Coach Haynes' Football Blog

TINKERING

2009-07-25T04:52:00.002-04:00

One of my own personal struggles this season has been trying to find out how much to tinker with the football team that I have. On the one hand, it's nearly a brand new team and I need to find out how the pieces best fit together. On the other hand, most of the players do have experience – after all, many were on hand to support the starters they replaced in the national championship seasons. So, can you make a change just to see how it will work out, or should all of the changes be well thought out in advance?

The fact that we have players playing out of position up and down the roster would probably make fans and onlookers think that I'm eager to experiment. But up to this point, I've only moved players out of necessity. Making a linebacker play the offensive line can certainly help when you don't have enough linemen, but, of course, it's not as good as having a true lineman. We have had success, so far, with such changes with players like Sean Thomas and Tim Gravelin playing exceptionally well on the offensive line, but they would help us so much more if they could concentrate on the defensive side of the ball.

With the injury to C Rudy Castro last weekend, we found that we needed yet another player to "fill-in" on the offensive line. The suggestion was made to move starting TE Jeff McMahon inside to play the tackle position and I was quite reluctant. McMahon is the ideal TE and has a rare combination of size and speed that made him a perfect fit for our offense. To change his position meant bringing in a slower player at TE. Though the replacement was just as big and strong and has great hands, he won't stretch the field as much as McMahon can. So, I hesitated and dismissed the change, but finally gave in to see what would happen.

We made the switch during the last half hour of practice on Thursday and the impact was almost immediate. All of a sudden, the offensive line looked like a unit and it happened as fast as turning on a light switch. We had great running lanes and excellent pass protection at a practice for the first time all season, and that's a huge relief to not only me but to our entire team. And great thanks to Jeff McMahon who sacrificed his desire to play TE for the good of the team. That's Ice Storm football.

I usually say that football is a team game and it takes a team, not an individual, to win or lose. That being said, what a difference that one move has made so far. Now, it's only practice, and only one practice at that. I don't know if this is a sign of better things to come for our offense, but if this experiment does work, we'll all have Jeff McMahon to thank for it.

Steady Improvement

2009-07-14T04:43:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago I talked about being optimistic that our team would hit its stride but not knowing exactly when that stride would be hit. I think that you could see a bit more rhythm from out team in this past weekend's 13-6 loss to the Quebec Titans. We had several offensive drives of 40-yards or more, were able to create stops and turnovers on defense, and ran a punt 103-yards for a touchdown.

However, miscues again cost us a victory. Four interceptions, several fumbles, and penalties disrupted the rhythm of the entire team, but especially the offense. The difference in the game might have boiled down to two big plays. The first was a late first quarter interception that Quebec ran in for a touchdown. The second was the aforementioned 103-yard punt return that was called back because of a penalty. If these two plays had gone our way, we might be talking about a 13-7 Vermont victory.

Quebec is a big, powerful football team and we took everything they threw at us in stride. That's quite encouraging considering they are the defending EFL champions. Our defense held them for three and a half quarters until giving up a touchdown. However, our offense gave away too many opportunities for us to earn the victory. We need much more steady play from that unit to be where we want to be at the end of the season.

We get another opportunity to play better, more consistent football this weekend against Plattsburgh. The North Stars, like the Titans are a well-coached and disciplined football team and we will have play much better than we have been so far to come away with a victory. Our team is learning a lot of lessons about team football the hard way, but we are learning quickly. If we can execute and play to our potential, we have a great chance to win. Only time will tell.

EXPECTATIONS

2009-07-02T15:07:00.001-04:00

One of the toughest jobs of a coach is to manage the expectations of his team. When expectations are too high, no matter how much success you do have, not meeting all of your goals can be seen as a failure. Set expectations too low and you can give your team a feeling of hopelessness that they might not recover from. So, there is an interesting balance between being hopeful and being realistic that must be struck.

So, what are the expectations for the 2009 Vermont Ice Storm? After this weekend's 32-14 defeat at the hands of the Southern Vermont Storm, I'm sure that many of the Ice Storm faithful are a bit nervous. After all, wasn't this team 30-2 over the past two seasons and played for two national championships? Shouldn't we expect this year's Ice Storm to follow up with another run at the nationals? Hold on a sec, and let's take a closer look.

Imagine, for a moment, that we're discussing your favorite college football team. This team isn't one of the really big schools, but a team that is usually not at the top but consistently "in the mix". Then the team goes on a magical run: four years where they finish at the top of their conference and play in major bowls. But this year, the team is losing its coaching staff and 15 of its 22 starters. A team that was once dominated by upperclassmen now has freshmen and sophomores at most of its starting positions. How would you say they would do? Probably not too bad, but probably not as good as the previous four years either.

Similarly, this isn't the Ice Storm team of 2007 or 2008. When you open your programs this season, you'll see many new names and you'll struggle for a few games to get used to the new numbers in new positions. Although most of our number one's have been around for a few years, they will be starting together for the first time. Those who saw the game at Southern Vermont could see that, while we did make some great plays, we struggled to achieve total cohesion and balance last Saturday.

I have no doubt that this team will hit their stride, but when that stride will be hit is the big question. I sure hope it's sooner than later, but the truth of life is that you never really know. What I do know is that this team continues to work hard every day to compete for a championship. I also know that once things start to click with this team we'll be very, very hard to beat.

I expect that we'll be the underdogs in every game we play this year. I expect that we'll get off to a slow start, but it won't take long for us to put all the pieces together. I expect us to make a lot of noise near the end of the season and into the playoffs. Will I be right? I expect we'll find out!

A Football Dynasty Close to Home

2009-02-28T14:42:00.000-05:00

Let’s take a little quiz. What is the best football team in Vermont this decade? Interesting question, isn’t it? At the youth level, it might be the South Burlington Dolphins — man those kids are good. At the high school level, Middlebury and Rutland have to be strongly considered and perhaps South Burlington as well.

