BEHIND THE LENS – October 23, 2007 –

Defensive Captain
The adrenaline rush of coaching
NCAA Rules and Clearinghouse

Everything is great as we just finished up WEEK 8. I have three topics, so let’s not waste anytime and jump right in.

Defensive Captain
I have never written about this role, so I thought I would take a stab at this one. “Defense wins titles and Offense wins games”. I always thought this statement was true, but now I am totally convinced there is more to defense than just calling a set or formation.

I will be the first to tell you that I know nothing about the stunting of defense. I like listening to the coaches call it from the press box. But I really think that the key is the captain and how he directs the other teammates. It’s not just about saying the defensive jargon; it has to do with the emphasis the captain puts on everybody doing their job.

Leaders who command with authority get results. If your defensive captain is just spitting out the call then you will never win a championship. He must make the call with fear and authority. But it is also up to him to execute above and beyond everybody else. After all, he is the captain.

I called a game the other night and the opposing quarterback was carrying the football on the run like a loaf of bread. The coach never told the team to go for the ball and the captain never said anything either. I am of the humble opinion that somebody has to see these little things in order to make the big plays.

Oh well, enough on observations of the game.

The adrenaline rush of coaching
Coaches who actually call those wild defensive stunts or great offensive plays love the rush it gives them when it works.

The see the weakness of the opponent over the course of several plays, then they make a call that ultimately capitalizes on that specific weakness. This the true commission coaches receive by doing what they do. The money or wage factor is only huge when you coach for some private school that has more money than Wal-Mart.

You can often hear coaches say “let’s run this one, it’s been wide open that last few plays”. These guys just snicker when the weakness unfolds and a small defect becomes a huge score or pickup.

It is their play calling that makes this unfold on the field. The players just need to execute what is being transmitted from the press box at the top.

NCAA Rules and Clearinghosue
We have posted the PDF file up on the site that explains the actual “dos” and “don’ts” of how you actually get into an institution of higher learning. These are the guidelines of being eligible and accepted.

You need to get with your counselor and coach at your school to make sure you have done your homework. If you are a senior and have not yet taken the ACT or SAT, the last time to be eligible is approaching fast.

I was recently talking with someone had not done his clearinghouse paperwork nor had he taken the ACT/SAT. He was worried about a video. I quickly told him “get your house in order, and then come see me”.

You can email me if you have any questions regarding the NCAA Rules and Clearinghouse topic; it’s not that difficult to understand.

That’s A Wrap
Well enough of the topics.

I would like to apologize for the late post as I actually wrote this last Friday but did not email it to the webmaster until today.

By the way, we beat La Vergne by 3 points, but my stomach is still over at La Vergne’s Freedom Field. The Wolverines were in a great position to win, but the kick was a little off.

Oh well, we will make the deadline for this week. Promise.

God bless and Take Care.

From Behind The Lens.
The Stork
“A man who truly delivers”

Football Stars For Tomorrow – www.storkmontgomery.com