Comments on: Athletes in Trouble – Follow Up http://www.seanadams.net/2007/08/04/athletes-in-trouble-follow-up/ Autho, Sportcaster and Public Speaker Sat, 25 Apr 2009 04:38:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Paul Finch http://www.seanadams.net/2007/08/04/athletes-in-trouble-follow-up/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Paul Finch Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:56:42 +0000 http://www.seanadams.net/2007/08/04/athletes-in-trouble-follow-up/#comment-9 Sean: I like how you think! Accountability needs to be present on each athletic team and it needs to be evenly applied. I once had a defensive lineman who was far more talented than most of the other guys he lined up with or against. His ego and arrogance caught up to his talent and size and he began to get into trouble at school. The teams "starting" policy was amended by the coaches. First, a new depth chart was started each week for all linemen. Second, if you recieved a detention, you did not start and you missed two series of plays for your unit. If there were two detentions in a week, you sat the whole first half. If you were suspended or cut a class or classes, you did not stand with them team on the sidelines during the next game. If you cut another class, or was suspended again, you were off the team PERIOD!! Distinct developments came as a result of our change in our policys. First, our linemen had to develop and compete with each other throughout each week to keep their starting job or to attain a start. And secondly, the G.P.A.s and attendance both appoved dramatically. Thirdly, the intensity of practices improved. And last of all, the self esteem of our players, down to the last person with the least skill, increased incredibly. The parents were most generous with their appreciation. I know our J.V. program cannot compare with the Longhorns overall with all the financial committments and such, but what if it did? What would the leadership in all your athletes look like for the Longhorns? A student athlete knowing a contract of committment could be broken or ammended for these reasons would either "toe the line" or transfer to a lesser school. It is a shame though that our athletes learn ways to bypass the rules in order to stay and play. It is worse of a shame when our coaches create character issue in players by playing favorites no matter what a problem might be. To bad most of the University and College sports programs are no longer about developing character across the board. Perhaps this is why so many players in pro sports get arrested and are still allowed to play. It is too bad money and winning are the bottom line. I do not know how to fix the situation. Maybe a little old school J.V. style would be best. Until our coaching staff broke apart due to moves and family committments, our team lost only the first game we coached and in two seasons our offense scored 3 touchdowns to every 1 scored against and our defense did not allow any team 100 yards in total offense in any of those games while we gained at least 300 yards per game in total offense. We did not have a Vince Young (a great athlete but a better man by character) in those two years. We played more like a team he beat in the Rose Bowl in '95 except we did not have Lienart as a QB either. Our players developed and got in shape on and off the field. The players I run into these days talk about the success they have in life first before they even talk football. This old coach believes that the measure of a great team is made by how players remain faithful to character after their graduation. Sean:
I like how you think! Accountability needs to be present on each athletic team and it needs to be evenly applied. I once had a defensive lineman who was far more talented than most of the other guys he lined up with or against. His ego and arrogance caught up to his talent and size and he began to get into trouble at school. The teams “starting” policy was amended by the coaches. First, a new depth chart was started each week for all linemen. Second, if you recieved a detention, you did not start and you missed two series of plays for your unit. If there were two detentions in a week, you sat the whole first half. If you were suspended or cut a class or classes, you did not stand with them team on the sidelines during the next game. If you cut another class, or was suspended again, you were off the team PERIOD!! Distinct developments came as a result of our change in our policys. First, our linemen had to develop and compete with each other throughout each week to keep their starting job or to attain a start. And secondly, the G.P.A.s and attendance both appoved dramatically. Thirdly, the intensity of practices improved. And last of all, the self esteem of our players, down to the last person with the least skill, increased incredibly. The parents were most generous with their appreciation. I know our J.V. program cannot compare with the Longhorns overall with all the financial committments and such, but what if it did? What would the leadership in all your athletes look like for the Longhorns? A student athlete knowing a contract of committment could be broken or ammended for these reasons would either “toe the line” or transfer to a lesser school. It is a shame though that our athletes learn ways to bypass the rules in order to stay and play. It is worse of a shame when our coaches create character issue in players by playing favorites no matter what a problem might be. To bad most of the University and College sports programs are no longer about developing character across the board. Perhaps this is why so many players in pro sports get arrested and are still allowed to play. It is too bad money and winning are the bottom line. I do not know how to fix the situation.
Maybe a little old school J.V. style would be best. Until our coaching staff broke apart due to moves and family committments, our team lost only the first game we coached and in two seasons our offense scored 3 touchdowns to every 1 scored against and our defense did not allow any team 100 yards in total offense in any of those games while we gained at least 300 yards per game in total offense. We did not have a Vince Young (a great athlete but a better man by character) in those two years. We played more like a team he beat in the Rose Bowl in ‘95 except we did not have Lienart as a QB either. Our players developed and got in shape on and off the field. The players I run into these days talk about the success they have in life first before they even talk football. This old coach believes that the measure of a great team is made by how players remain faithful to character after their graduation.

]]> By: Leonard Moore http://www.seanadams.net/2007/08/04/athletes-in-trouble-follow-up/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Leonard Moore Thu, 09 Aug 2007 19:23:45 +0000 http://www.seanadams.net/2007/08/04/athletes-in-trouble-follow-up/#comment-5 Sean, Excellent article!!! I will certainly be using your blog in my class. Good stuff! Leonard Sean,

Excellent article!!! I will certainly be using your blog in my class. Good stuff!

Leonard

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