What about the team with the following resume?
· Eight seasons played with a 92-25 overall record (79% winning percentage).
· Eight straight winning seasons.
· Eight straight playoff appearances.
· Five League Finals Appearances
· Two League Championships
· Two National Championships

It might sound hard to believe that a team that good is playing football in Vermont, but they are. The team I’m talking about is the Vermont Ice Storm semiprofessional football team.

Over the past eight years, the Ice Storm has been one of the dominant teams in the New England region, finishing in the regional top ten rankings for the last four years and in the national top ten for the past two seasons. The team won back-to-back national championships in 2007 and 2008; that’s right, national championships.

Head coach Doug Perez and the leadership of the Icestorm have built a dynasty in Vermont; one we should all be proud of. The Icestorm is a major player on the national stage and proves that a team from a rural state can play the game, and win, against big city teams. Coach Perez had that vision from day one, and made it a reality.

With Coach Perez’s retirement, the Icestorm enter a new era. With such impressive groundwork already laid, expectations are very high. The new head coach inherits very large shoes to fill and a lot of tradition to live up to, but he also inherits a great football tradition and a host of experienced players.

What will happen in 2009 and beyond? I wish I knew, but I can say one thing for sure: as the new head coach of the Icestorm, I’m ready for the challenge.

One for the Ages

2008-11-07T13:42:00.002-05:00

I wept openly for nearly an hour after the television newscasters announced that Barak Obama had been elected as the 44th President of the United States. As an African-American who grew up in the deep south, I have experienced being told that Blacks just aren't good enough or smart enough to do certain things in American society. Because of this, I never thought that I'd live to see a man who, though biracial, identified himself as Black would be elected President.

The television cameras caught many people, and not just African-Americans, who were weeping. The Obama candidacy has moved us all in various ways, but for all of us it gives us a tremendous feeling of hope. Hope that the current President, George W. Bush, failed to inspire after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Then, Americans were ready to rally around our President, and each other, and forge ahead together as a united people. But the call for unity never came.

President-elect Obama has sounded the call since he first announced his candidacy. And it continued as he accepted the challenge to become the 44th President of the United States with these words:

"And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

"What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek -- it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

"So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers -- in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people."

My father spoke reverently of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and I don't know that I've ever understood his deep appreciation of the man. To the generation that was born after Dr. King, his name is as important as those of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, but elicit little emotional reaction.

However, now we can understand how the generations before us have felt. In the same way that my father speaks about Dr. King, I have someone to speak to my children and grandchildren about -- and his name is Barak Obama.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know that this forum is usually about my thoughts on football, but I thought the opening topic too important. Also, I've decided to take my own advice and take Catamount football a lot less seriously. So, with this footnote I'll say that the "fun bunch" finished their season 2-5 with both wins over the Vermont Ravens.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I want to congratulate the senior class of Champlain Valley Union High School's football team on finishing their 4th year of football. I was lucky enough to be the JV Head Coach at CVU when these young men were freshmen and their graduation will mean that there are no longer any CVU players left that I had the privilege to coach. I wish them all the best on their future endeavors and I want them all to know how proud I am to have coached them!

Only Cowards Hide in Anonymity

2008-10-17T18:21:00.002-04:00

I don’t often get comments to my blog. I treat it as a way to get some thoughts out there for the two or three people in the world that might be remotely interested in what I have to say. It’s my minuscule commentary and opinion on my minuscule part of the world. And because I don’t claim this blog to be anything but opinion, I don’t think people feel compelled to comment.

But I did get a comment last week. It was more like two comments, but by what I assume to be the same individual. I can’t say for sure if it was, because that individual didn’t say who he or she was. Personally, I find that cowardly and that's why they aren't posted. Maybe my opinions here are biased, maybe some people find them disagreeable, but at least I am brave enough to put my name on them. I’m not telling people out there what to think, but I do say what I think for good or bad. Either way, I’m brave enough to take a stand and sign my name to it whether people agree or not.

Part of the coward’s argument was that the best thing to happen to UVM football is that I was fired because, to paraphrase, my practices were a joke and that I think I’m the best coach that’s ever lived. He/she also goes on to argue that I lacked the respect of the players because of play calls and other things.

I’ll call him Mr. Coward, because I have no other name to go by and this one fits my current attitude toward him/her. I can only assume that Mr. Coward was a member of the 2007 team that was dissatisfied with my coaching style or game day decisions, or maybe I just got under his skin. Either way I don’t begrudge him his opinions, I just wonder why he was not man enough to identify himself.

That all being said, let me address the comments. I make no excuses for practices; they were what they were. I had, for the most part, an inexperienced staff and needed a practice format that we could all manage. My thanks to the captains of the team who really helped the practices run smoothly, but they needed to be the way they were so that I could oversee everything and make corrections where necessary.

As far as thinking I’m the best coach that’s ever lived, that’s just ridiculous. I’m a good coach, not a great coach or an exceptional coach, but a good one. I can say this because I have gained the respect of not only coaches I’ve coached under, but of coaches I’ve coached against. And I’ve overwhelmingly earned the respect of my players. Almost 75% of the 2007 team sent me emails thanking me for coaching and wishing me the best after they heard I was not coming back. I assume Mr. Coward was not among them.

Do I make mistakes? Every single day! Every practice and every game is a learning experience for any coach. That’s why I put so much time into preparation for each game and made sure each member of the team last year had a scouting report. I prepare and prepare and hope that the hard work is enough to see me coach a perfect game. I’ve still never coached a perfect game, so I know I’ll have to work even harder in the future.

