Month: November 2017

Thanksgiving Holiday Celebration!

Part 1

OK my tour of the Lehigh Valley for the football season comes to an end with a great Thanksgiving at Steve and Wendy’s house (or maybe it is Wendy and Steve’s house?)  She is in charge after all.

Wendy is an incredible cook and she set up a fantastic spread.  Turkey, stuffing, filling, corn, green beans, mashed potatoes gravy etc. (Also a tofu “turkey” thing for our on again-off again vegan – Brandon……I’m sure the first Thanksgiving did not include any “fufu” stuff like tofu).  What can I say he does have an awesome beard.

Where she found the time to get the meal done – who knows? – she did it with little or no help!  I know I was at K Kids game – then drinking beer.

Then she also found time to bake four or five different pies and some calorie loaded creation with chocolate cake rolled up around a peanut butter filling.  Uh yeah…all were excellent.

Yup spectacular Thanksgiving meal.

Probably leaning more towards 220 than 215 right now. Yikes Batman some work needs to be done to get back to fighting weight.

Great crowd – thirteen or fourteen of us including the hosts and their three kids – Brandon, Justine and Galen….Divyah (which I am spelling incorrectly I am sure.)  My Dad and Judy.

My Boss –Shawn – our son Corey and wife over from NYC.

   

The mysterious Captain Saturn from Siegfried Avenue in Konkrete Kid land was on hand.  He brought (I guess bought can be applied as well) a pie that his sometime roommate Burt baked for him while Tom and I drank beer at the Hungarian Hall on Wednesday.  (More on the HH Konkrete Kid reunion later) He also donated a case of beer (Proper flavor as well – Coors Light) to the already growing pile of cases we had compiled.

Even more family and friends arrived for desert.  Yeah pretty outstanding!

Many stories retold and perhaps embellished a bit.  Seems to me there is a reason they are called “Tall Tales” because they just keep growing.  Many lies were told – or perhaps our memories all start to fade as we age (and drink)

We could have built an outstanding beeramyd had I remembered to think of if.  We would have added some Genesee Cream Ale cans…..that was from Brandon.  Haven’t had that for more than twenty years….still pretty good stuff!

Alright – let’s take a look at how this whole operation unfolds for a Thanksgiving Holiday.

 Part 1 Above really is the last section in regards to the timeline!

This is how the whole hectic Thanksgiving week started:

Really began with me cleaning out my 7×12 apartment (closet) room at Moravian on Tuesday or Wednesday – can’t remember which day due to this whirlwind week.  ****It really is that small (7×12) – ask my roomdawgs.**** Had done my laundry the night before – not a real serious issue!  – I am fastidious and clean…..hah!

Checked into the Holiday Inn for a few days to stay out of Wendy’s hair as she got ready for the Holiday.  – I usually sleep on her couch – Bought and drank a few (dozen) beers…..went to pick up the boss (Shawn) – she flew into the ABE airport in the Lehigh Valley.  (Actually, I think it is the Lehigh Valley INTERNATIONAL Airport now!)

We drove and hour or so to Dover, New Jersey to pick up my son Corey and his wife Taylor who had taken an hour train ride there (I know it makes no sense to drive an hour when they can get closer….but what is four hours between family – go figure??).  Then leaving Dover launched ourselves into all of the traffic leaving NYC.  **Actually reminds me of Planes, Trains and Automobiles a little.**  Guess what – on the night before Thanksgiving everyone and their brother (plus their second cousins and 42,518 other relatives on their wife’s side are trying to leave the city as well.)  So like schooling fish we jumped into the insane route 80 traffic.

Obviously I was quite frazzled after this crazy driving….but I knew I had a chance because the Hungarian Hall in Northampton was awaiting.  The annual night before the Turkey Day game was on tap and fun was to be had.  So I made it thru!

This night before Thanksgiving is a ritual gathering at the esteemed Hungarian Hall and is a major league blast.  Alumni from all years Northampton gather and tell stories, lies, embellishments, wishes and promises etc.  It is a lot of fun!  Captain Saturn (see above in part one) is one of the key members of the security force to make sure that everything stays under control. We really do have a lot of fun…..many things are exchanged and forgotten as the alcohol haze sets in.  I think the Konkrete Kids may have one a few more games that night than they did in real life.

