Old School

One of the things we tried to teach our players last year is to embrace some of the traditions that have fallen off by the way side over the years.

After every game, win or lose, the Marching Band would play the Alma Mater as the players stood in front of the band with their index finger pointed to the sky.

Other traditions have been picked up after I graduated from Henry. Like dumping the water container on the coach after a big game. (See 1986 NY Giants)

I told the players after the Hilltop game that they were not allowed to dump the cooler on me. Instead, I offered them an 'Old School' approach...

Back in the day, after a big victory, the players would pick up the coach and the team would carry him to the showers and soak the coach with all his clothes on. The following link was video taken of that very incident:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8dRbfRP-UA

Being Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving everybody. This is a time for enjoying family, food and football. But more important, it is a time to reflect and give thanks for all we have.

I am thankful for my family, friends, for my job, for the roof over my head and for my health. But I look back at the last year, I think of Darren Shanks and his family. Darren's battle against cancer, a community coming together and supporting him and his family during some very dark times and his giving back through the Make a Wish Foundation with new uniforms for our beloved Patriots.

Back in October, I had the privilege to help out with the Make a Wish Foundation and their video for the National Fundraising Campaign. I have attached the Youtube link for you all to see the video. It is very powerful and I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVeVS6rcun8

2010 Freshman Banquet

The Freshman Patriots remembered their season with our end of the year banquet at Patrick Henry High School last Wednesday. Family and friends came together to join in the celebration of the football season and more important, the player's journey into manhood.

Hunter's Steakhouse provided an outstanding meal with salad, garlic potatoes, BBQ chicken and tri tip stake. The players served up dessert later in the evening.

A slide show of our players was depicted in the "Patriot Football: A Day in the Life" was shown as players, family and friends came in.

After dinner, the team was shown the 2010 Highlight Film of the Freshmen Patriots. The players 'Oohed' and 'Awwed' at some of the players as they recalled the success of the season.

I spoke briefly about our 'Building Men for Others' as I introduced the coaches and the players. I recapped the lessons we have taught our young men throughout the entire season and asked them to keep building on the foundation we have set for their future.

We spoke about being student athletes and that out of 170 football players, we lost only 5 players to grades in the entire football program.

Players were given team photos, programs and certificates. (I will get the letters out to players on Wednesday 12/1/10)

We recognized Darren Shanks and his contributions along with the Make a Wish Foundation and the new uniforms. We played the Greg Bledsoe's 7/39 news story on Darren and our Freshman Team.

Alex Shrestha and Chris Filardi were the Academic Award winners with 4.0 GPA's.

Coach Terry Naughton painted two portraits for our Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. These awards were voted on by the players and they could not have chosen two players that best exemplify being players of the year. Frankie Bernard was chosen as the Defensive Player of the Year and Colton Ledford was voted Offensive Player of the Year.

After all the presentations, I presented Coach Valaile a portrait that Coach Naughton made as a going away gift. Coach Valaile will focus his life in raising a family with his wife Reyna and his daughter Faith.

All the players signed the border of the portrait and it was a real nice and classy going away gift from all of us on the team.

As we ended the night's festivities, there were lots of hugs, exchange of thanks and lots of 'I love you' spread through out the room. These are very good men and you parents should be proud of the way you raise them.

I want to take time the thank the Booster Club, Lisa Cantor, Rich Owen, Janet Dabbert and Jill Pankow for putting on fine banquet last Wednesday night. I want to thank Ann Batson for putting on the "Day in the Life of a Patriot Football Player" slide show.

My job is done... I hope I have lived up to the expectations that I promised you parents back in June. It has been an honor and a privilege not only to coach your sons, but to help them on their way into being men.

2010 Freshman Coaching Staff

At the banquet, I recognize our coaches so that all the parents, family and friends of our players can put a name and a face together with a bio on each of our coaches. Here are the Freshmen Football Coaches for the 2010 Patrick Henry Patriots.



Andy Armenta, Assistant Head Coach, DB's and Special Teams

Coach Armenta graduated from Calexico HS in Calexico Ca. in 1980. He played football and was a WR and DB while at Calexico. Coach Armenta was selected Southern Section All CIF in 1979 as a WR. After graduating from Calexico HS, he went on to play football at Imperial Valley JC. He earned a scholarship to Hastings University in Nebraska where he was named as an All State WR. After graduating from Hastings, Coach Armenta returned home and began coaching at his Alma mater, Calexico HS. He became Calexico's Varsity Head Football in 1986 to 1988. He then became the Varsity Head Football Coach at Universidad CETYS High School Football Team from 1988 to 1990. This is his 2nd year coaching at Patrick Henry.

Fred Bushardt, Offensive Line

Coach Bushardt graduated from Chula Vista HS in 1967. He is an alumni from San Diego State University and began his career in television at KGTV in the early 70's. He went onto work as the News Director at KRON in San Francisco and he recently retired and came home to San Diego. Coach Bushardt has 2 years of coaching Pop Warner football and spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons working as the endzone cameraman and quality control at Hilltop HS with Coach Martinez and I on the Varsity. 'Uncle Fred' is also my brother-in-law. This is Coach Bushardt's 2nd year with Patrick Henry and is pencilled in to being the JV O-Line coach next year.

Ron Francis, Operations Coach

Ron Francis is a parent volunteer that helps me with all the minutia and paperwork that is involved in being a Head Coach of a football team. Showing up and just coach is the furthest thing from the truth in coaching high school sports. Coach Francis prowls the sidelines and is my morale compass for the team. He is my first Operations Coach and I know next year, not only will I need another Operations Coach, but that filling his shoes will be hard to do, both literally and figuratively speaking.

Paul Hubka, Offensive Coordinator and QB's

Paul Hubka is a graduate for St. Augustine High School's class of 1977. He lettered in football, baseball, track and in basketball while attending Saints. He attended Mesa, Grossmont Colleges and moved onto SDSU. Coach Hubka is also Officer Hubka and currently works Eastern Division of the San Diego Police Department. (which covers San Carlos, Del Cerro and Allied Gardens) He started coaching football at Sacred Heart Academy at the Head Coach of the 8th grade flag football team. In 2008 and 2009, Coach Hubka made the jump into high school football and became the QB, Special Teams and kicking coach at El Capitan HS in Lakeside. This is Coach Hubka's first year at Patrick Henry.

Terry Naughton, RB's

I have know Terry Naughton for many years, going back to playing with his brother, Danny back in 1978 for the Patriots. Coach Naughton graduated from Patrick Henry's class of 1977. He lettered in football and in wrestling while at PHHS. He is an artist and has worked for Disney and Pixar for years now. Coach Naughton has coached wrestling and is our strength and conditioning coach. He has coaching ties to Alvarado Football and has previously coached at the freshmen level here at Patrick Henry.


Ronnie Trujillo, Defensive Line

Coach Ronnie Trujillo is a graduate from Midway Baptist HS in the Southbay. He received All League Honors as an Offensive and Defensive Lineman at Midway Baptist, which is now Oceanview Academy. He works as a youth advisor for his church and heard about the 'Building Men for Others' program here at Patrick Henry. He became intrigued and wanted to coach football. This is his first year coaching football and he will be moving up to the JV as the JV D-line coach next year.

Nick Valaile, Defensive Coordinator and LB's

Coach Nick Valaile graduated from Clairemont HS in 1983. He played OG on the 1981 San Diego Section CIF Championship Team as the Chieftans beat the Lincoln Hornets San Diego Stadium (Before it was Jack Murphy Stadium and before it was the 'Q') Coach Valaile went onto play 2 years at San Diego City College before joining the San Diego Police Department. (Coach Valaile and I have been partners on the SDPD for a total of 8 years). Coach Valaile began coaching football in 2002 as the Varsity and JV offensive line coach at The Bishop's School in La Jolla Ca. In 2003 and 2004, Coach Valaile became the JV Defensive Coordinator at Bishop's. This is Coach Valaile's 2nd and last year coaching football at Patrick Henry. He will be taking time to raise his daughter Faith along with his wife Reyna. I will miss my close friend, confidant and brother and I wish him all the best.