Mr. Coward is upset, I guess, because he feels that I’m taking unwarranted shots at the new UVM coach, David Motherway, and perhaps the program as a whole. I can understand why he feels that way, so let me try to summarize my feeling briefly.

I love my players. Every player that’s ever played for me I feel is part of my family. And just like family’s, there can be good times and bad, agreements and disagreements, closeness and separation, but you’re still family.

I couldn’t care less that I was fired. Trust me, this isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last time. If the Club felt that I wasn’t the right person for the job, that’s their choice. That being said, I still want this program to succeed. There is a rare opportunity here to prove to the state and the university that football can thrive at UVM. It frustrates me that bad decisions were made after my departure that are retarding the development of a football culture.

While Coach Motherway and I have unresolved personal issues, I have no problem with him as a person. I do, however, think that UVM needs a coach with more experience. Otherwise, your stepping backward and calling it progress. A more experienced coach would have more wins this season. I'm confident I'd be 3-3 right now.

In conclusion I do want to apologize for being ill last week and not getting to mention the first win of 2008: and impressive 34-0 victory over a familiar foe, the Vermont Ravens. I was hoping that it would be a springboard for another victory over Bates College but alas, the Cats fell 38-0. I predicted three wins for 2008 and with two games to go, the Cats need to win both. I hope they do.

Catamounts Just Want to Have Fun

2008-10-02T15:24:00.005-04:00

Why do we play football? Of course, the game is a lot of fun, but is that the only reason we play? I've found basketball and rugby just as much fun and poker and chess are great fun without the risk of injury. So why football?

I can only give my own reasons. I like football because it is physical, very competitive, and very cerebral. In some ways, it's like chess with gladiators instead of little wooden pieces. As a player, I loved defeating a single opponent with strength, or with elusive quickness, or even a perfectly thrown pass. There are so many ways to win and the artistry of mixing up the attack was always thrilling.

I'm also a very competitive person, so winning was fun in and of itself. I loved being the victor and basking in the glow of a successful battle. And losing is the great teacher — it always made me want to work harder and get better. I'm old-school, like Lombardi old-school. I've always believed the statement, "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing". Otherwise, why do we keep score?

I bring this subject up after reading the following on the Official UVM Football website (http://www.uvmfootball.com/). I reprint the paragraph here in it's entirety:

"[Coach David] Motherway, however, sees the writing on the wall -- or more specifically, in the e-mails and messages from supportive alumni who hope to revive the program. The team has its own little Quarterback Club in Burlington, the financial support of which Motherway is banking on just to fund the last two road games on this year's schedule. "Am I approaching it as my goal to bring back UVM football? No," said Motherway, a South Burlington resident who played collegiate football at the Coast Guard Academy. "I'm approaching it as, there's 50 kids in that locker room who want to play football, and I'm going to give them an opportunity to play against their peers and have a lot of fun. Our goal has been to have fun while elevating the program. We'll run eight fun plays per game, two per quarter, just because we want to have fun. That's what these guys are all about." "

There's a lot of talk there about "fun", but I noticed that there was no talk about "winning". "Fun" is what this team is all about, apparently. I suppose this is because there's no winning going on right now. After four games in 2007, the Cats were 3-1. In 2008, they are 0-4 and only one game was even competitive. If this is "elevating the program", I don't get it.

When I was hired before the 2007 season, the players told me that "winning" was most important to them. They wanted to play and have "fun", but most of all they wanted to "win" — and we did. But I guess this year's Catamounts aren't interested in "winning" as much as they are in having "fun".

But, hey, it's not about me anymore, it's about the new Catamounts and if "fun" is what they want, I guess I can't complain. I guess that's why I wasn't asked to coach in 2008; maybe I take football and winning way too seriously. Perhaps I should just lighten up. after all, if the UVM Catamounts don't take themselves seriously, why should I?

Another Crushing Blow

2008-09-25T14:11:00.003-04:00

The 2008 University of Vermont Club Football team is now 0-3. It’s hard to believe, but 0-3 they are. After the 2007 season ended with the hope of better things to come, 2008 has been a big disappointment. One of the hardest things to do in coaching is to continue to “rally the troops” after disappointing losses. Unfortunately, this Catamounts team already looks routed.

After a competitive home game against Norwich University, the Cats simply have not shown up for their last two games — both on the road. The first was a 27-0 loss against Williams College. The latest was a 57-3 thrashing at the hands of Dartmouth College. Virtually all of the 2007 team has returned for 2008, so this score was very surprising to me.

Even as I look at the numbers through three games, I can’t believe that this is the same team I coached just last year. Through three games in 2007, the Catamounts averaged 27.7 points per game and were giving up 5.7 points per game. For all of 2007, the averages were 17.6 points per game scored with 13.6 points per game allowed. The 2008 numbers are staggering: 6.0 points per game scored and 37.0 points per game allowed.

Against Dartmouth, Vermont managed less than 100 yards of total offense, according to the Dartmouth Athletic Department website. And, obviously, the defense gave up way too many big plays. I’m shocked, totally shocked, because I know these players are capable of much better performances. UVM is playing far below it’s potential.

I know this team and I know they are capable of more — much more than they are showing so far. These Cats could, and perhaps should, be 2-1, in my opinion. The X-factor, as far as I’m concerned is coaching. There is so much at stake, so many eyes on this team, and so many people’s hopes and dreams of varsity football riding on the success of this team. That being said, if a coaching change was warranted, they needed a coach with more experience. You don’t want on-the-job-training with so much riding on wins and losses.

No one, outside of the small group of students in the club hierarchy, knows exactly why a coaching change was made. No disrespect to Coach Motherway, but I warned the Club that a coaching change would be disastrous, and that the Club should have found a coach with more than a year of coaching experience to lead the team. Clearly, he’s learning, but he’s learning the hard way. And, frankly, after a 54-point loss to Dartmouth, I wonder if he’s lost the respect of this team.

