I graduated from Patrick Henry in 1980. I was a football player and started as a junior and senior during my time at Henry. I was voted as one of the team captains my senior year. I knew a lot of people and we had a large senior class (around 1,400 students in our class alone). Even though I was a 'jock', I made an effort to be kind and outgoing to most all the students I would come in contact with. I eventually was voted "Most Outgoing" by my classmates.
Ten years later, I went to a class reunion and female classmate of mine came up to me. I didn't recognize her and to be honest, I don't remember her name to this day. But she said something to me that I remember today.
She thanked me for being nice to her. Apparently, she was shy and a 'late bloomer' in life. Not too many people came spoke to her outside of her small circle of friends. But for the captain of the football team to come up and say hi and engage in small talk meant the world to her at the time.
We all meet people on a daily basis. You never know when you touch somebody in a manner that changes their life or their perception of you. All of us can make a difference in the life of another person.
A movie titled "The Blind Slide" is based on a book written by Michael Lewis by the same name. It is based on the true story about Michael Oher, the left offensive tackle first round draft choice of the Baltimore Ravens. I will let the following videos speak for themselves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyoDhKWBPpA&feature=related
The movie to due to open in November. Here is a look at the trailer for "The Blind Side".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orTr6YwDqtM&feature=related
I will be giving our players an assignment this week. Go out and talk to somebody at school that sits in the back of class by themselves. Just go up and say 'hi'. It could make and difference in that person's day and it will make our players feel a sense of accomplishment in making a difference in somebody's day.
This is the reason I coach football. It's not the X's and O's. It's making a difference in somebody's life that counts.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tutoring Session this Saturday 10/31/09
We will be holding another tutoring session tomorrow (Saturday 10/31/09) in room 500 starting at 8:30 am in the morning. Subjects will include Physics, Algebra I and II, English and I will offer to help out in Spanish I. The tutoring session will end at 10:30. This is a voluntary session and any member of the Freshmen Football team is invited to attend if they need help. We will continue to hold tutoring sessions through the football season.
Warning: This is a invitation for those who are serious about getting help in their studies. If anyone is creating a disturbance or not taking this session serious, they will be asked to leave.
Warning: This is a invitation for those who are serious about getting help in their studies. If anyone is creating a disturbance or not taking this session serious, they will be asked to leave.
PHHS 7 Cathedral Catholic 10
The Patriots played in a tight defensive battle at Cathedral Catholic HS and came up short losing to the Dons 10-7.
The defense turned the Dons away three times in the red zone including an interception by Arturo Najera at the 2 yard line. By halftime, the Patriots and the Dons were tied at 0-0.
The offense came out with the wind at their back in the 3rd quarter. QB Nick Kelly got the Patriots down to the 10 yard line with a long pass to Brady Esterbrooks. Two plays later, Kelly hit Nathan Sovanny for a pass where he made a great move on a defender to score a TD.
Unfortunately, mistakes and penalties on offense and special teams kept putting the Dons in great field position. The Dons score 10 points in the 4th quarter snatching the victory away from the Patriots with a 22 yard field goal with 17 seconds left in the game.
The players never quit. They played hard and were competitive throughout the game. I told the players I love after the game. I was proud of the effort they gave.
I also want to thank the fans, parents and grandparents for your support and encouragement throughout the game. We can hear you out on the field and it means a lot to the players and the coaches that you are supportive of the team. I am very proud to coach for such a positive group as you. Thank you very much!
Next week we go the 'Hive' and take on the Hornets of Lincoln High School.
The defense turned the Dons away three times in the red zone including an interception by Arturo Najera at the 2 yard line. By halftime, the Patriots and the Dons were tied at 0-0.
The offense came out with the wind at their back in the 3rd quarter. QB Nick Kelly got the Patriots down to the 10 yard line with a long pass to Brady Esterbrooks. Two plays later, Kelly hit Nathan Sovanny for a pass where he made a great move on a defender to score a TD.
Unfortunately, mistakes and penalties on offense and special teams kept putting the Dons in great field position. The Dons score 10 points in the 4th quarter snatching the victory away from the Patriots with a 22 yard field goal with 17 seconds left in the game.
The players never quit. They played hard and were competitive throughout the game. I told the players I love after the game. I was proud of the effort they gave.
I also want to thank the fans, parents and grandparents for your support and encouragement throughout the game. We can hear you out on the field and it means a lot to the players and the coaches that you are supportive of the team. I am very proud to coach for such a positive group as you. Thank you very much!
Next week we go the 'Hive' and take on the Hornets of Lincoln High School.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Freshman Football Banquet
Mark your calender folks! Tuesday November 17th at 6:30 pm in the Cafetorium (sounds like an oxymoron to me) at PHHS.
The Booster Club is looking to set prices (tentatively) at $10 per player and $15 per guest. We will review the season, hand out team photos, hand out certificates and end of the season awards. I will be sending fliers home to you within the next week. I will also be collecting the banquet money once the prices are set in stone.
It is hard to believe we have been together since late June and that the season is almost over.