Johnny Zelender, Defensive Line

Coach Zelender is a friend to Varsity LB Coach Damon Schaeffer. Coach Zelender had been coaching at the YMCA in Mission Valley and expressed an interest in coaching high school football to Coach Schaeffer. The Freshmen program is an enrty level job and it was a good spring board for 'Coach Z' to get started. His emotions and enthusiasm is un-matched on the sidelines on game day. Coach Zelender works at Phil's BBQ in Pt. Loma.

Patriots 13 Hilltop Lancers 6

The Patriots took two bus loads of players to Hilltop HS to finish out the season with a 13 - 6 victory over the Lancers.

To say the game was a defensive battle would be an understatement. Both defenses were dominant and both defenses controlled the game. There was a lot of big hits and really good tackling. Both linebacker squads dominated the game.

The Lancers took the opening drive down for a TD. The Patriots blocked the PAT giving the Lancers a 6 - 0 lead. LB Trey Johnson #48 intercepted a Lancer pass 40 yards for a TD giving the Patriots a slim 7 - 6 lead.

The game went back and forth with no scoring until the 4th quarter. The Patriots had a hard time picking up the blitzing Lancers. So we made a change... We switched to our 'Rhino' or our goal line offense. The change worked and offensive line consisting of Aaron Ping, DJ Samuels, Armando Martinez, Josh Prater, Mohamed Ali, Charlie Martinez and Zack Brown, along with FB's Frankie Bernard, Nick Sullivan and Colton Ledford took control of the game. They were able to open holes for Marcos Gonzalez all the while, eating up valuable time off the clock.

Gonzalez scored on a 5 yard run giving the Patriots some breathing room. The defense closed out the game with a tackle and strip of the ball by Zack Brown. As the refs were looking in the pile for the ball, DE Bernard Smith stood up, held the ball up over his head 5 yards away from the pile as if to say, "Here it is! I have the ball" Finally, a ref saw Smith and signalled Patriot ball.

I am very proud of our players. But not as proud as I was as they sang the Alma Mater in front of our fans. The players posed for a final photo before getting on the bus.

The players wanted to dump the water coolers on me. I told them we have done things the "Old School" way. Back in the day, when I was a Patriot football player, we carried the coach after a big victory into the showers and we soaked him that way.

Well, the players picked me up, carried me into the shower and got me drenched. Not just once, but twice! The players loved it and it re-introduced a lot of tradition to Patriot Football.

In the end, there were lots of hugs, love and admiration that was exchanged between me and all my players. I am proud of them as men and as football players. And I am proud they are a part me and the tradition of Patrick Henry Football.

KNSD 7/39 News Article on Darren Shanks

During the Mar Vista game, Greg Bledsoe of KNSD 7/39 came to our game and filmed parts of our game while doing a story on Darren Shanks. There have been many stories on Darren, his fight against cancer, the new uniforms and the Make a Wish Foundation. This one is very well done. Darren and I both feel this is our favorite story so far.

I have attached the link for you all to see the story yourself.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/health/One_Players_Legacy_San_Diego-106819673.html

Freshman Football Banquet

Our Freshman Football banquet will be on Wednesday November the 17th @ 6:30 pm in the Patrick Henry cafeteria.

Hunter's Steak House will be providing tri-tip steak, chicken breast, salad, garlic mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and garlic bread. Cake and drinks will be provided by the Booster Club.

Dinner has already been paid for players who purchased a Spirit Pack. Additional tickets may be purchased for $18 a piece.

We will be recognizing the players, awarding the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year and the Top Academic Award winner.

We will also show a highlight DVD of the seasons best plays. If you wish to purchase the highlight DVD, I will be taking orders at the banquet for $10 a DVD and $5 for individual games.

I will be sending the banquet order forms home with the players today after our team photos. The due date for turning in the banquet order forms is Friday 11/12/10.

Hope to see you all there!

Cathedral Catholic Dons 55 Patriots 0

I want to start by saying, the Cathedral Dons were very good. They had some very good athletes and I was impressed by their play and ability. I look forward to seeing them move up the ranks and onto the next level. I sincerely salute you all.

The Dons are definitely the class of the Eastern League and if we are to ever have a chance at them for the next 3 years, we need to get bigger, stronger and faster. And all that comes from working out in the weight room.

We are in a downward spiral and the team is currently in a funk right now. We are making too many mental mistakes and it is too late in the season for us to be doing that. We asked the players to compete. And try as we may, we are just coming up short. After the Dons scored the first TD, you could feel the wind come out of our sails. It was a lopsided game and we will take our lumps like men.

So we will circle the wagons and button it up for our upcoming game against the Lancers of Hilltop HS.

Hilltop Scheduled for Wednesday 11/10/10

We were scheduled to play Lincoln HS on Wednesday 11/10/10. But due to grades and not enough players, Lincoln folded their Freshmen team leaving us without a game.

I called my former co-workers at Hilltop HS in Chula Vista and we scheduled a game with them to fill the void. Hilltop Freshmen Head Coach Mark Flint is a great guy and playing against them is like playing against my brother. We are looking forward to going to Hilltop HS.

Directions to Hilltop:
S/B on I-805
Exit west on H Street
Left on Hilltop Drive
Left on I Street
Hilltop HS on the left side of the street

Hope to see you all there!

Team Pictures on Friday 11/5/10

Our team photos will taken in the PHHS Stadium on Friday 11/5/10 at 1:30. We will be wearing our white jerseys for the photos. I will send the order forms from Sharon Cooley Photography home with the players after practice on Monday 10/1/10.

A team portrait is included as a part of each player's spirit pack. If you wish to order individual photos or more team photos, those prices will be on the order form. To track each player, order forms must be filled out and turned in regardless of ordering individual shots or not.

Scripps Ranch Falcons 37 Patriots 14

Quicksand... that is the best way to describe our game yesterday. We walked into quicksand and the more we struggled, the deeper we got. We tried to do more than we needed and we kept sinking deeper and deeper until we buried ourselves.

Quicksand, is where we were as the Patriots lost to the Falcons of Scripps Ranch 37 - 14.

Mental mistakes were too many to list. Suffice it to say we all know we are better than the product we put on the field yesterday. But through all the dark clouds, there was some silver lining that came out of the game.

I saw our players develop into men and leaders. Several times on the sideline yesterday, I saw team Captains Charlie Martinez and Aaron Ping huddle their perspective units and rally them to stay positive, focused and do the job they were capable of doing. Even back-up LB Colton Barr kept going up and down the sideline passing words of encouragement and maintaining a positive outlook on things.

You can't put a price tag on leadership. You can yell and scream all you want. But to get people to follow you is hard to do. If you can lead people to do things for you because they want to do it for you, because they care for you, because they respect you, then you are a leader. We need more leaders in the world and our players are on the right track.

Our Alma Mater

Back in the day, back when I wore leather helmets in 1979, the Spirit of 76 Patrick Henry Marching Band would always play the Alma Mater after every game. Win or lose. (We didn't lose much) The Alma Mater is our anthem to our school.

All the players and the Cheerleaders would assemble in front of the band and sing the Alma Mater along with the band, all the while, pointing our index fingers to the sky to signify we were #1. Fans, students, parents, players and cheerleaders would sing along. It was a unifying moment for all and has always been the tradition of Patriot football.

Here I am 31 years later and we have gotten away from that tradition. A tradition of being unified as a team, student body and as a school. The Alma Mater after every game was a badge of pride in our school and I feel we need to re-introduce that sense of pride to Patrick Henry High School.

For the last week, I have been working with the Freshman Team to sing the Alma Mater. From this point on, win or lose, as long as I am the Head Coach of the Freshmen team at Patrick Henry, we will always sing the Alma Mater in front of our crowd before we do our victory jumping jacks.