It’s definitely not the coach’s fault, though. It’s the Club’s Board who decided to hire him that should be blamed. They made a huge mistake. I warned them. Now they are 0-3. Hate to say, “I told you so”.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I love college football and can’t resist giving a shout-out to my beloved LSU Tigers. A great win over Auburn this past weekend, but there’s a deeper story.

Les Miles and the Tigers have consistently shown the ability to come back and win games in the fourth quarter. It’s clear that they are confident they can overcome any deficit at any point in the game. But beware, Tiger fans! LSU has consistently had trouble putting SEC opponents away early. Time and time again, the opposition is allowed to come back and take a lead, before LSU scores the final points to win.

This year, with very young quarterbacks, the ability to come back and score on the final drive might just disappear. I just hope it won’t be in a big game.

UVM Football Still Fighting

2008-09-12T15:32:00.001-04:00

The 2008 University of Vermont Club Football season started on Sunday. It could be said that this season and last season have begun in very different ways.

I am proud to have been the head coach of the UVM Club Football Team that started the 2007 campaign with much fanfare. There were articles in all of Vermont’s major newspapers from St. Albans to Rutland; most of which were written by non-sports writers. I was pleased to have been interviewed on the local ESPN radio station, on Newschannel 5 TV, and in a nice nine-minute interview on the Corm and the Coach show. Even Peter Freyne, known more for his political writing, wrote an article about us in his blog and even posted a nice photo.

Quite a few curious onlookers, who wondered if this was the beginning of varsity football returning to UVM, attended the first practices. Our first game was on the road, a semiprofessional contest against division foe Northern Berkshire. The Catamounts first drive was spectacular! My pro-style, west coast offense was run perfectly and the first drive went 73 yards in eight plays, culminating in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Rob Kimmel to Tim Snow. UVM football was back and had a seven-point lead in less than eight minutes!

Once the news of victory hit the airways, the anticipation turned to exhilaration. As the t-shirt says: "UMV Football: Undefeated Since 1974”. And undefeated we were for our first home game which drew over 2,300 fans. I’m pretty sure that’s record attendance for any Vermont club or semipro sporting event. And we didn’t disappoint, either. We won that game too, 10-7.

But, what a difference a year makes. I was notified on January 2, 2008 that my contract would not be renewed even though we had made the semi-finals of our semipro league and I was named League Coach of the Year. Needless to say, the news was shocking. The person picked to replace me was my former assistant, David Motherway. Coach Motherway is knowledgeable, I will admit, but had never coached football before his one-half year as my special teams assistant.

Also gone is the semipro football league we played in. The Northeast Independent Football League was absorbed into the Eastern Football League this past winter and the Club decided not to pursue the EFL or any other semipro league for 2008. Instead, they have opted for an NCAA Division III junior varsity schedule.

I can see the positives. There’s a sense of credibility that you get by competing against other universities: it “feels” more like college football. And then there’s the level of talent that the 2008 team will face. Gone are the more experienced “adults” and in are other college-aged opponents with similar sizes and athletic ability.

But the minuses outweigh the plusses in two big ways. First, the local media outlets do not cover club sports. Last season we were treated as semipro and got more coverage than even the Vermont Ice Storm, who won a National Championship. And with no media coverage, you’d never know that the Catamounts now play their games on Sunday instead of Saturday, or that the Cats have a new coaching staff. And that affects the bottom line: money. Gate revenue and merchandise sales suffer greatly when nobody knows you’re still out there.

But out there they still are. The Catamounts played their very first game of their second season on Sunday September 7, 2008, but you’d never have know it. There was no fanfare and no media interviews. There was no rapt anticipation for the first home game of the year. Consequently, there was no crowd, no revenue, and no idea that Catamount club football was back again.

There was, however, Norwich University’s JV football team and a confident group of UVM players eager to test their mettle. In 2007, the UVM offense looked confident and sure and the first drive ended with a touchdown en route to a win. In 2008, the offense looked uncomfortable and unsure, and the new option attack fumbled the ball nine times.

Norwich scored early and looked comfortable the whole game. There was a feeling from early on that the outcome would not be in doubt as the Cadets beat the Catamounts, 27-15 on Buck Hard Field at Burlington High School. It’s not the start the Catamounts wanted but it’s very important because they are still playing.

Win or lose, what those UVM students are doing is truly remarkable. Bringing football back wasn’t easy and keeping the program alive won’t be easy either. And though they’ve made some errors this season, I hope the future remains bright and that these Fighting Catamounts keep fighting. Go Cats!

A Success, by Any Measure

2007-12-06T20:57:00.000-05:00

It's been three weeks off since our semi-final playoff loss to the Vermont Ravens and I've finally been able to reflect on the entire season. It's been hard to take in all of the ups and downs of a grueling first season, especially when there are gameplans to prepare and practices to plan and execute. But now that it's over, I can truly say that the inaugural season has been a huge success by any standard.

It all started on such tenuous footing. An eleventh-hour mandate by the Risk Management Department that we purchase an extremely cost-prohibitive insurance policy almost meant delaying the season for a whole year. And then there was the late arrival of our equipment and uniforms which meant we played our first game in our practice jerseys.

But it all came together quickly on the field; to the tune of a 5-1 start. There were a lot of close games in the first six, but this young football team worked hard and found ways to win games. Injuries then finally took their toll as key starters and backups went down to nagging injuries and we finished 1-3. But a first round playoff win and a 6-4 overall record is definitely something to build our program on.

Add to the on-field success, the overwhelming support of the local community, alumni, and students. Close to 6,000 fans attended our five home games and the visiting teams were in awe of our supporters. The UVM alums who were members of varsity teams past, welcomed the new Catamounts with open arms into the UVM football family. High school players across Vermont are excited to hear that they can stay close to home and continue to play football in and for Vermont.

