to save a sure first down for Green Bay.

3rd and 1…Run by Grant for the TD…  13-9 Packers…  PAT pending… Good… 13-10 Cowboys…

Missed tackles by both safeties allowed the run to spring for TD.

Kickoff to Dallas.  Onside attempt… The kick hit a GB member before 10 yards.  This is a 5 yard penalty and a re-kick.

Nice return on the second kickoff attempt.  Penalty for holding on Watkins. 

End of the 1st quarter.

1st play of 2nd quarter – deep pass to TO.  Great pass, great catch on crossing pattern.  Perfect throw. 

Run up the middle to Jones on 1st down.  Small gain.

2nd down throw to Fasano… TD…  Another great throw.  The pass protection on this play was simply great.  He had ALL DAY to throw!!!

 PAT is good… 20-10 Cowboys.

Quick look at the stats…  TO has 100 yards receiving already.  Romo has thrown for 125.

Kickoff to GB.  Return to the 25.  Hard tackle.  The KO coverage is playing well tonight for the Cowboys. 

10 yard holding penalty.

Off tackle run to the left side for a 3 yard gain.

Quick toss to the right side for the first down.

Flea flicker attempt to deep throw…  Incomplete.  Well covered by the safeties.

Another attempt deep by Favre.  Should have been picked.  Interception is dropped.

3rd and 10… Complete to James Jones for the first down.

Sweep to the left side.  Immediately stopped by Canty for a 2 yard loss.  Great play by Canty.

Favre is hit hard when he throws.  Intercepted by Newman.  Great pressure by Jones.  Favre appears to be slightly hurn on his arm.

Romo goes deep on first play.  Pass interference on GB.  Will be 1st and Goal for the Cowboys.

False start penalty on Columbo.

Touchdown toss is dropped by Fasano.

Call challenged by Wade Phillips.  Call is upheld.  Cowboys lose a timeout.

TD throw to TO.  Great route by TO.  PAT is good.  27-10 Cowboys.

Shocking development… Favre might not return.

Another rather short return.  Drive to start on the 25 led by Aaron Rogers.

Rollout pass, batted down by Spears.

Draw play to Grant for gain of 3 yards.

Rogers scrambles for the first down.  Good pressure on play by d line.  Rogers scrambles up the middle of the pocket for the first.

Throw over the middle broken up by Demarcus Ware.  Great play by Ware to drop into coverage. 

Throw to right side.  Gain of about 4.

3rd and 7 pass attempt.  Incomplete.  Packers to punt.

Punt is downed at the 4 yard line.  Cowboy drive to start at their own 4 yard line.

Romo throws long to TO.  Complete to around the 50.  Kampman hits Romo hard.

Barber runs on 1st down for no gain.

Romo throws to Whitten.  Incomplete.

3rd and 11 – Romo throw incomplete.  First time Cowboys will have to punt tonight.

Punt is almost blocked.

Rogers runs a QB keep for no gain on 1st down.  Mix up in the GB backfield.

Complete pass to Jennings for long gain.  Poor tackling by the Cowboys.  Good yardage after the catch.  Jennings can fly.

Swing pass to Jennings on the right side to Jennings again.  Nice gain.

Sweep to the left side for the 1st down.

1st and 10 – sacked by Ware.  Good coverage.

Screen to the left side for no gain.  Flag on the play.  Offsides on the play.  5 yard penatly.  Burnett appears to be hurt.

Two minute warning…

Toss to the left side for first down by Grant.

Rogers makes a wild throw that is almost intercepted.

Penalty on GB for ineligble receiver downfield.

1st and goal from 15 yard line… Pass complete to Driver to the 11.

TD pass to Jennings.  PAT is good.  27-17 Cowboys lead.  First career TD pass for Aaron Rogers.

Decent return for Cowboys on the kickoff.

Cowboys kneel to end the half leading 27-17.

End of first half…

Another great return to start the second half for the Cowboys.

Drive starts at their 43.

Romo pass incomplete, but defensive holding is called.  Automatic first down.

Run up the middle by Jones for the first down.

Romo pass to Whitten is incomplete. 

Favre is walking back to the field from locker room.  Has sleeve on his arm.

Jones runs off right side for no gain.

3rd and 12… Penalty flags… False start on Columbo again.

Pass to Whitten.  1 yard short of the first down.

4th and 1… Cowboys going for it… Did not get the first down on run by Jones.  Ball goes over to GB.

1st play – Rogers sacked.

Short pass completed to the left side on 2nd down.

3rd and long… Completes pass to Driver for the first down.

Run to the right side for 3 yard gain.

Scramble by Rogers on 2nd down for the first down.

Rogers completes the pass.  Great pass blocking.  He had lots of time.

Grant runs off right side for no gain.  Nice play bey Hatcher in the middle.

Pass over the middle is complete.

 3rd and 4… Sacked by Ellis.  Penalty on Ellis for facemask.

1st and 10 on the eleven.

Pass to Driver to the 2 yard line.

Pass to the 1 yard line.  1st down on the 1 yard line.

TD run by Grant.  27-23 Green Bay… PAT Pending… Good… 27-24 Dallas leads.

Good covereage by GB on the kickoff.

Short pass for a loss of a yard.  Pressure by Kampman.

Another short pass to Barber.  Nice tackle by Hawk.  Again, good pressure by Kampman.

3rd and 14… Delay of game.  Now 3rd and 19.

Long pass to Crayton for the first down.

Romo throws incomplete to the sideline in an attempt to Crayton.