I have attached the words to our Alma Mater:

PATRICK HENRY PATRIOTS HIGH SCHOOL
ALMA MATER
On our city’s eastern border
midst the hills and the sky
home of our most valiant Patriots
Patrick Henry High.
In our many halls of learning
on our fields of play
goals of excellence and honor
always lead the way.
As we march along together
let’s be brave and bold
all hail to Patrick Henry High School
hail to the green and gold.

The 5th Quarter

Freshman football is a developmental program built to teach players how to play football. It is rare to put 2nd string players in during a tight game. The only way to learn football is to play in game type situations.

After the Mira Mesa game, their coach approached me and asked if we could go with a 5th Quarter. I said yes.

The 5th Quarter is an opportunity for the 2nd string players to get some playing time against the opposing teams 2nd string players. It is a controlled scrimmage with coaches in the huddles and monitoring the play on the field. It is a non timed quarter and it is used as a teaching tool for our less experienced players.

On defense, Edgar Delgado, Sylvestre Berdeja, Ben Cooper and Jake Batson were highlight players for the Patriots as Nick Soarse, Jeremy Naughton and Tyler Holmes stood out on offense.

Mira Mesa Mauraders 19 Patriots 14

Talk about a roller coaster of a game. The ebb and flow, going back and forth as two teams that were evenly matched took the field yesterday. Unfortunately for our Patriots, we lost to the Marauders 19 to 14.

The game started with a bang as Markise Bryant took the opening kickoff 87 yards for a TD. Defense was on the field for the majority of the first half and they worked hard to keep us in the game.

Adjustments were made at the half and the Blackshirt Defense was dominant the second half. Offensively, we switched to our passing game as we went to a no huddle mode moving the ball down the field for another TD with under 5 minutes left in the game.

Strategy dictates to kick the ball off deep and play defense using all your timeouts. Our defense stepped up and stopped the Marauders forcing them to punt. Unfortunately, we fumbled the punt away.

You can't win at any level if you turn the ball over 6 times. Four fumbles, including one that would come back to haunt us at the Marauder 2 yard line. Two interceptions, one coming with 44 seconds in the game, sealed the fate of the mighty Patriots.

After the game, I saw a lot of sad faces. Players were upset and they should be. They knew we were better than we showed out on the field and it left a bitter taste in their mouth.

I am proud of our players. To see them be emotionally upset after that game means that they care. They weren't indifferent about losing. It hurt and they care. They never quit and they did the only thing that I required of them: COMPETE!!

I want to thank the fans for all your support. You were all loud and supportive during the game and the players appreciated it.

Next week, we will re-group and prepare for the Falcons of Scripps Ranch HS.

St. Augustine Saints 9 Patriots 21

After a week of good preparation, the Patriots were as ready as they could be as they opened with their first Eastern League game against the visiting Saints. We preach to our players that the Eastern League is the toughest league in the County and that we need to work hard to come out as victors in any League contest. Our players stepped up to that challenge as the Patriots beat the Saints 21 - 9.

The offense started out with a game opening, time consuming drive ending with David Hensley catching a Morgan Hatch pass.

On the following drive, Marcos Gonzales scored on another long run as the Patriots went up 14-0. But the unsung hero on that play, along with the O-line, was the crushing block by by team captain Colton Ledford. Colton's block on the Saints LB was with such force, it sounded like a cannon had gone off on the field.

Defense was outstanding. The 'Blackshirts' gave up one TD against the Saints, which is only the second TD they have given up for the season, going all the way back to the Pt. Loma game. The defensive highlight was turned in by DT Frankie Bernard as he sniffed out a pass in the flat, stuck his left hand up and caught the ball (one handed) and ran away from the Saints as he returned the ball 70 yards for a TD. It was quite an athletic play.

I told the players they fought hard and that I was very proud of them. I wanted them to enjoy the win, their 1st win in the Eastern League. It is special and they will remember it for a long time.

Next week we play Mira Mesa, the cream of the crop. We have a big game coming up against the Marauders at home next week and we have to be at the top of our game to come out ahead. Next week will give everybody a good idea of where we stand as a football team.

Grades Coming Soon

The first scholastic progress report is coming out in a week and a half. The minimum GPA to play in CIF Sports is a 2.0 academic grade and a 2.0 citizenship grade with no more than one F on the report card.

I sent out status reports with all the players on Thursday after the game. The players were to take them to all their teachers to give me an idea where they stand as far as their grades are concerned.

13 players are currently on the bubble or are currently ineligible. I will be talking to each and every one of those players and see if there is anymore work they can do to raise their grades.

On a side note, I will not go to teachers and have them change grades for our student athletes. I will support teachers and players in getting tutoring and seeing their teachers to get extra help during practice.

Make no mistake about it... If a player comes back as ineligible at the end of the grading period, I will cut them from the team. Period, the end. We try to teach our players to be men and act accordingly. It is their responsibility to fix what needs to be done.

Our priorities in life are: Faith in God, Family, School and then Football. If you can't take care of the first three, then you can't play football.

Mar Vista Mariners 14 Patriots 28

How many of you were sitting on pins and needles yesterday? After taking a 21-0 lead halfway into the 3rd quarter, we began to substitute players on both sides of the ball. Two fumbles and two touchdowns later, we found momentum to be on the Mariner sideline.

We put the 1st stringers back in and put the game on their shoulders.

1:36 left in the game. The Mariners were trailing by 7 and drove all the way down to our 8 yardline. We practice situational football all the time and the Mariners faced 4th and goal on the 8 yardline. The Mariners rolled out to pass the ball and the Patriot defense did what they were supposed to do: KNOCK THE BALL DOWN!

The Patriots took possession needed to run the clock out. Instead, the O-line busted a huge hole and Marcos Gonzalez ran the ball 92 yards for the game ending TD. Gonzalez ended the day 3 TD's and 154 yards rushing.

QB Morgan Hatch ran a two minute drill before the end of the half. Though we did not score on that drive, it was good to see the offense work like a team. Hatch showed poise behind good pass protection, he called excellent audibles, threw good pass and Arron Graves and Cano Espinoza made clutch catches and stopped the clock by getting out of bounds. Again, we practice situational football and our players executed the plan.

Our Blackshirt Defense was phenomenal. In the four games we have played, they gave up one TD, and that was the 1st drive of the first game against Pt. Loma. They are very smart and aggressive and they play well as a unit. LB's Nick Sullivan, Arron Ping and Zack Brown are the heart and soul of the defense.

Now it is time to prepare for the Eastern League. I tell our players this all the time: The Eastern League is the toughest league in the County of San Diego.

The next 5 games are going to be tough. All 5 football programs went to the playoffs last year and we have a lot of work ahead of us.

Building Men for Others: Being Oblivious

I sat in the stands during the last JV game against Westhills. As I was eating my hotdog and visiting with family and friends, I heard this young female student use profanity like it was going out of style. Every other word out of her mouth was "F-that, B-that, S-that".

Nobody said anything to her as she kept on cussing up a storm around her friends. Finally, I turned around and yelled at her saying, "Hey! Nice mouth! Do you kiss you mom and dad with that mouth?"

Needless to say, she was embarrassed to the point of tears. Really? Is there a need to cuss like a sailor?

During the Varsity game later that night, the PHHS band played the National Anthem at the beginning of the game. As everybody stood at attention during the Star Spangled Banner, one of my Freshmen players began to hug, chase and grab at another female student.

I love my Country. The playing of the Star Spangled Banner means a lot to me and I give it all the respect it deserves. I think of all the war veterans that have given their lives to protect our freedom and for all those currently serving in the military in the war against terror around the world. I am proud to be an American.

Needless to say, I was stewing as I watched my player and this female student play 'grab-ass' during the National Anthem. Afterwards, I went to my player and sternly spoke to him about the image he projected and the lack of respect he showed. Again, he said he didn't know he was disrespectful. Really?

It is common place in today's society to be focused on yourself and what you are doing while not having a care about anybody else in the world. Building men for others involves thinking of others and how people think of you.