The Northeast Independent Football League selected ten Catamounts to be members of the Western Division All-Star team and our own Tim Snow was the game's Most Valuable Player. Doug DeLuca was also named to the All-NIFL team; the only Catamount to be so honored. And finally, our coaching staff was named Coaching Staff of the Year; an honor I am especially proud of.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone that made the season possible and also who made it the great success that it was:

* To Doug DeLuca for his tireless efforts in getting the whole thing started. I don't know how he does it, but I am forever grateful.
* To the players who came together as a family and played their hearts out each and every week.
* To the generous donations of our sponsors and University without whom none of this would have been possible.
* To Chris, John, and Rich at ESPN Radio WCAT 1390 who kept our supporters across the country, including my family in Louisiana and Alabama, in touch with the team.
* To the NIFL's Best Coaching Staff: Jay Haraden, Dave Motherway, Ian Stroud, and Sam Wolcott - thanks for all of your help and support; I could not have done it alone.
* To my wife Betsy: We did it, Mrs. Coach! I love you!

With this season as a benchmark, and with only two starters graduating this Spring, the 2008 outlook is very bright for us. Regardless of our record, I've had the honor of being associated with a great University and an outstanding group of young men. I hope to lead both to even greater heights next season.

One More Week

2007-11-05T15:17:00.000-05:00

Our mantra as we prepared for the playoffs was, "One More Week". At this stage in the game, a loss means the end of the season, so we're playing for the right to play again. One more week of practice, one more game, one more chance to make a memory in what's already been a magical season for us.

We earned our bonus week this Saturday with a win over the Kings of Northern Berkshire, 24-0. Once again, our defense was stellar and caused six Kings turnovers: five interceptions and one fumble recovery. The key stat for us was zero turnovers lost. That was huge considering we'd turned the ball over eleven times in the previous two games. A turnover margin of minus eight equalled two losses in games that were very winnable for us. Those losses cost us the division title and a much needed rest week.

I emphasized that stat during the week and at the half on Saturday let the players know that we had committed zero turnovers in the first half. And after the game I pointed out again, that we had played a game with zero turnovers. When we don't beat ourselves, I truly believe that we're a very tough team to beat. By not giving the ball away, we give ourselves an excellent chance to win every game.

On Saturday we were loose, excited, and confident. No one more so than QB Drew Trombley. I've been very hard on Drew lately, perhaps unfairly so. But as a former quarterback myself, I know the importance of playing confidently and calmly even under fire. Drew showed great maturity this weekend in leading us to victory. He stood strong in the pocket and didn't flinch under the King's pressure defense that put him down on the ground after almost every play. His six-for-eight attempts for 146 yards and two scores ended all doubts about us being ready for the playoffs.

So now it's on to Barre to face the Ravens for the third time this season. The previous two games have been decided by a total of nine points. We both have great defenses and every yard is earned when we play. It's impossible to predict the outcome, but I promise it will be a great game. And hopefully, after Sunday, we'll be playing for one more week.

A Playoff Atmosphere

2007-10-18T15:18:00.000-04:00

It's been a season of huge games and it started with the first game of the season: the first for a UVM team in 33 years. Then came the first home game, the battle of the undefeated teams against Mass Fury, and last weekends renewal of a rivalry against the University of Maine. And now we look forward to another one, the game to decide the Western Division Championship against the Vermont Ravens.

The first meeting was intense. Scoreless through three quarters, we kicked a field goal to go ahead 3-0 on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Ravens came right back on a very long drive and tied the score at 3. But we were able to respond quickly on a nine play drive that ended in the game's only touchdown and won, 9-3.

The rematch will feature two vastly improved teams. The Ravens are on a four-game winning streak and have scored on some long runs recently. Their offense seems to have found their rhythm and the defense is as tough as ever. But we've improved as well, on both sides of the ball, and there's no telling which team has the upper hand.

However, I'm fired up by the rhetoric coming out of Ravens Camp the last two weeks. To hear them tell the story, they've already won the division title. I don't think that there is any doubt in their minds that they feel we "got away with one" in Burlington. I can only imagine that they think we're like Appalachian State against mighty Michigan: we got lucky once, but the rematch would be different.

As a mathematician, I like looking at the numbers. The Ravens four wins were against teams that we've also defeated. One of the two Ravens losses have come at the hands of Mass Fury, who also defeated us. The only game that stands out is the 9-3 loss the Ravens suffered to my UVM team on September 8, 2007. I know that loss haunts them and it's the rallying cry for them this week. They want to prove to us that they are the better team. My guys are ready to show that Sept. 8 wasn't a fluke and that if you want to talk smack, you'd better be able to back it up.

So, with the title on the line, this game takes on a playoff atmosphere. Both teams will be more amped up than they've been so far. The game will be close and the game will be exciting. Can we win another big game? I'll let you know on Monday!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm looking forward to a lot of things on Sunday: the roar of the crowd, the excitement of the game, just to name a few. But seeing Mike Salmon leading his Ravens sure is a great sight to behold. Mike has really paid his dues as an assistant with the Vermont Icestorm, and has proven that he was ready for the next challenge. Now if he could only get radio announcer, Chris Fells, to behave himself on game day, that would be something!

The Halfway Point

2007-09-26T18:10:00.000-04:00

With four down and four to go the Catamounts stand at 3-1 and in first place in the Western Division of the Northeast Independent Football League. Not a bad start considering this is a first-year team that's still learning to play together. But learn we did this past weekend at Worcester State College.