****Aside here – Leo (Captain Saturn) and I  much later had a lively discussion on who was the greatest athlete ever to come out of the Lehigh Valley.  Several were discussed, but we concluded that Chuck Bednarik was the best.  Took some discussion on Larry Miller and Curt Simmons as well.  Love my asides!****

 We survive the party and Leo (Tom or Captain Saturn – his dual nicknames so you choose one.) – and I repair to his estate on Siegfried avenue in Northampton Pa.  You have to know that sometimes it is hard sleeping on a couch in his house because he doesn’t like to turn the heat on.  (This is absolutely the truth)!

But alas,  after surviving near frostbite in the past….I came prepared.  Hooded sweatshirt (now called a hoodie if you will), sweat pants and two pair of socks.  He supplied the quilt and pillow.  I was fine.

You might ask – well how does he survive with no heat??  OK – he sleeps on the floor of his TV room on a mattress.  In sweats he lays down on an electric blanket and pulls a quilt over the top of himself.  I guess he doesn’t need the heat on….but his visitors do.

Seriously,  at times you can literally see your breath when you sit in there.

OK do survive Wednesday nite to awake to PART THREE! OR TWO OF THIS YEAR’S TURKEY DAY SAGA….WHO KNOWS WHAT PART IT IS ANYMORE!

PART TWO, THREE OR WHATEVER

I awake to a beautiful frosty but sunny Thanksgiving Thursday morning.  A very pretty day for the 95^th (Yeah you see it right 95^th) annual Northampton Konkrete Kid vs. Catasaqua Rough Rider football game.

Around 8:30 AM I walk outside to throw some of last night’s beer cans into the trash and check the temperature.  I decide that my usual black shorts and high white socks are certainly going to be warm enough.  But do decide for a layered look of hooded sweat shirts under my Konkrete Kid sweat shirt….plus a nice stocking hat and gloves if needed.

      

Above…..The Denardo “Compound” from the alley.

By the way this edition is getting way to long. – Does that count as an aside?

I walk the half mile from Captain Saturn’s house to Al Erdosy (Lou Wolf field) Stadium for the 10:00 AM kickoff.  As I stroll along Laubach Avenue and look at the town I still feel all my old friends and who we have become…John Krupa, Mike Schnieder, Baines Bilheimer, Wally Seremula, Johnny Derkits – I see their houses remember our tight group.  Remember how we learned about our lives…important things like playing sports, girls, music, girls, drinking, sneaking a smoke and girls.

I see the NAA (Northampton Athletic Association) and the athletic fields where at ten years old  we learned how to play football, basketball etc.  (I learned to play baseball in Lehigh township thanks to other great friends…Rick Kulp, Stan Schaffer, Greg Vogel and Eric Butler just to name a few – and their dads!)

Along the same street is the pool where we had some    hot life guards.  We used to do cannonballs to get Jill Filipovitz wet so she would throw us out of the pool.  Then she started dating “Gatchy” Derkits and we couldn’t do that anymore.  Dave Novogratz and his double gainers etc.

Enough about being poignant – those are just a few of the guys – love them all and always will.  That is what a Konkrete Kid is.  We are Black and Orange! Yup – just a bunch of cinderblocks….pumpkin heads (Orange helmets in the old days!)

Run across many old friends as I enter one of the most attractive High School stadiums I have ever seen.  Timmy Masluck, Freddy Stubitz – see Mike Schnieder on the field.  Hang with my brother Steve’s (better known as “Insane Clemons” – why am I the “Swamprat” – his nickname is better) best HS friend Dave Novogratz.  (As this post goes on you can accuse me of using run-on sentences and poor syntax – because it is true.)

We watch the game and catch up – where are his kids?  How is the Insane one doing…how is Wendy doing with retirement, does Galen like being a state cop?  Just a few things old friends settling in as the game gets going on the field.

We collect a few more friends in Mark Schlaffer and Johnny Eckert – their friends and kids are there as well.  “Skrep” Filipovitz (God we have the best nicknames here in Northampton) – “Skrep” has seen 70 straight Northampton vs. Catasauqua Thanksgiving games.

Johnny Oplinger (His nickname Johnny O) jumps me as he is leaving in the fourth quarter.  He is with his son Jonathon and has to leave to deep fry his turkey….Jonathon is in charge of the peas!  One of the greatest people you can meet – probably one of the best offensive linemen ever to wear the black and orange.