I spoke to our players and asked them, "What kind of image do you want others to have of you?" Don't be oblivious and start thinking of others. I told the players they are an extension of me, the school and their parents. Act in a manner that would make us all proud.

Building Men for Others: Living in a Fish Bowl

Being a police officer gives me a unique perspective on society. Being in uniform as I go out in public, I feel everybody staring at me not because of the kind of person I am. But for merely being in a police uniform.

It has taken a while, but I am used to the looks and the stares as people interact with me in the public. I had a Captain tell me once, "I want you to act as if a CNN crew was with you and your mother saw the video back at her house. Don't embarrass me and don't embarrass the Department."

I have taken that advice and never have forgotten it. Image is perception.

On game days, I allow our players to wear their game jerseys to school. It gives everybody on campus a look of who is on the team and it gives our players a chance to show the kind of men we are building here at Patrick Henry.

Until yesterday...

I received a phone call from Coach Martinez that two of my players were in a fight during lunch. It was compounded by the fact there were several other players that surrounded the two players and agitated the problem by creating a mob scene.

It turns out that the two players had a verbal dispute, a female student made threats that if they didn't stop, the players would get kicked off the team... High School drama. The two players went to mediation and I spoke to them. That has been dealt with. But the mob scene created by the rest of my players left a black eye on what we are trying to do.

I spoke to the players during 6th Period and I expressed by disappointment. I spoke to the team about how they were an extension of me. How when they wear the green and gold and they represent me, the staff, the school, the admin, their families and the alumni. And the image of all the players gathering around the verbal dispute left a negative image of what I am trying to do: Building Men for Others.

There is a lesson here. In real life, all it takes is a few bad apples to ruin it for everybody. So, I made a command decision that there will be no more wearing jerseys on game day until our team can earn my trust again. Everybody will be required to wear a pants, shirt and tie on game days. Show me you can act like a man then I will let you wear the jerseys again.

I know young people will make mistakes. That is why I love working with them be it in the schools as a police officer or as a coach and mentor at PHHS.

We all live in a fish bowl and everybody is looking. What do you want people to see in you?

Westhills Game Postponed

In the 17 years of coaching high school football, I have learned there are to things that cancel football games: Poor air quality (from the wildfires of 2003 and 2007) and lightning.

There was a cell that settled over the east county yesterday and it never let up. All of the games in the Grossmont Union High School District were cancelled yesterday. It was the right call.

The players, coaches and I were very disappointed in the fact we couldn't play. The Wolfpack are 3-0 and were going to be a good test to see where we were as a football team. We had a great week of preparation and we were all looking forward to the game.

But the safety of our student/athletes is priority #1.

Westhills HS is looking to reschedule the game and I am all for it. It will take some planning and there is a possibility we might have to play on a Saturday. As soon as I hear from them, I will notify everybody on the Blog and call players and parents to get it organized.

Building Men for Others: Taking on a Cause

In building men for others, one of the lessons I pass onto our players is to take on a cause. One of my favorite causes that I support is for Children's Rady Hospital here in San Diego. I see the work they do for sick children and the support they provide families. It is a cause that is near and dear to my heart.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Soon you will see players in the NFL and MLB start to wear pink gear to bring awareness and recognition to breast cancer.

I spoke to our players yesterday about National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We see the images of professional players wearing the pink gear. High School players want to emulate the pros by wearing pink also. But there is more to life than just imitating what the pros do on TV. I wanted to provoke some thought in our players on why it is important to recognize the cause. I spoke about the National Breast Cancer Foundation and what they are about.

I explained to the players that all of us know somebody that has suffered from cancer in one form or another. We all know Darren Shanks and his fight against cancer. But breast cancer awareness takes the center stage in the month of October.

Why should we support this cause? We want to bring awareness to breast cancer through education, support and provide fund raising for free mammograms. To save lives in early detection is the main goal of the NBCF.

So, the Patrick Henry Football Booster Club is sponsoring an essay contest. The theme of the essay is "How breast cancer has affected me, my family and the cancer victim I know." I spoke to the Varsity, JV and the Freshmen football teams about the essay contest and all players are eligible to participate. (Of course, with the work load of homework our players have already, the essay contest is not mandatory)

Essays are due to me on Friday 10/8/10. I will read and judge the essays and pick out the top 6 essays. Then I will meet with a panel of judges and pick out the top three essays and rate them 1st 2nd and 3rd.

Then at halftime of the Varsity game against St. Augustine on 10/15/10, we will recognize the players of the top three essays, the cancer victims/survivors and present them checks in the name of the victims/survivors to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

The first prize essay will receive $75 donation, second prize will be $50 donation and third prize will be $25 donation all going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Start Time for Westhills Game

Next Thursday's game at Westhills will be at 5:00 pm. That gives the parents time to get off work and see the game.

Westhills HS is off Mast Blvd as you exit the I-52. Hope to see you all there.

El Cajon Valley Braves 6 Patriots 35

The undefeated Braves from El Cajon Valley HS came to Patrick Henry to face off with the Patriots Freshmen Football team. The Patriots gave the Braves more than they could handle by beating them 35-6.

The Patriot defense was stellar throughout the day. Led by Frankie Bernard, Zack Brown and Kenny Alvarado, the Patriots gave up just one first down in half. Edgar Delgado recovered a Brave fumble, Sam Akili intercepted a two point conversion and Arron Ping intercepted a pass and raced 83 yards for his second 'pick six' touchdown of the year.

On special teams, Markise Bryant had some outstanding returns for huge yardage.

Offense was lead by RB Marco Gonzalez, who ran for over 100 yards. Gonzalez scored 2 rushing touchdowns. Morgan Hatch threw 2 TD's to David Hensley behind good blocking from DJ Samuels, Armando Martinez, Josh Prater, Josh Abate, Charlie Martinez and RB's Colton Ledford and Meko Revecho.

Nest week we travel to Westhills HS and take on the Wolfpack. Westhills usually field a good team and it should be a good gauge to see where our team is as we prepare for the Eastern League.

Game DVD's for Purchase

We video tape our games for the puposes of reviewing player performance and making adjustments in our coaching. On Tuesdays, I take the team into Room 500 and review the film of the previous game as a coaching tool for the players to see what they are doing in the game and correct any mistakes or assignments to be a better player.

Several parents and players have come up to me and asked if they can purchase a copy of the game films. The answer is yes.

On Wednesdays, JV Head Coach Antione Hough will be available to make to make copies for players and families. Copies of the our DVD's can be made for $5. Coach Hough will be available at the beginning of 6th Period (1:15 pm) and the players can place thier order before they go down to the Stadium for practice. The DVD will be done by the time practice is done. Cash only please.

THIS SERVICE WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE ON WEDNESDAYS. The $5 cost will go back into the purchase of blank DVD discs for copies to our players and coaches.

I will make a highlight DVD at the end of the season for the banquets. Orders can be placed to buy a highlight DVD after the banquet.

El Cajon Valley Game to Start at 4:30 pm

As a reminder, our game against El Cajon Valley will start at 4:30 on Thursday 9/23/10.

The Grossmont Union Schools start later in the day which means they get out of school later. Personally, I like the later start times. It gets more parents out at the game to see us play.

On a side note, next week's game at West Hills will be at 5:00 pm. Then we will have 5 straight home games all starting at 3:30 pm.

Freshman Perks

Understanding that the Freshman Football team is the bottom of the totem pole and players need to return for JV and Varsity to get some of the 'extras' that come with being a football player at Patrick Henry High School, I still find ways to motivate and give our players a little extras here and there.

For instance, Wednesdays are our review day and we normally dress out in 'shells' (helmet, shoulder pads and shorts). But if we win, the next Wednesday we dress out in what I call "hat day" (baseball cap, jersey and shorts).