As we entered the weekend against the Mass Fury, the team was quietly confident, but the coaches were very nervous. Sometimes coaches have to walk a very thin line during the week of preparation for a solid opponent. On one hand, you want your players to buy into the gameplan and feel that they are prepared to take on the other team and win the game without being too cocky. On the other hand, you want to talk honestly about how good the opposition is without giving the players the feeling that they have no chance at all.

I think we had a good gameplan in place and we said all the right things during the week. When the game started, it couldn't have gone better for us with two long drives into Mass Fury territory. But the Fury answered each drive in kind and it really was a beautiful thing to watch. They never got nervous or anxious; they just went back to work and methodically picked us apart. There's a swagger about the Fury that you just can't see on film.

I'm proud of my team for the way they played, but I'm not sure anyone could have beaten the Fury on Sunday. They made no mistakes and seemed to be firing on all cylinders. We may have thrown the first really hard punch, but they delivered the knockout blow.

I hope we learned a few lessons from the Fury on Sunday: how to play as a team, how to stay composed, and how to impose your will on a game. Our goal from this point onward is to earn the right to face the Fury again: in the Championship Game. By then, I hope we'll be able to show them what we've learned.

The Big Game

2007-09-18T15:11:00.000-04:00

So here we are sitting at 3-0 and I have to say that it feels pretty good. I figured that we had a shot at 2-1 before the season started, but I didn't think that we'd be sitting at 3-0. It's pretty amazing that we've come this far so quickly, but now the real test is upon us.

During the NIFL Jamboree this summer, some of us got a pretty good look at Mass Fury and they made us very nervous. They are big, tough, physical football players and you can definitely tell that most, if not all, of them have played high school and college football. Compared to other teams we've seen and scouted, they haven't yet revealed a weakness. Although they did seem a little flat against the Vermont Ravens, they rallied when it mattered most and won the game - a sign of a good football team.

I can't exactly say how this one will turn out. This is the only team on our schedule that has the speed to run with us - and boy can they hit. We think that we have the right gameplan and, if we can keep the score close, we think we might have a chance to win. If these guys show up at full strength, that could be a pretty big "IF".

We know how important this game is; there's a lot to play for. The winner effectively takes a two-game lead in the fight for home-field advantage in the playoffs. For us, that's pretty big - it's a long drive to Burlington for all of our potential opponents. A win would also match the best start for any team in school history.

But most of all, I think we're playing for respect. I don't think that many teams in the League are taking us seriously yet. They think the team is a bunch of college kids playing football between classes and keg parties. They don't see how hard we've actually worked to get to 3-0. We get a chance to showcase our hard work on Sunday.

So, it's 3-0 vs. 3-0. The leaders of the Eastern Division vs. the leaders of the Western Division. Anyway you look at it, it's the biggest game of the year so far. The Big Game. We'll be ready for the challenge.

When Friendly Isn't Friendly

2007-09-05T11:31:00.000-04:00

There are exactly two games on the schedule that I wish we didn't have to play: October 21 against the Vermont Ravens, and this week, September 8, against the Vermont Ravens. That might sound strange, or even sound like fear, but I assure you, it's neither.

The Ravens are owned by Mike and Linda Salmon. Mike was a teammate of mine in 2001 and we were coaches together in 2003. He and his wife are two of the nicest people you'll ever have the fortune of meeting and my wife, Betsy, and I are glad to know them. And the Ravens team as a whole are a bunch of great guys; some of whom were also teammates of mine in 2001. My wife and I have been rooting for the Ravens all season long because we want their first year to be a great success.

I hope, now, that you know what I was talking about a few moments ago. It's hard to get pumped up to want to crush the opposing team when they're led by a good friend. I don't know if it's hard for other coaches, but it's hard for me. Even the usual, "It's only a game", and "It's not personal, it's just business", approaches don't really work. I just hate to watch Mike lose.

But, I have a job of my own to do and I'm going to give it my all just like every other week. Knowing what my family and my team have sacrificed to get this far, it would be cheating them if I didn't put my best foot forward every week. So, just before kickoff I'll do what I always do: I'll start to hate everything about the other team. I'll hate their colors, their helmet logo, their uniforms, socks, and shoes, and anything else I can think of. I'll whip myself into an emotional frenzy and revel in watching them hang their heads low after we score again and again.

But after the game, Mike and I will still be friends and the Ravens will still be my second-favorite team. I'll root them on every week until October 21 when we'll be enemies for a brief three hours once again.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Having a week off after a win isn't always good. In my opinion, the atmosphere surrounding practices were a bit too "light" last week. And while I don't want to shatter the fragile ego of a young football team, the intensity level was definitely not where I wanted it to be.

That all changed yesterday. After accepting nearly a dozen new players onto our practice team last week during open tryouts, the newbies showed what it takes to play a tougher brand of football. And perhaps the biggest hitter is a player that barely stands at 5'4" tall. I've been preaching since April that hitting is an attitude and this young player is living proof.

It was interesting to watch the faces of the current starters as the new players went through a 10-minute hitting period after practice. Many commented that they had never heard hitting that hard at a practice so far this year. Hopefully that's a wake-up call for everyone.

I'm not sure what role these new players might find themselves in this season, but I have a feeling that most of them will earn their way onto the 40-man roster.

Cautiously Optimistic

2007-08-28T14:49:00.000-04:00

Go ahead, you can say it. "UVM Football: Undefeated Since 1974". It sure does feel good to hear. So, the T-shirts can be worn proudly for a few more weeks. I know I'll be sporting mine once or twice before the next game.

And while the team earned a much-deserved, 17-12 victory over the Northern Berkshire Kings on Saturday, I remain cautiously optimistic about the remainder of the schedule.