That’s what this game does – it brings us back together.  It catches us up on things.  We hear that “ChainDog” is having his usual party down in park right below the stadium…there are two others going on at the same time (yup they started at 9:00 AM).  Stevie Gabryluk was serving beer and eggs to thirty-forty people before 8:00 AM.

You may think these are just small gatherings – dream on – talking about kegs and cases.  Grills. Oh yeah the police station is right across the alley!  What a life!

      

(Images of Game Day above)

You know the best thing is this…..just as many Catty people with the Northampton people.  Never been an issue.  We live in neighboring towns.  But we just play the game – it isn’t life or death.

But we have some problems this year with the game.  Very unfortunate and somehow we have to get this under control.

 

PART THREE FOUR OR WHATEVER NUMBER WE ARE ON NOW.

 I am a football coach and have been for too many years.  I love to watch teams warm up – I just do.  I like to get there early…..So, I tend to notice things.

A little more trash talking between teams before the game (but not the fans though – probably because we have all known each other so long).  A little more looking at each other when they should be going through your paces during warmups.

As the teams exit the locker room to start the game Northampton comes out of the locker room first  and runs onto the field…..this is confusing to me because they are the home team.  Usually the visitors enter the field of play first.

Then Catty comes out and one of their players is carrying a very big sledge hammer.  He runs to the middle of the field and slams it down on the Northampton logo.  Not sure it could cut into the turf…but maybe right?

This causes the desired reaction by the KKids – they are not happy…..fortunately cooler heads prevail and nothing happens. Other than some comments back and forth.

Naturally this is not a good thing….but football on TV….well just watch it.  Now even the younger guys have to make statements.  Look at the eye black they put on – covering their faces….watch the gyrations they make if they stop a first down – or gain one – incomplete pass etc..  This is all TV.

Always thought the refs were supposed to stop taunting….basically this hammer thing is taunting on the HS level…guess not.

By allowing TD celebrations in the NFL – things will obviously get out of hand there.  (After all it is supposed to be professional football. – act like a pro.)  We have already seen some bizarre things after TD’s in the NFL.  All of this effects games at lower levels – mostly in a negative light.

Nothing good is going to come of this action.  I know the Northampton coach – he is excellent as a teacher and a great person – Mark Scisly – and I am sure Mark is caught off guard by this act.

Although I do not know the Catty coach Phil Dorn…. he has a very good reputation on and off the field.  I am sure he is surprised as well.

Throughout the game there is a “chippy” feel.  It is a close game, but it really isn’t if you watch it without a biased eye.  Northampton is a better team and they should win.  They are ahead 32-19 when I leave with the ball game they have the ball with only 8 minutes to do.

I should have stayed.

Turns out that there is a big brawl during the last 2 minutes or so.

I have already heard from several friends who wonder if they will just do away with this fantastic tradition on Thanksgiving day.  There have been fights in several of the last Turkey Day games.  Just plain stupid.

But to end the game – I truly hope not.  It is such a great way to start the Holiday season – 95 times!  (“Skrepy” Filipovitz has seen 70!).

I know it was a million years ago…..but when my age group played it was always a fun way to end the season.  Most of the Northampton and Catasauqua players were friends and it was a competitive but well-played game year in and year out.

Over the years like everyone else I competed in several sports against Rough Riders – guys like Eric Gerenscer, Bobby Smith, Al Burns (last time I was him he was a police officer), Mike Reicher,  Ron Hassler, Joe Poluka and Jeff Robbins to name just a few.  Went to college with John Reichel and John Case – chased After Catty girls in HS.

We were all friends – still are I would imagine.

Never would have considered fighting those guys because we were friends on and off the field.  We all wanted to win – but let’s face it HS football is serious…..but, not big enough to fight over.

For me playing on Turkey Day at 10:00 AM was always something to look forward to.  Now as an old man it is fun to watch the game and see old friends.  I don’t want to see this game go away. I am sure this is one of the longest standing traditions in the country.  Since there have been 95 games.

Here’s to hoping you all have a great holiday season!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well…..finally got my computer charged….  For some reason I have been having trouble.  My email is down…messages aren’t coming thru.  Facebook is on the blink and no messages being allowed in or out.

I guess that little man who lives inside of this computer must be having a tough time.  Maybe he got into the vodka – don’t know.  Or maybe I have been to the beer distributor a few to many times myself.