But we haven't put together a string of good practices lately so I put a veto on Hat Day. Until... One of our offensive linemen, Mohamed Ali, wanted a challenge to have Hat Day this week. So, I challenged him to catch a punt without dropping it and we could have Hat Day. But if he dropped it, we suit in full pads. With all his team mates cheering him on, Mohamed set out to catch a punt from Aaron Ping. Mohamed caught the punt and the team erupted with joy as they mobbed Mohamed. So, Hat Day is on this week.

On another note, not many people volunteer to play offensive line. It's hard work that comes with little or no recognition that requires to the line to play as a unit. As a former lineman myself, I have a soft spot in my heart for the O-line.

So as a payoff, whenever we have a RB that runs over 100 yards, I treat the O-line to Krispy Kreme doughnuts on Mondays and I did so yesterday after practice. All of a sudden, everybody wanted to be an offensive lineman. "Fat Guys" (that is my term of endearment to my O-line)were coming out of the wood work. Too bad, so sad! I love my O-line.

Learning to Win: Patriots 35 Hoover 14

In life, nothing is given and everything is earned. Simply going through the motions is not good enough in the real world. Looking across from your opponent and just showing up doesn't get the job done.

We lost our opening game to Pt. Loma 14-7. I attribute part of that to having our first game jitters. Having a bye while Pt. Loma had a game the week before showed. Pt. Loma was well coached and they played hard, as did our Patriots. We played hard and the best part about our opening game was that nobody quit. Everybody competed until the final whistle.

But some players weren't happy because they did not play. Such is life in the Fast Lane of Competition. I spoke with our players after the Pt. Loma game and challenged those that did not play to question their coaches and find out what they needed to do to get into the game. At least six players took me up on that challenge and spoke to their coaches. It is a hard thing to do, but I am proud of them for taking that step on their own.

But come Monday and Tuesday, we did not practice well. We were sloppy, made metal mistakes, missed assignments and we as a team looked very disorganized. Coach Valaile even took away the Black Jerseys from the starting defense. I took responsibility of the team's performance and promised a new attitude from me and the coaching staff on Wednesday's practice. But the players needed to take some responsibility and work towards being a team and pushing each other.

Needless to say, our Wednesday practice was the best practice of the year to this point. Tempo was upbeat, players were hustling, we cut back on some plays and players knew their assignments. The coaches took a more positive approach in coaching the players. I looked forward to seeing how our players would respond to the Hoover Cardinals... That is until I woke up with the flu on Thursday morning.

I wasn't sick as a dog, I was so weak and beat up that I couldn't get out of bed. Luckily for all of us, Coach Armenta is a former varsity head coach, Coach Hubka is a former 8th grade football head coach and Coach Valaile has been my long time assistant coach. So I felt the team was in good hands and I stayed at home waiting on pins and needles to see how our Patriots would do.

As it turned out, the Patriots hard work did not go to waste and they beat the Cardinals of Hoover 35-14. I watched the video of the game and I was very happy with the teams performance. The players took their practice habits and put them to use out on the field. The offensive and defensive lines had good games and Colton Ledford ran for over 100 yards.

As I look back to the previous week's practice, it was the players preparation that pushed us to victory. Not the coaches, not the plays, but the attitude to succeed in whatever you do in life. That is my job. Teaching our players not only how to play football, but how to win in life.

By the way, I am sorry I didn't see it, but all the coaches commented on the large number of Patriot fans that were at the game and how loud and supportive you folks were. Keep up the good work Patriot family. It means a lot to the players and coaches.

Building Men for Others: False Masculinity

This is a repeat from a Blog entry from last year...

Tomorrow is 9/11 and I pause to think of all those who lost their lives on that day 9 years ago. It has changed our daily lives and we must never forget the people that lost lives and the ultimate sacrifices that people made on that day.

Today I will meet with the team and speak about what is important in life... Loving one another. We live in a society where personal accomplishments take the spotlight. Masculinity is based on how much money you make, how many girlfriends you have or how many touchdowns you scored. These are examples of the quick gratification lifestyle we live in these days. But that is not the true meaning of masculinity.

As I think back on that day 9 years ago, I think about those folks on United Flight 93. They knew they were doomed and they were going to die. They knew they had to do something and they made an attempt to take over the plane. They all know the chances were slim to overtake the highjackers and there was a good chance they were going to die. As they tried to overtake the plane, it crashed in rural Pennsylvania and all aboard died.

The point I want to bring up to our players is the phone calls people on Flight 93 made to their families before they tried to overtake the highjackers. They did not call home or their loved ones to boast about how much money they made, what kind of car they drove or how many homeruns they hit. They called their families to let them know they loved them.

To me, that is so important for the development of our young men. Nobody ever took the time to explain that to me and as I look back on my development as a young man, I wish somebody would have. Loving one another and trusting one another is important in our everyday lives.

Darren Shanks (Part 10)

As most of you know by now, one of our players from last year's team, Darren Shanks, has been battling cancer.

Well, Darren finished his last session or chemotherapy and is final home resting. You can see cars all over San Carlos with writing on the windows "No more Chemo" "Go Darren" "We beat Cancer".

The Patrick Henry Football team, staff student and teachers at Patrick Henry, Mission Trails Little League, Darren's Boy Scout Troop, the Chargers, U.S. Navy Admiral Bird, the Charger Girls and the community of San Carlos have all come together to support Darren, his parents Tom and Vivian, his brother Brian and all the aunts, uncles and cousins during this whole ordeal.

To remember Darren, all the players in the football program will wear a Gold Cancer Survivor Ribbon with the number 66 inside the ribbon on the back of their helmets.

Even though it is a home game for the Freshmen Team, we will be wearing our white jerseys to honor Darren.

Why white? Simple... Darren is starting a new life. A new life without cancer. A clean slate. A new beginning. And he has the rest of his life!

It is a small token to say, "I love you Darren". But to me, it speaks volumes on how I feel about Darren's beating cancer and the future that shines brightly in front of him.

Admission for Saturday's Game Against Pt. Loma

There will an admission to Saturday's game against Pt. Loma. We are hosting a triple header with the Freshmen playing at 12:00, JV at 3:00 and Varsity at 6:00.

Ticket prices are as follows:
Adult $7.00
Children ages 6-12 $2.00
Seniors 65 and older are FREE
Children 5 and under are FREE

People attending the game can get their hand stamped for re-entry if they wish to leave the Stadium.

The snack bar will be open and programs will be on sale at the Stadium.

Building Men for Others: Empathy Part 2

In our Building Men for Others theme that we share with our players, it sometimes takes one person to step up to start everybody into joining in and applying the lessons we are teaching.

We have a player on the team, Mohamed Ali, who is a practicing Muslim participating in Ramadan. Ramadan is a month of obligatory daily fasting in Islam is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Daily fasts begin at dawn and end with sunset. Special nightly prayers called, Taraweeh prayers are held.

On Tuesday, I spoke to the players about the pastor in Florida that intended to host an international Quran burning day. I spoke to our players about people being narrow minded and that are quick to stereotype people based on race, color or religion. I told our players that we are a team, a family and that Mohamed is taking part in Ramadan.

I explained to our players that we are a very diverse community of men. We have players that are practicing Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Buddhists, Mormons and Muslims on the team. We are a virtual melting pot of society. Yet we are ONE FAMILY, ONE TEAM.

I asked the players, "What's my job?" They yelled in unison, "LOVE US!" I then asked them, "What is your job?" "LOVE EACH OTHER!"

I told our players to take care and love one another. I explained that there are people out in the world that are filled with hate and prejudice. We need to stand up for one another no matter what our background might be. Because we are ONE FAMILY, ONE TEAM. Despite the narrow thinking of outside world, we need to support and protect each other.

Yesterday during practice, one of our players, Markise Bryant, came up to me and said, "Coach, can I fast also? If Mohamed can't drink during practice, then I want to support him and fast along with him."

As a coach, what do I say? No, you can't support your brother? Or yes, you can risk the chance of dehydration? The social ramifications took the fore front and I told Markise yes, but I had to check on him every 15 minutes to see how he was doing.

