Reach Run Zone
By Ken Leonard, Head Coach Sacred Heart Griffin High School (IL) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you…
Excerpt from “Pigskin Rapture: Four Days in the Life of Texas Football”
(The following is from ‘Pigskin Rapture: Four Days in the Life of Texas Football’ by Mac Engel. This excerpt is the introduction to last year’s high school rivalry between two neighboring towns, Midland and Odessa). Midland-Odessa Before the Dallas Cowboys,…
Book Excerpt: “The View from the O-Line” – ” Building Blocks”
(This excerpt is from ‘The View from the O-Line’ by Howard Mudd and Richard Lister) Building Blocks Few things tick me off as much as the term skill position. It suggests the only players possessing skill are quarterbacks, receivers, and…
Facemask Wars and the Clash of the Titans
I called it “the Willie Lanier Facemask”. Willie Lanier was a middle linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967 through 1977. He won postseason honors for eight consecutive years, making the American Football League All-Star team in 1968…
Lou Holtz on Mental Toughness
What are some of the characteristics of a mentally tough athlete? What leadership qualities do mentally tough athletes bring to the team? Did you have a favorite player who was mentally tough? -Doug Heslip, National Academy of Sports Medicine Performance…
Beyond the Scoreboard: What Football Means to Me—Win or Lose
Dear Son… By Eddie Fields, Coach and Teacher Space Coast High School (FL) In a recent school assignment my, 8-year-old, son had to write a letter to one of his parents expressing appreciation. My son penned the following message: Dear…
Book Review: “The Perfect Pass: American Genius and the Reinvention of Football” by S. C. Gwynne
Book Review: “The Perfect Pass: American Genius and the Reinvention of Football” by S. C. Gwynne If you are a football coach, football fan or simply a guy who likes a good story, S.C. Gwynne scored a touchdown with his…
Beyond the Scoreboard: What Football Means to Me — Win or Lose
Players, Coaches, Angry Fans…Lend Me Your Ears Everyday exchanges in the football world carry a tremendous amount of variety in both message and motive. From the idealistic and hopeful messages in pregame speeches to the nonsensical mantras of disenfranchised fans,…
When I Was Your Age
By John Scanlan WHACK! Just like that, our new head football coach hit me in the facemask with his clipboard. It was during August two-a-days in the summer of 1974. In an attempt to motivate the scout team defense to…
Freshman Development – Analyze, Apply, Adapt (Part II)
By Bryan Miller, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach United States Naval Academy Below is an example of my Analyze, Apply, and Adapt training template. It is a general overview of some of the physical categories that freshmen football players typically…