On a side note, ineligible Freshmen players are invited to attend the banquet. I do not want to exclude players that worked throughout the season. But due to their ineligibility, they will not receive a certificate of participation. That is the real world. Not everybody gets a trophy.
The Booster Club is looking to set prices (tentatively) at $10 per player and $15 per guest. We will review the season, hand out team photos, hand out certificates and end of the season awards. I will be sending fliers home to you within the next week. I will also be collecting the banquet money once the prices are set in stone.
It is hard to believe we have been together since late June and that the season is almost over.
On a side note, ineligible Freshmen players are invited to attend the banquet. I do not want to exclude players that worked throughout the season. But due to their ineligibility, they will not receive a certificate of participation. That is the real world. Not everybody gets a trophy.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Calling in Sick
I work in the Training Division of the San Diego Police Department. I assist in in the development in young officer that are coming onto the Department and eventually, becoming independent officers that patrol the streets of America's Finest City.
But I have noted a trend amongst a handful of the younger officers that are coming on the Department. When they are sick, they don't bother calling in to tell their Field Training Officer or Sergeant that they are sick and not coming to work. Instead, they just don't show up to work. Furthermore, a mother called the Academy to tell the Training Officers her son wasn't coming into the Academy because her adult son was sick.
Excuse me? What did you just say???
I have given all our players my phone number (starting back in summer camp) with instructions to call me in the event they were going to miss practice. My e-mail address also has been passed out. I know the flu is going around and that there are a lot of players out sick. But I had 11 players that didn't show to practice on Monday and 8 of them didn't even bother calling me to say they were sick.
It is still the responsibility for the player to call me and let me know they are not coming to practice. I can appreciate parents looking out for their sons. Parents are required to call the school to notify for their students absence with the attendance office. But I want the players to call me none-the-less to tell me they are going to miss practice.
I have 4 kids of my own so I know how it feels to be a parent. But what I want is for the player to learn to be responsible for themselves. Be accountable. Don't grow up to be one of the poor saps I listed above.
But I have noted a trend amongst a handful of the younger officers that are coming on the Department. When they are sick, they don't bother calling in to tell their Field Training Officer or Sergeant that they are sick and not coming to work. Instead, they just don't show up to work. Furthermore, a mother called the Academy to tell the Training Officers her son wasn't coming into the Academy because her adult son was sick.
Excuse me? What did you just say???
I have given all our players my phone number (starting back in summer camp) with instructions to call me in the event they were going to miss practice. My e-mail address also has been passed out. I know the flu is going around and that there are a lot of players out sick. But I had 11 players that didn't show to practice on Monday and 8 of them didn't even bother calling me to say they were sick.
It is still the responsibility for the player to call me and let me know they are not coming to practice. I can appreciate parents looking out for their sons. Parents are required to call the school to notify for their students absence with the attendance office. But I want the players to call me none-the-less to tell me they are going to miss practice.
I have 4 kids of my own so I know how it feels to be a parent. But what I want is for the player to learn to be responsible for themselves. Be accountable. Don't grow up to be one of the poor saps I listed above.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Where do Ineligible Players Report?
If a player is ineligible and he has 6th Period PE with me, he is still required to check in with me at the beginning of 6th Period when I take roll. They are still part of the team. They just cannot suit up for games or practice. After the 6th Period bell rings, they are feel to go home and leave practice with the rest of the school.
I need all the jerseys, pads, helmets, pants and girdles from all the players that are ineligible. I will be collecting the gear on Monday and Tuesday this week.
I still will be setting up tutoring on Saturdays and all players are welcome to attend for the remainder of the season.
Also, all players, including the ineligible players, will be welcomed to attend the Freshmen Football Banquet at the end of the year.
I need all the jerseys, pads, helmets, pants and girdles from all the players that are ineligible. I will be collecting the gear on Monday and Tuesday this week.
I still will be setting up tutoring on Saturdays and all players are welcome to attend for the remainder of the season.
Also, all players, including the ineligible players, will be welcomed to attend the Freshmen Football Banquet at the end of the year.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Grades and Eligibility
I just got off the phone with my boss, Coach Martinez. Eight of our players did not make grades and they will be cut from the team. This warning has been in the making for several weeks now.
I will be meeting with the ineligible players today and I will be securing their gear. Please understand, if their GPA shows as being below a 2.0, they will be cut. Period. The end.
I cannot change grades. I cannot hand in late assignments. If your son has issues pertaining to their grades, then he has to take it up with the teacher or the counselors. I cannot help in the event you wish to appeal the process. I gave all my players an "A" for football and "E" in citizenship.
The core values we teach our players are: 1) Faith 2) Family 3) School 4) Football in that order. They are young men and they are the ones responsible for their grades.
I will be meeting with the ineligible players today and I will be securing their gear. Please understand, if their GPA shows as being below a 2.0, they will be cut. Period. The end.
I cannot change grades. I cannot hand in late assignments. If your son has issues pertaining to their grades, then he has to take it up with the teacher or the counselors. I cannot help in the event you wish to appeal the process. I gave all my players an "A" for football and "E" in citizenship.
The core values we teach our players are: 1) Faith 2) Family 3) School 4) Football in that order. They are young men and they are the ones responsible for their grades.
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