These players are starting to get it. I am proud of their development not only as football players, but as men.

Looking for a Volunteer to Film Freshmen Games

If you are interested in filming the Freshmen football games for the coaches and players, please give me a call on my cell at (619) 980-4159. I will provide the camera. All I need is a volunteer to handle the video for the Freshmen Football Team.

Film study is a valuable tool for coaches and for the players to see the good and the bad of what goes on during a game. The coaches review film on Saturdays to game plan for the next week. We set aside every Tuesday during 6th period to review film with our players.

As my coach once said to me when I was playing, "The eye in the sky don't lie!"

Freshmen Not Participating in Friday Night Carb Loads

There was a mis-communication as it pertains to the Freshmen Football players participating in this coming Friday's Carbo Load with the Varsity and JV... That will NOT be happening.

Early on when Coach Martinez and I first came to Patick Henry, we introduced ourselves and our philosophy, one of the things we wanted to do is have all our players earn what were deemed as perks to being in the football program.

If you want the cool uniforms, you need to work your way onto the Varsity. If you want to play under the lights, you need to return for the JV and Varsity seasons. If you want pasta for Carb night, you need to return to the JV or Varsity to earn that right.

Freshman football, in my eyes, is the most important football program on any high school campus. If you look throughout the County, the teams with really good Varsity teams have a good Freshman program that works hand in hand with the Varsity. My job is to make football fun for the Freshmen so they the return and play the following year. My job is to teach players to play football not only at the JV level, but to compete at the Varsity level. Having 7 players from last year’s Freshmen Football team on the Varsity is a testament to that philosophy.

I am not an advocate of having the Freshman engage in the Carb Load Dinner. The premise was if the Freshmen made more money than the JV and the Varsity during the Lift-a-thon, the reward to them would be pasta dinner for the team. But that did not happen. I am satisfied our players did their best to raise money, but we came up short. Therefore, we did not earn the right to have pasta dinner.

Some folks might think they want to feed the Freshmen for the sake of team building. We had our own team BBQ after the Green and Gold game two weeks ago. The Coaches bought food and drinks, parents helped cook the food and it was a good time for fellowship and bonding between coaches and players. Afterwards, Make a Wish and Darren Shanks presented the three teams with their jerseys.

Our defense is the only team on campus to wear black jerseys. We stole the idea from the University of Nebraska and their 'Blackshirt Defense'. That is one of the few perks Coach Martinez allows us to use to motivate our players. We use the jerseys to motivate our players to compete for a starting position with those starting in front of them. Later on in the season, I will be handing out helmet stickers, or as we will call it, the Patriot Pride Award. But not everybody gets one. It has to be earned by leadership, motivation, hustle and following the principles we are teaching our young men. Nothing is given and everything is earned.

If I was to wear a t-shirt that expressed my feelings about society today, it would say, “Not everybody gets a trophy.” I want to break our players of that mind set and have them earn everything that they deserve.

Enough of me on a soapbox. I want to thank you all for the hard work you are putting into the football program. But as long as I am the Freshmen Head Coach, the Freshmen won't be participating in the Carb-load because it has not been earned… Not yet anyways.

Joe Ehrmann and Building Men for Others

If you follow the Patrick Henry Freshmen Football Team, you hear it being said during practice, before and after games. What's the coach's job? "To love us!" What's your job? "To love each other!"

People looking from the outside would look at us with a quizzed look on their face. But in reality, we are building a community of men that trust each other, work with each other and grow a brotherhood that can't be broken.

I have been using this philosophy in coaching since 2004 when I was the JV Head Coach at the Bishops School in La Jolla. I took it with me to Southwest HS and to Hilltop HS before coming here to Patrick Henry.

I saw a news article on Joe Ehrmann, a former player for the Baltimore Colts (Yes, Baltimore Colts was before Indy) and I did some research in the style of coaching he used. I have attached a video for you to see what I am talking about.

Enjoy!


http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d801c52e2/NFL-Films-Presents-Joe-Ehrmann

Battle of the Bands this Saturday 9/4/10

It has come to my attention that we have to members of the band Oculus Sinister on the Freshman team.

RB Colton Ledford and LB Nick Sullivan are in the band Oculus Sinister and they are in the finals in the Battle of the Bands this coming Saturday 9/4/10 at 6:00 pm. The location where the band will be playing is:

Queen Bee's
3925 Ohio St.
San Diego, Ca. 92103

Tickets are $10 and you can buy them from Colt or Sully. Their music can also be bought on iTunes. Here is their web site on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/oculussinister4

Queen Bee's is an all age venue in North Park, one block north of University Ave. I plan on being there to support our boys and I welcome everybody to show their support.

Team Photo for Football Program

The Booster Club is putting the final touches on the Football Program (Program as in the book with team photos, shout-outs, ads and Varsity player photos).

The Freshman team will be taking a team photo on Tuesday 8/31/10 at 4:00 in the Staduim. I will be handing out the game jerseys to our players for the photo at 3:00 pm in the team room.

The Freshman team will be using the current practice pants at the game pants until Nike finally sends us the new game pants in a month or two. After the team photo, I will take the team back up to the team room and collect the game jerseys and suit up for practice in their practice jerseys.

Practice will follow at 5:00 pm.

As a note everybody: THIS PHOTO IS A TEAM PHOTO FOR THE PROGRAM ONLY. THIS IS NOT THE TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS FOR PURCHASE.

Assessment of the Mission Bay Scrimmage

I have three words to describe the Scrimmage last Friday against Mission Bay: Not too shabby!

I was happy with the level of competition that all the players put forth during the scrimmage. I didn't ask for much. As a matter of fact, all I asked was that each player gave me his best. And each one of them did just that. They gave me their best effort.

I can truly say that our players showed a tremendous amount of hustle, knowledge and passion for the game of football. At no point did anyone get down and we bonded together as a team. The team met the goals I set out from the beginning of the scrimmage: COMPETE.

We still have some work to do on both sides of the ball and we will address them during this, our bye week. Our next game will be on Saturday 9/11/10 12:00 noon at PHHS against the Pointers of Pt. Loma HS.

Labor Day Weekend

For those of you planning your Labor Day weekend, I would like to pass on some good news...

There will be no practice on Friday 9/3/10 thru Monday 9/6/10. Basically, the Freshman team will have a 4 day weekend. School starts on Tuesday 9/7/10 and we will be practicing after school.

It is a reward to the players, parents and the coaching staff to enjoy the holiday weekend and the end of summer. We all deserve the break from football. Because when we come back, it will be time to get to business and start the regular season.

Stadium Clean Up a Success

Stadium Clean Up Day was last Saturday and it was a huge success. Along with the JV and Varsity Teams that were there at PHHS for their Saturday weight training session, we had 35 Freshmen football players and their family members come to help out and clean the Stadium for the upcoming season.

I was impressed at the final product of how the stadium looked at the end of the day. It's the small details that give our football program a professional feel. I want to extend a huge thank you to all the players and family members that came out to help in cleaning the Stadium.

As a reward to all the Freshmen football players, for showing up to the Stadium Clean Up, those players get a free pass on one conditioning session of their choosing at the end of practice. Getting out of the stair workouts is a very strong motivator!

Stadium Clean-up on Saturday 8/28/10

I strongly encourage all of our football players and families to attend the Stadium Clean Up this coming Saturday (8/28) at 9:30 am.

I will make the following offer to all the Freshman players and families: Those that attend and help with the beautification of the stadium on Saturday, I will give each player a free pass to get out of conditioning at the end a practice of their choice. So if you want to skip a day on the stadium bleachers, or a day of game winners, I will mark the player's name down as having a free pass on conditioning.

Players have to check in with me so I can mark them down as attending the Clean Up.

The following is the e-mail sent out to the parents from the Booster Club:

PHHS FOOTBALL FIELD CLEAN UP
Saturday August 28, 2010 9:30AM
We need to get our field, concession stands, and bleachers ready for our Home Opener.
We want all players and their families to attend, so that we all can BUY IN to our program.