Sweep to right side to Barber.  Penalty flag… Facemask on GB.

Throw to right side complete to TO. Challenged by McCarthy… Play ruled as incomplete pass.  Challenge is upheld.

Pass underneath to TO.  Almost a first down.

3rd and 1… Great run by Barber to the 3 yard line.  Great run.

1st and goal… Delay of game penalty.  Second one tonight for Dallas.

End of third quarter…

1st and goal from the 10.. Draw play to Barber for about 5 yards.

Interception by Harris.  Pass was in and out of the hands of TO.  Packer ball on the 20 after a touchback.  UGH!!!!

Pass across the middle.  1st down…

Burnett blocks pass attempt to James Jones.  Now 2nd and 10.

Pass complete to Driver on sideline.

Rogers sacked by Ware on 3rd down.  Great pass rush by Ware.

Punt fair caught by Crayton.

Pass to Whitten for a first down.

Another first down to Whitten, but holding on Adams is called.

Run by Jones off the right side for no gain.

Throw to Whitten complete.  3rd and 8…

Pass complete to Whitten for the 1st down.

Pass deep to Austin. Penalty flag is thrown… Pass interference.

1st and goal…  Pass incomplete

2nd and goal… Run up the middle by Marion Barber.  1 yard gain.

3rd and goal from the 5… TD pass to Crayton.  33-24 PAT pending… Good.  34-24 Dallas leads.

First down pass to Driver.  First down.

 Long pas incomplete.

2nd and 10… Sing pass to Robinson nearly a first down.

Run by Grant for almost a first down.

4th down… Field goal attempt from 52 yards is good.  34-27 Dallas leads.

Miles Austin return to the 35 yard line.

Marion Barber run for 3 on 1st down.

Pass to Whitten is complete for first down and into Packer territory.

Run by Barber.  Personal Foul facemask penalty on Packers.

Another run by Barber.  Timeout called by GB.  1 remaining for them.

Run by Barber for the first down.

Run by Barber inside for 1 yard gain.

2 minute warning…

Barber runs again off right side.  Stays in-bounds.  Timeout called by GB with 1:51 left in the 4th quarter.

Barber runs again for abou3 yards… sets up 4th and 1.

Field goal attempt from 25 yards is good.  37-27 Dallas leads with 1:03 remaining in the 4th quarter.

Huge hit by Keith Davis on the tackle on the kickoff.

Pass completed to Donald Driver who then gets out of bounds with :49 remaining.

Another pass completed.

Rogers grounds the ball with :33 left.

Incomplete pass on the sideline.

Incompleted pass on 4th down with :24 remaining.

Ball is downed by Romo to end the game.

Dallas wins 37-27.

The HUGE NFC matchup between the Packers and the Cowboys is just hours away.

I have to say that I am looking forward to this game more than any other professional matchup this year.  This includes Indy/New England and New England/Dallas. 

I think these teams matchup well to each other which should lead to a very competitive game.

How will the Pack stop Romo and TO?  The same question can be asked about the defensive scheme Dallas will use to stop Favre and his many weopons.  Driver has been fantastic for them.

How important will the intangibles be?  Kicking game. Turnovers.  Coaching strategy.

Needless to say, it should be great drama.

My only regret is that it is not being covered by the major networks (Fox, NBC, or CBS).  I found the broadcast team for the NFL Network last year rather poor.  I would have much rather seen this game covered by Madden and Michaels.  Or Aikman and Buck.  Or even Simms from CBS.

Lets hope my hometown Cowboys can pull this one off and take complete control of the NFC race for homefield advantage.

Go Cowboys!

The game of the year might just be one day away for the NFL.

 The Packers of Green Bay against the Cowboys of Dallas.  Two storied programs whose histories are as rich as the hatred between the two squads.  The last time they played in Dallas with it meaning as much was in 1995 in the NFC Championship game.  The Cowboys were triumphant on that cold January day.  I was at that game.  I remember not knowing what to think of Brett Favre.  Back then he was very short in the tooth of his career and VERY unseasoned.  I had no idea he would be a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame over ten years later.  He has had a great career, but I think he loses again on Thursday in Dallas.

Dallas has a NASTY defense when it comes to play.  Their pass rush is much improved, which will be key in stopping the pass happy attack led by Favre.  Their backers flow to the ball well and have improved in their tackling.  The secondary has been playing very well led by Terrance Newman.  Even Roy Williams has not had any major breakdowns that have killed them.

 On the offensive side of the ball, the Boys are one of the leagues best.  TO has been simply great.  So has Romo.  Marion Barber is a star in the making and might be one of the best in the league at his position.  The O-Line has been solid all year and continues to overcome slight injuries.

It should be a great game.  It should be great drama with home field advantage in the playoffs at stake.  I hope you have the NFL Network of live in Green Bay or Dallas so you can see it.

Today was a sad day for the NFL.

 Sean Taylor passed away this morning from complications to wounds that occured from a home invasion gunshot at his home in Miami.  He was in the middle of recovering from a knee injury.  What a sad, sad, situation.

This came in the middle of a pretty exciting NFL season, just a couple of days before the HUGE 10-1 matchup between the Cowboys and the Packers.

Speaking of this game… It should be great, if you get to see it.  If you have NFL Network, you will see it.  Or if you live in the Dallas or Green Bay areas.  Otherwise, you may need to find the local sports bar to see this matchup.  Never fear however, Jerry Jones is fighting the good fight and trying to get everyone to convert to DirecTv.