I get the most nervous now- the past nine months of planning, scheming, dreaming, visualizing, anticipating is about to turn into reality. Will the vision hold true? Will the 30+ names on an excel spreadsheet (that I have sorted and resorted a hundred different ways) become what I thought it could? Will the returning players become leaders? Will they be hungry for their own title? How fast will the new comers acclimate and contribute? Will the schemes that I have been planning on be the right ones for this mix of talent? What challenges will come this year that I haven't anticipated? We are about to find out.
I looked over the guys that signed up and one thing sticks out at me- we are young. Not just in age- but experience. There are at least 3 seniors that didn't play last year that have decided to (re-) join our little family. New players seem to outnumber the seasoned vets 2 to 1. Don't get me wrong there is a lot of talent there and a lot of athleticism- cant get too much of that- but that first time we start up and down the field with Detroit Catholic Central (or Novi CC or whatever they are calling themselves) I think the speed is going to be an eye opener for some of these guys.
So what does being young mean? I think it can be a good thing- it means we can write our own chapter- do things a bit differently. We don't have to break old habits, we can do it our way- our own style. I think it helps guard against complacency- we have been there and done that, but not with these guys. These guys have to go earn their own way.
It also means we need to rely on that small and special group of seniors and returning juniors to lead. To be Leaders. To set the example. Our foundation, our tradition, the good things about where we have been and what we have done- that cant change. It's the way we do things here. For Joe and Mackie and Pat and Josh and Andrew and TJ and Chris and Nick and Jake and Sammy, they have to show the way. Their influence on the team, what they accept and expect from the new guys will quickly become our culture.
Dan Wood was our varsity coach in 2001, right before Rick and I took over the program. I was Dan's #1 (ok his only) assistant in 01. I learned a lot that year- we made our share of mistakes and had some success. One of the best things that Dan always taught (and I still carry with me now) is that state championships/successful seasons are made in the first 2 weeks of the season. I think that is true on several levels. First, at no other time in the season will you have 10-14 practices in a row for pure teaching- it is prime time. But moreover, Coach Wood was really talking about the DNA. I think your work ethic, your attititude, your foundation for TEAM is built in those first 2 weeks.
The first 2 weeks will be critical for this team. Its seems cliche to say "set the tone early", but we really have to, perhaps this year more than ever. Not just how much we work, or how hard-like how many sprints we can actually fit into a 2 hours practice (quite a few, I bet)- but how we do things- communicate with each other, begin to trust each other, how much fun we can have, how willing we are able to put "us" ahead of "me". That's what is built in those first 2 weeks...whether you are aware of it or not, they get built, they become your foundation, your DNA.
How do I feel right now? You know that slow climb the car takes up the first big hill on the roller coaster as it approaches the peak? Thats the next 6 days. Hang on...here we go.
Get on the wall.
V
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