Here is what we need:

3-5 Blowers (Gas or Electric) 3-4 Weed Eaters (Gas or Electric)
3-4 Leaf Rakes 3-4 Push Brooms
3-4 Brooms 2 Whisk Brooms
2 Dust Pans 5-10 Paint Brushes
3-4 Rollers 3-4 Roller Pans
2 -Power washers w 100’ hose 2 6’-8’Ladders
2 -Extension Ladders 3-4 5 Gallon Buckets
Windex Disinfectant for buckets
2 Mop buckets 2 Mops
Rags Trash Bags
HOPE IT HAPPENS - WATCH IT HAPPEN
MAKE IT HAPPEN

For more information: 619-459-9208
Email: phhsfootballbooster@gmail.com

Upcoming Scrimmage vs. Mission Bay

We will scrimmage the Buccaneers of Mission Bay HS on Friday 8/27/10 at 2:00. Players will need to be in the team room no later than 1:00 pm. I will be taking roll in the room at 1:00 sharp. QB's and WR's will warm up at 1:15 and the rest of the team will join them on the field at 1:30.

It will be hot. Be sure to bring some shade. The snack bar will be open and be selling burgers, hotdogs and drinks.

We should be done around 3:30.

Practice Schedule Changes

I'm sorry folks for the changes... But I am tired of fighting over the use of the stadium with other teams. Coach Martinez and I set our schedules for the Football Stadium back in January and now we are caught in a tug-o-war over the use of the Stadium. I want to have some consistency for my players and parents so we all know what time we start and what time we finish...

With that being said, we will be practicing of the baseball field for the remainder of the year. Practice will start at 5:00 pm and will run until dusk or 7:30 pm Thursday 8/26 and Monday 8/30 thru Thursday 9/2. If things go well for our team and I am happy with our progress, I will give the players Friday 9/3 off giving them and you parents a 4 day weekend for the Labor day weekend.

Parents are welcomed to bring lawn chairs and sit off to the side of the scrimmage to see what is going on. Some coaches feel the need to treat practice as a Top Secret event tied into the National Security Council by keeping parents away from the team during practice. I feel the opposite. I want parents to see how their sons are progressing as football players.

Once school starts, we will practice on the baseball field Mondays and Tuesdays 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm. On Wednesdays we will be in the Stadium practicing our Special Teams.

Building Men for Others: Community

After Monday night's practice, I gave the players a homework assignment. They were to look up the word community.

As we huddled up after the end of practice on Tuesday, Mr. Cummins shared with the team meaning of community: A group or class of people having a common interest.

For those of you that were at Monday night's practice, the offense looked out of sync. They had limited success during the team period of Monday's practice.

On Tuesday, the offense took the meaning of community to the next level and worked on making the offense work. Coaches and players had a common interest: Let's get better.

Sure enough, the offensive community came together and scored on a 70 yard TD run on the first play of the evening scrimmage.

The thing I see with these young men is the fact they bond and work together in a common interest. They want to get better as players and better as men. They compete, they support and encourage each other. That is a strong foundation in building a team and a community of men.

Time Change in Individual and Team Photos

There is a time change on team and individual photos...

I will be handing out photo order forms after the Green and Gold game on Friday.

Because I will be out of town on a previously planned occasion, I will be back to San Diego on Tuesday 8/24/10 at 10:00 am. I will hand out uniforms in the team room at 10:00 on Monday the 24th and individual photos will be taken.

Since the coaches do not get off of work until after 3:30, the team photo will be taken at 4:00 pm. There will be no practice after the team photo.

I have already assigned jersey numbers according to position and according to jersey size. So please, don't ask what number you may have. I have made that decision for the players already.

Schedule Changes

Friday August 20th: We will be having our annual inter-squad scrimmage this coming Friday the 20th. We call it the "Green and Gold" game and it will be int the Stadium starting at 4:00 pm.

We will be playing all players and expose them to different game situations and we will finish off the scrimmage with a 2 minute drill. We should be done and off the field by 5:30 pm. The Varsity and JV will follow us and they will have their "Green and Gold" game at 6:00 pm.

During our game, I will be at the BBQ cooking up hamburgers and hotdogs for our players following the game. Life is about competition. The winning team will get hamburgers and losing team will get hotdogs.

The team BBQ is a time to fellowship and get to hang out with one another. To see each other in a different light than that as football coach and football player. Also, for you parents, it gives you a chance to meet the coaches.

Monday August 23rd: The PHHS marching band will be using the stadium for their band camp. We will practice on the baseball field and we will practice from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Please make a note of this change.

Tuesday August 24th: Once again, the band will be using the stadium for band camp. We will not be practicing that day. Tuesday will be picture day. We will be handing out white game uniforms to the players and we will have the opportunity to have team and individual photos taken and ordered. I will be in the team room handing out uniforms at 10:00 am on Tuesday and individual photos will be taken at 11:00 am. The coaches won't be available until the afternoon and team pictures will be at 4:00 pm. We will not have practice following team photos.

Wednesday August 25th and Thursday August 26th: Practice will return to normal and we will be back in the stadium with practice starting going at 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Friday August 27th: We are scheduled to scrimmage the Buccaneers of Mission Bay HS at Patrick Henry HS at 2:00 pm. Players need to be in the team room at 1:00 pm to get suited up. (We will be wearing our practice uniforms). We head down to the field at 1:30, stretch out and we start the scrimmage at 2:00 pm sharp. JV will be at 4:00 pm and Varsity at 6:00 pm.

Monday August 30th and Tuesday August 31st: Practices will be on the baseball field at 5:00 pm and end at 7:30.

Wednesday September 1st: Practice in the stadium 6:00 pm to 8:30.

Thursday September 2nd: Practice on the baseball field 5:00 pm to 7:30.

Friday September 3rd: The last day of football camp. We will be in the stadium at 6:00 pm and we finish at at 8:30.

Monday September 6th Labor Day: Day off!!! This is the last vacation before the start of school. Enjoy your family and have a nice 3 day weekend!

Tuesday September 7th: First day of school! Our practices during the school year will be on the baseball field. Most of our players will be in 6th Period and we will start practice at 1:45 and we will be done at 4:00 pm.

Saturday September 11th: First home game vs. Pt. Loma at 12:00 pm.

Building Men for Others: Empathy

As a part of Building Men for Others, I gave the players a homework assignment on Tuesday night. They were all to look the meaning of the word empathy.

Webster's Dictionary describes Empathy as: Identification with and understanding another's feelings, situation and motives.

Identifying with another persons feelings or situation. I want our players to put themselves in the shoes of another person. Think outside of the norm and think about what other people must be thinking or feeling. To show empathy for another team mate puts us all in a position not only to understand others, but to build a bond of trust with one another.

That is what building a team is about. That is life.

Last night's conditioning session was a good lesson in empathy. Some players had a hard time getting their conditioning done in the allotted time limit. Failure to do so would result in having to do more sprints.

A group of lesser men would have yelled at the perpetrators, blaming them for the extra sprints. Not our players. They sucked it up, encouraged one another and gave their best effort. They put themselves in a position to think of the other person's feelings and situation. That is all I can ask of our players.

Winning is not the top priority with Freshman football. Learning the fundamentals of football and building men are my top two priorities on this team. We are building a good foundation with our players. You parents should be proud of your sons and their development not only as football players, but being a man.

Football Equipment

Some of the players have come to me about issues they are having shoulder pads, helmets and other football gear issued on Tuesday.

For the next two weeks, I will be in the Team Room everyday but Wednesdays at 4:00 pm to help players make adjustments on their gear or to switch gear out. I will be closing the Team Room every day at 5:30 to head down to the field to start practice.

Last night, I went over the "extras" that some players like to have to play football. Stuff like visors, gloves, rib pads, tape, elbow protection and spaghetti pads for under the shoulder pads.