Don't misunderstand what I'm saying here - a win, under any circumstances, is a good thing. But a lot went wrong Saturday and the team understands that we've got to play a lot better to keep winning. There were the three turnovers we committed, the blocked field goal, and the miscommunication that allowed the Kings to recover a kickoff deep in our territory. Mistakes like that can cripple your chances to win a football game.

A prefect example was the disastrous stretch in the first quarter that allowed the Kings to put up 12 points in less than five minutes. It started with the loss of our starting quarterback due to a hit to the knee. On the very next play, we threw an interception. After holding the Kings to a four-and-out, we fumbled the next play, which was recovered and run in for a touchdown. The ensuing kickoff wasn't fielded and the Kings recovered with unbelievable field position. It only took one more play for them to return to the endzone, and we were down 12-7.

But our boys showed tremendous resolve in winning this game. After losing the lead, the offense marched right back down the field twice and added ten points in the second quarter. From that point on, it was a stellar defensive effort and excellent ball control by our offensive line and running backs that allowed us to grind the clock down and win. I couldn't be more proud of these young men to show so much heart after only ten practices.

I promise you, if we commit three turnovers in our own half against the Vermont Ravens on September 8, the outcome will be very different. But I am encouraged by the fighting spirit of this football team. They weren't going to give up no matter what the score or situation. And that's the silver lining in the cloud! If we can learn from our mistakes, we're going to be a very tough team to beat.

So now it's time to look forward to the Vermont Ravens. They're a well-coached team that will bring a wealth of experienced players with them. Many of them played with the Vermont Ice Storm, a team used to playing football at a much higher level. Just like us, they are a first year football team that is learning how to play together. Unlike us, they will be playing their fifth game of the year when they face us.

If we can keep the game close, we have an excellent chance to win. No matter what the result, it will be a very exciting football game. Hopefully, I'll still be wearing my "Undefeated" T-shirt on the 9th.

No Quarterback Controversy Here

2007-08-23T13:14:00.000-04:00

Only two days to go and the UVM club football team season will be off the ground. It's hard to believe that after months of anticipation, the season has actually snuck up me. But after two weeks of practices, we're ready to take on the Northern Berkshire Kings in Manchester, Vermont this weekend.

One of the most difficult decisions I've had to make this season is on our starting quarterback. Like every position, you want to play the person who gives you the best chance to win. In the spring, that player was Sophomore Drew Trombley, from Ticonderoga, NY. Drew was the most consistent of the four quarterbacks and moved the offense consistently when he played.

While Trombley has remained as consistent as ever, Junior Rob Kimmel, who struggled at times in the spring, has been red hot this summer. So hot, in fact, that I couldn't ignore how well he was playing. Rob Kimmel will get the start this Saturday and will have the privilege, and the pressure, of being the first quarterback to throw a pass for the Catamounts in 33 years.

Trombley did not lose the starting job, Kimmel earned it, and there's a big difference there. Trombley has been rock solid and I know we can win with him. But Kimmel, I believe, gives the offense the potential for the big play. His confidence, the ability to give the offense a bit of an extra spark, makes all the difference in a young team. Add that to a very precise passer and you've got a complete quarterback.

We're lucky to have two very talented men leading our offense this season. While they continue to push each other for playing time, they also support each other like good teammates do. Both will play this season and both will lead us to wins. I can't wait for everyone to see how truly special they are.

Off and Running ...

2007-08-15T15:32:00.000-04:00

The day has finally come and gone and football is now back at UVM ... on a small scale at any case. On August 13, equipment was distributed and the Club Football Team hit the field at 5:00 PM sharp.

The significance wasn't lost on the dozens of passersby that Monday evening at the UVM Redstone Campus Green. Joggers and walkers stopped to take in the sight of the first football practice at UVM since 1974. One excited fan even came back to take photos of the players in their green and white practice jerseys and white helmets. Another curios onlooker got honked at by several cars because he was watching practice from his vehicle at the stop sign on Cliff Street.

It's been great seeing the spectators at practice and the players really appreciate the words of encouragement we're receiving between drills and during water breaks. Knowing that people are glad we're here plating football again gives us a definite boost.

As for practices, I'm very encouraged by the results so far. We're still only in helmets and shoulder pads at this point, but the players are anxious to start hitting. Newcomers are pushing our projected starters at every position and the competition is fierce. While we have gained some players with size, I'm still concerned that we're too small on both sides of the ball. I hope that the class of incoming freshmen can give us a little "beef" on both lines.

With 10 days until kickoff, the players and coaches alike can't wait to get the season started. We hope some of the fans here in Chittenden County will make the trip to Manchester, Vermont to see the first game. I hope you're all as excited as I am!

Tradition

2007-08-08T16:12:00.000-04:00

They say that football is a game of traditions. I feel that is especially true of college football. And I'm sure that the die-hard football fans are already compiling their lists of college football traditions in their heads. My first thought was the Notre Dame Fighting Irish slapping the "Play Like A Champion Today" sign before hitting the field. Everybody's list is long and it varies depending on the team they follow.

As the 2007 season approaches for UVM Club Football, I was wondering about the traditions of UVM football. What are the pregame rituals that the fans and players went through? What were the great rivalries?

As a member of the 1987 LSU Tigers, I remember that college football Saturdays were full of tradition. Tailgating for a Saturday night football game at LSU often started before daybreak. The parking lot was usually over half full by noon on a game day and I often stopped and had a hot dog with some of the fans. The live Bengal tiger, nicknamed "Mike", was on his way to the Stadium by 6:00 PM. It was often repeated that for every roar from Mike inside the stadium on game day, the Tigers would score a touchdown.

I remember that before coming out of the tunnel before a game, we all touched the crossbar from the 1959 National Championship team that hung over the inside door. When we were announced, the roar of the crowd drowned out the 200-piece Golden Band from Tiger Land and the sound waves felt like Mike Tyson punches. There's nothing like seeing 86,000 fans, many painted in LSU purple and gold, cheering you on. After seeing and hearing that, you just got the feeling that you couldn't lose.