Anyway I think things with my computer are better now.  Looks like I can actually type into the blog without an error message.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Well….a few days ago we had a tough hard fought 29-14 loss to the Mules over in Allentown.  Although I guess it is a rivalry game….is it really?  Yeah, they are in the next city over – but isn’t that where the similarities stop?

I know at Moravian we think of Muhlenberg players as privileged and wealthy theater majors. (Hey wait a minute I went there!  I emphasize that I was not a theater major but an English major – well maybe a PE major!)   But….if they are theater majors – they are big and fast theater majors.  Somehow we need to get some of them to Bethlehem.

But, let me say this…we are closer to getting back on track than a lot of people think.  Our underclassmen are going to help build our program and propel the Hounds forward.  Trust me this group of young guys are the real deal.

But….we still need to improve…..we still need to get bigger and stronger.  And yes we need to improve our fundamentals!  I know I say that a lot….but it is a fact.  We need to get better at blocking and tackling!  We let too many things get away during games.

Things that we can control!

****Enter Strength Coach Tom Long and his excellent staff….in the next few weeks they will organize the off-season training program.  They do a fantastic job and it will be fun to watch our underclassmen train for next year.****

Here are a few things that hurt us last weekend.  We have chances to score and we hurt ourselves…..snap on a FG before we are ready….allow a blocked  FG…..fake punt that allows a scoring drive to continue…..inability to get our best players the ball…..inability to get our best players on the field at times…..poor tackling…..dumb penalties….kicking ball out of bounds on KO.

If we wouldn’t spend so much time on coaching these areas I’d say it is all about coaching.  But, we do work on these things every single day.  So some of the responsibility falls on the guys who are playing as well.

We certainly have to coach better – but we need to have the troops understand what we are teaching.

One touchdown we gave up Saturday was literally something that we corrected  in practice on Thursday.  It went like this….we failed to make a defensive adjustment.  This is an adjustment we have made since day one.

We corrected it in practice….then we fail to execute it during  the game.  We allow a Muhlenberg first down run because we didn’t do our job!

A few plays later we commit a personal foul penalty – which we talk about all the time.  Just a lack of discipline.  Next play we give up a TD on a run we practiced every day this week.

This is just unacceptable – and when you are playing good teams these things will cost you dearly.  These errors in play and in judgement – we just can’t have them if we expect to be competitive in big games.

As coaches we will have to revisit our season and look hard at what we need to do to improve our team.  This self study is something we do every year and although sometimes this reflection can be painful it is necessary.

I will end this by thanking our seniors and the leadership that they supplied.  The season may not have gone the way we had wanted but no one can find fault wth the effort the troops put forth.

With another season in the books the konkretekidinfootball will move on to he next project and adventure in football.

Many things on the horizon….more international football (Switzerland etc). A few clinics to speak at….others to attend and learn some more about football.  Working with my pals Ed, Terry, Curtis, Taylor on our football projects back in Michigan that may eventually send us overseas again.

Also looking to help my Swiss friends find a way to the US as exchange students or college students.

But…..wherever it takes me we will be looking for more adventures in the great game of football.

 

OK,  as we get ready to face our rivals from the other side of the Lehigh River it strikes me that I have been with this senior class at Moravian for all four years.  I watched them enter college here at Moravian and progress to this point.

It becomes clear to me that I have seen this group become fantastic young men and I have watched this whole thing transpire!  Pretty neat stuff.  Yeah, it hasn’t all been easy, but for the most part it has been a tremendous experience.  These guys have a lot going for them after working thru these last four years.  I can’t wait to see where the future will lead them.

 

Muhlenberg has a good solid team this season.  Although they have dropped three games this year the team is the usual aggressive and tough squad.  They play hard and are well prepared..

Obviously Johns Hopkins is the perennial  winner in the Centennial Conference. Before an early season loss to Ursinus they had a 45 game winning streak in the CC.    No one likes to concede anything to them, but they are pretty damn good year in and year out.

 But by the same token  the Mules are generally right there in the thick of the battle.  When the two of them play it is obvious that there is respect for Hopkins but Muhlenberg will stand toe to toe with them.

They are always a solid and physical team.  A group who finds a way to contend most seasons.  With a stout defense and a very well coached offense Muhlenberg gives all of their opponents matchup problems.

This year is no exception – with the second best defense  behind Susquehanna and the third best offense they display the power that has propelled them to the 6-3 record they have.  Despite a season ending injury to perhaps the CC’s best running back  (Nick Savant (#32)) and the insertion of a freshman (not any of that Ivy League FY or First Year bullshit – he is a freshMAN) the Mules have fought their way right back to near the top of the CC.