I had two sons play at Monte Vista HS and I know the costs of buying all the "extras" can add up. Other than the items I spoke about last night, I strongly suggest that if you are about to buy gear for your son, please feel free to call me and ask if what you are about to buy is needed. I want to help you save some $$$.

Also, Friday's practice will be in full pads. Players wanting to store their gear in their locker will have to buy a combination lock to secure their gear. The locker room will be open an hour before practice and for 15 minutes after practice.

Date and Time Change in Registration

Hopefully, most of you got the e-mail from the Booster Club on the change of Football Registration for the Freshman Football Team.

Freshman Football players will be required to register on Monday August the 9th at 10:00 am. The remainder of your paperwork and the balance of the Spirit pack money will be due at that time. Players will receive their Spirit Pack at that time. (Practice jersey, shorts, socks and girdle)

All football players will then have to get their "Athletic Clearance Cards" on the same day between the hours of 2:00 - 3:00 pm. The coaches will meet with the players in the Team Room at 3:00 and we will hand out football gear to all the players that have been cleared.

Freshman players will have to share lockers in the Team Room. It is a good idea to have a locker partner and to bring a combination lock to store your equipment on Monday the 9th.

Our first practice will still be on Tuesday the 10th of August at 6:00 pm in the Stadium. Players will suit up in helmets, shoulder pads, practice jerseys, shorts and cleats for the first three days of practice.

When We See You Next...

Tuesday August 10, 2010 will be Freshman registration. The Booster Club will have the list of players in front of each station along with the spirit pack bags ready to hand out once paperwork is verified & balances paid.

We will need from players and parents:

1. Email Addresses (are they spelled correctly are there any additional emails to add to the updates?)

2. Paperwork – ALL following paperwork is required to play:
Athletic Participation Form
Physical Date (must occur after 5/1/10)
Copy of Medical Insurance Card
Player/Parent Contact Form
Emergency Treatment Consent Card
Player Contract
Waiver for Media Publishing

3. If purchasing a spirit pack, monies due. Total price the Booster Club is asking is $130 for the Freshman Spirit Pack.

4. Spirit Pack Order (verify sizes before give bag). Freshmen will get: T-Shirt, Shorts, Practice Jersey, Socks and Girdle.

5. Beverage Donation: We are asking all Freshman to donate a case of 12 oz. soda cans.

After all the paperwork is done, we will begin to issue gear to the players. Helmets, shoulder pads, practice pants and pads for the pants. All players will be asked to share lockers. I suggest players bring a Masterlock combination lock and have a partner in mind on who to share the locker with.

I will set a priority list of players on who goes first in getting gear. Those that participated in the Lift-a-thon will have priority. Then I will divide those names in order of attendance to the Summer Camp.

All the players will be asked to wait until all the gear is issued and I will explain how everything is worn and put together. We should be done with the Freshman around 11:30 am.

Our first practice will be Tuesday night 8/10/10 at 6:00 pm. We will be in "shells", which means shorts, shoulder pads, jersey and helmet.

30 Years Ago...

One of the photos I found at my father's house is one I will keep forever. I had forgotten about this photo until I saw it on my dad's dresser. This is a photo from 1980. I had had just graduated from Patick Henry and I blew my right knee out trying out for football at Mesa College during that summer. (Right knee is still swollen)

I was asked to coach the offensive line for Coach Walt Baranski, my mentor and the JV Head Coach. On the home side snack bar of the PHHS football stadium, there is a plaque that honors Coach 'B' and the first night game at PHHS.

This is a photo of a home game and I am talking to the QB, Bruce Tollner. (Bruce is the son of Ted Tollner, O/C at SDSU, BYU and Head Coach at USC in the 80's)


Saving money by not getting a haircut: $16
A pair of OP shorts: $22
Knee high green and gold socks: $6
Playing on grass at PHHS Stadium: PRICELESS

Building Men for Others: Loving One Another

As most of you know, I went back to West Virginia to see my father as his health was failing. I was lucky enough to see him last Thursday and Friday. He was very sick, yet he recognized me as his face lit up when I talked to him. I told him I was coaching back at Patrick Henry and he squeezed my hand as if to say he was happy to see I returned home to San Carlos.

He could hardly talk, but he still was able mumble the words, "I love you." My father passed away on Saturday at 8:30 am from heart failure. I was happy to be able to see him before he passed away. I want to thank you all for your prayers and thoughts through this time in my life. I also want to thank those of you who signed the sympathy card that I received when I came back to practice yesterday.

I wanted to share a part of my experience with our players. Before practice started, I took the opportunity to Build Men for Others...

I explained how my sister LeAnn made her tearful goodbye. The thing she told our father struck a chord that will live with me for the rest of my life. LeAnn said, "I know you love me, I just wish you would have told me more." Amen.

We live in a society in where it is not accepted to tell one another, "I love you", or at least not in public. It's not macho or cool. As young boys, we were loved, coddled and nurtured in loving environment by our parents. Somewhere along the timeline of life and as we got older, we as men were taught to that it is not proper to show love to one another. Society has taught us to dis-connect the heart from the mind.

Being a Man Built for Others, that is not how I want to live my life. That is not the example I want to leave with my children, my friends and my players.

I explained to the players that life is too short. It shouldn't take us to be on our death bed to finally convey our love for the people that matter in our lives. That is why you will hear exchange on the field: I ask, "What's the coaches job?" The players respond in unison, "To love us!" I then ask, "What's your job?" The players respond in unison, "To love each other!"

In football, like in life, to be successful, you surround yourself with good people, you work hard and you tell them you love them. I gave our players an assignment. They were to go home and tell the people that were important in their lives that they loved them... Life is too short.

Lift-a-thon

Freshman Football Lift-a-thon will be this Thursday 7/15/10. The Defensive squad will be up in the weight room first doing the two lifts (Bench and Deadlift) while the Offense starts on the field. Then when the Defense is done, the two squads will switch rolls with the Defense on the field and the Offense in the weight room.

Players should be obtaining pledges from family, friends and neighbors. It is our hope that we fill up the pledge sheets and that the Lift-a-thon is a huge success.

If a Freshman player raises more than $400, that player will have their 2010 Spirit Pack paid for and they will also get a special Lift-a-thon Hooded Sweatshirt.

Coach Martinez, the Varsity Head Coach, has noted that this Freshman group already show a tremendous work ethic in the weight room and he hopes the same attitude continues on the field and in the classroom.

Xenith Helmet Fittings

There have been questions from people interested the Xenith Helmets. Hopefully this Blog will answer some questions

It is NOT a requirement to play football that you need to purchase this helmet. This is an opportunity to buy the Xenith helmet at a discount which is a higher level helmet and you would be able to keep it for yourself.

The original price is $388.13. We are hoping that with the numbers that it will be reduced to $329.57. If we get 20 orders the price will likely reduce again.

The Xenith Represenative will be at Patrick Henry (in the coaches office) this Tuesday, July 13th at 10:30am. If you are interested it would be a great opportunity to try one on.

I attached a Press release and also this is their website www.Xenith.com.

**The group order needs to be placed next week in order to receive them in a timely manner.

If you already know the information and know the details you can fill out the attached order form and fax it directly back to Mitchell at SBF (858) 271-8219. If you have already made your deposit…you are good to go.

Physicals

Dr. Robert Peters, MD will be conducting physicals for our players at Patrick Henry High NEXT FRIDAY 7/16/10 in the Coaches Office. If you need a physical, please be sure to get yours next Friday.

Physicals
July 16, 2010
9:00am – 1:00pm

Cost $25
Please make checks payable to “PHHS Football Booster Club”

ALL PROCEDES GO BACK TO THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM

You do not have to be a football player to participate

To Guarantee a time email phhsfootballbooster@gmail.com.

Times Available:
9:00am
10:00am
11:00am
12:00pm
1:00pm

We will place 12 people per hour.
We will open more spaces as needed.

If a parent is not present, please send a signed note authorizing Dr. Peters to perform the physical.