But all of that was nothing compared to the feeling of game day and facing off against SEC rivals Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, or Florida. And things really got interesting when we played in-state rival, Tulane. Many an LSU coach got fired for losing to Tulane; one of whom had a winning record and an SEC title in the very same year.

But what about Vermont? If there's anyone out there who knows about some of the traditions of UVM's past, I'd love to hear from you. Or, if you've got ideas about new traditions, I'd like to hear them too.

I just know one thing: I'd love nothing more than to arrive at our home field on game days to a parking lot full of green and gold tailgaters. Now that's college football!

Two Weeks to Go ...

2007-07-31T13:55:00.000-04:00

The season is fast approaching and I get more excited by the day. Two days ago, I was at the league Jamboree and was able to see four of our 2007 opponents in action. Here are some impressions from Sunday:

* If we're going to be competitive this year, we need to get bigger; in a hurry!

* The Vermont Ravens are for real. I wasn't sure how good they were after the shellacking the Icestorm gave them, but I came away impressed. RB#25 Marvin Jenkins is special.

* The team to beat might just be the Mass Fury. They are loaded at the skill positions and QB#10 Ryan Minns is the real deal. Minns might just be the best quarterback in the League.

* The Northern Berkshire Kings, our first opponent, only traveled with 17 players. But even though they wore black from head to toe in the 90 degree heat, they played tenacious defense and moved the ball effectively.

* Central Maine FB#13 Dan Bibeau is a load to bring down and is a tough, tenacious runner and blocker. He might have had the most rushing yards at the Jam. He reminds me of another #13 who played for the Icestorm in 2001.

* Kudos to Ravens DB#32 Brad Lamell. He had the hit of the day on Kings QB#5 John Marlowe, Jr. Not only did Marlowe leave the game with a mild concussion, but he was cut behind the ear as well. Lamell's hit made all four teams turn around and take notice. #32 is definitely in our scouting report.

----------------------------------------

When I heard the news that legendary pro football head coach Bill Walsh died yesterday, I was stunned. Not only because I didn't realize that Coach Walsh was ill, but because I've always felt a special connection to him.

I've never met Bill Walsh, but my collection of his writings, playbooks, and clinic notes is impressive. In fact, our UVM offense is based almost entirely on Bill Walsh's philosophy of offensive football. He developed this philosophy from his years as an assistant under Paul Brown and coaching in close proximity to Sid Gillman.

The innovations that Walsh brought to football are extensive:

* Scripting the first 15 plays of each game (which evolved from a conversation from Paul Brown).

* Controlling the clock and moving the chains with the passing game.

* The use of formations, motions, and personnel substitutions to create favorable matchups.

It also helped that Walsh was a great executive. From the drafting of Joe Montana and Roger Craig, trading a draft pick to move up and pick Jerry Rice, and trading for Steve Young, Walsh showed his skill in evaluating talent. And the coaching tree that he spawned (Holmgren, Shannahan, Green, Wyche, and many, many others) also shows his eye for talent.

As a coach, if my coaching career is half as successful as Bill Walsh's, I'll consider it a great success. Until then, I will continue to copy the master and walk in his footsteps.

----------------------------------------

Thanks, again, the guys at ESPN 1390 WCAT. Rich, John, and Chris sure do a good job of promoting our team and we can't wait to hear our games on the radio!

Way Back When ...

2007-07-24T14:39:00.001-04:00

It's been a long time since 1974. No, really, it has! I didn't realize exactly how long until I came across these facts:

* Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record on April 8, 1974. He hit #715 against Dodger's pitcher Al Downing at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium.

* Richard Nixon became the first U.S. President to resign from office on August 9, 1974. He resigned to avoid being removed from office by impeachment in response to his role in the Watergate scandal. He was pardoned by President Gerald Ford 30 days later.

* I turned 5 years old on October 3, 1974. I was actually kinda cute back then.

* Muhammad Ali regains the Heavyweight Boxing Title by knocking out George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire on October 30, 1974. The fight will become known as the "Rumble in the Jungle".

* World population is estimated to have topped 4 billion for the first time in 1974.

* Oh, and, by the way, the University of Vermont played it's last varsity football game on November 16, 1974.

Looking at it from that perspective, it really has been a long time. I was 5 years old and none of the current Catamount players were even born. Players on that last team are over 50 years old now. It really does put things in perspective.

When I think about it, the 2007 Club Football Team will be carrying the weight of a 33-year absence from football on our backs the entire season. While I'm confident that we'll have a good season, I hope we can make the former players, the University, and the community proud.

33 years is a long time but it will have been worth the wait. I'm looking forward to the challenge!

40 Days to Kickoff

2007-07-17T13:20:00.000-04:00

It's less than 40 days until the kickoff of the 2007 season; the first for the Catamounts in over 30 years. We are also less than four weeks away from the beginning of fall practices.

I can tell you that the entire coaching staff and the players alike are very excited to begin fall practice. Here's where we stand heading into the 2007 season:

Players have been participating in their own unsupervised, offseason workout programs throughout the summer. Or, at least, the'd better be! I'll know by the end of our first practice who's been working out and who hasn't.

I'm asked constantly about where we'll be playing our home games. When we know, we'll make a very public statement; so, please be patient a bit longer.

Because of job-related reasons, our coaching staff has gotten a bit smaller. So, the team is still looking for volunteer coaches. Please contact us if you'd like to volunteer.

The club is still about $10,000 short of it's fundraising goal. Please help us by sponsoring the team: even the smallest donation goes a long way!

The support we've been receiving has been overwhelming and we really do appreciate it. Please continue to tell your family, friends, and co-workers about us!