****Just an aside here – and you know I like my asides!  For some reason in the last several years the PC police have decided to neuter the word “freshman”.  So as not to hurt anyone’s feelings (and keep attendance up I would suppose) some schools now call first year students just that – First Year or “FY” instead of Freshmen or “FR”.   I must be losing my mind – who has the time to think of this BS??****

Mike Hnatkowski (#17) has stepped up and led the Mules with his strong arm.  A left handed freshman (again – not First Year) he is a work in progress, but obviously he has all the tools to become a good QB in this league.  He is completing a very respectable 61.5% of his passes and has thrown for 1677 yards and 17 TD’s.  Although he is obviously still learning the offense he is certainly more than effective for Muhlenberg.

The loss of Savant (#32) – who will lead the Mules in Rushing Yardage at the end of the year –  77 ATT – 562 YDS and 6 TDs) – has thrown the running game at Muhlenberg into a group effort.  The versatile Matt Stickney (#6) has taken over the load to some degree (50 ATT – 243 YDS), but Freshman James Diggs (#20) certainly contributes his fair share to rushing yardage.

With the second leading offense in the Centennial Conference the Mules benefit from a strong offensive line.  Although not as big as they have been in the past they are certainly effective.

These guys have paved the way for 422.4 yards per game in total offense and have allowed just 17 sacks in the nine games they have played.  Naturally as effective as they are – it allows their freshman QB a chance for success.

Over the years the TE position has been a key to the versatility in the Muhlenberg offensive attack.  Their top Tight End Ryan Curtis (#11) has missed or been limited in his the last several games.  If he remains inactive this week he will be replaced by Stephen Grandoff (#44).

Often the Mule offensive attack will show multiple receivers with Sophomore Max Kirin (#89), senior Kyle Wilezynski  (#33) and local product Josiah Wright (#1) from Bethlehem Liberty being their top players.

Kirin (#89) leads all MC pass catchers with 31-381 yards and 6 TD’s.  The injured Ryan Curtis (#11)  has 21 catches for 245 yards and 3 scores.  Muhlenberg has always done a good job spreading the ball around to their perimeter players and that is certainly still part of the plan.

Obviously they will try to limit the difficulty for QB Mike Hnatkowski (#17).  It only makes sense to put him in situations that allow him a high degree of success.  The coaches have done it to this point and there is no reason why they should change now.

                                                                             

 

 

 

Defensively the Mules are always one of the top teams in the conference and this year is no exception.   They allow just 18.7 points per game (3rd in the Centennial) and are leading the conference allowing just 83.7 yards per game on the ground.  This sturdy run defense has been the mark of the Mule defense for many years.

Kwasi Ampomah (#8) has 8.5 sacks on the season and is third in the conference and Amir Blair (#23) has force three fumbles.   Junior Nate Corvil (#5) is a steady defender in their secondary – he leads all CC defenders with 6 interceptions (1 returned for a TD.)

The Muhlenberg defense is always known for their hard hitting and their disciplined play.  As a team they are quick off the ball and are a good team in pursuit.

 

Obviously we will have our hands full on both sides of the ball.

We are coming off our highest scoring game…..35-18 win over Dickinson College.  We played well on both sides of the ball and had some big production on Hall of Fame weekend.

 

 

*****The inductees into the Moravian Athletic Hall of Fame included one of the most decorated football players in Moravian history.  Jarrod Pence ’03 played in all but one game over his entire career and was the first ever Moravian AFCA Division III All American.  He attained many post season awards over his remarkable career and played in the Division III All Star game in Mexico City.  He is noted for his humility and great teamwork throughout his stay at MC.*****

 

Freshman Doug Erny (#8) had his best day of the season passing….completing 13-19 for 290 yards and three TD’s.  Those three scores included a 75 yard TD to Captain Aaron Hudson (#1) to open the second half.  He also had a 63 yarder to Alex Pierce (#83) and one of 27 yards to the elusive Nick Petros (#7).

 

Eli Redmond (#11) broke out for 111 yards rushing and one  score.  It was the second one hundred yard game of the season and with one game remaining he continues to regain his form of two seasons ago.

The young offensive line spearheaded by center Brett Polling (#75) continues to show progress and growth.  They have worked hard all season and this group will be the foundation on which we will build next year’s offense.  It is a great base to start with – young, strong, tough and big!

Steve Ewald (#45) and junior Captain Nick Zambelli (#24) – both of Parkland – led a strong defensive effort.  Ewald (#45) made 13 tackles – knocked down a pass and picked off a Red Devil throw.  The interception had the markings of a TD return but the old turf monster grabbed his foot and yanked him down before he could get away!

Zambelli (#24) – you can’t say enough about him.  His leadership in the secondary and his ability to direct the defense is something you can’t say enough about.  The six tackles he chipped in didn’t hurt either.

Up front freshman Shane Mastro (#92) had a breakout game creating several big plays including a sack.   Captain Fouad Haddad (#40) continued his steady play that has marked his remarkable career which has seen him contribute in every phase of the game (including our goal line offense).

The entire defensive group put together one of their best efforts of the year.  The Hounds got a lot of mileage out of a nicked-up Vinny Caporrino (#52) who played his usual steady game.  An unfortunate injury to Joe Milano (#22) will sideline him for the rest of the year.  He was on his way to a tremendous game with 7 tackles before he was hurt.

We will need all of these guys and everyone else we have to step up this weekend.  This is a big game and as the saying goes “BIG PLAYERS MAKE BIG PLAYS IN BIG GAMES!”

Lets talk a little about “Lagniappe” here in a few minutes…but first let’s talk about the Moravian vs. Muhlenberg rivalry.

We move into our “Rivalry” week with our neighbor in Allentown – Muhlenberg College.  I’m not really sure if they are actually my own personal rival – I mean I did go to school there after all.

So can you be a rival and an alum at the same time……kinda like married and divorced simultaneously?

Obviously I am coaching at Moravian and I want our troops to win….do I hate Muhlenberg or it’s players.  No way – this is a football game, a competition…a game that has a score that I will forget a few months from now.

In my case….many people often ask me how in the world can you help at Moravian when you went to school at Muhlenberg?  Well….I don’t know if it is all that complicated.  I am a football  coach after all.  That’s what I do – that’s what I have done my whole adult life.

****Ask me how my friend Gary Moeller could be the head coach at the University of Michigan when he was an All American and National Champion at The Ohio State University??  Do you think that rivalry might just be a tad bit intense?****

Yeah,  I went to college in Allentown – love my classmates – and my teammates at Muhlenberg.  But, they aren’t in school there anymore and neither am I.  So what is the big deal?  Why is it so unusual or alien for me to be coaching at Moravian?

I had a great time there….actually too good of a time if you ask many people.  Glad I was a Mule at that point of my life…but now I am very happy being on the Hounds football staff.

Yes, the schools are night and day – undoubtedly.  But aren’t all colleges supposed to have their own niche.  Moravian people say that the Mules are all Theater and English majors (I was by the way)….Muhlenberg people say that Moravian grads are all cops and nurses.  Is that true?…doubtful!

I disagree with both schools of thought and I think my perspective is a little better than most.  I attended and played at Muhlenberg – my son attended and played at Moravian – I coach at Moravian.  Both places mean a lot to me…..neither is better than the other – each has it’s place .  It depends on what you need and what you want for your life.

Enough useless philosophy.  The Hounds go into this weekend as the underdog  (well a Hound is a dog last time I checked).  The Mules are very good and have had a  successful season.  Well, in all honesty – at Moravian we are really young and inexperienced and there are many bright days ahead.  But, I can see why we would be thought of as an underdog.

But, we still have to play the game right??!!

But, despite the differences in each season this will be a hard fought game.  There will be no backing down by any team this Saturday.  No matter which sideline you stand on we each expect the best efforts from our respective teams.

*****

That brings me to the subject of “Lagniappe”.

I learned the word “Lagniappe” from my late friend Frank Gansz.  He was one of the most inspirational and intense coaches I have been around.  A very well educated man who found his calling in teaching young men not only how to play football – but how to walk through their lives.

“Lagniappe” is a word found in. several cultures – but here in the states it is most frequently heard in the deep southeast and Louisiana in particular.

The word “Lagniappe” is  French Creole  (If you have been to the Deep South you will recognize the influence of the Creole and French people and the mingling of the two).  Generally you hear it the most during the Christmas holiday season.

In a broad sense it means “A little extra….a little more….something added”.   For instance it comes into play when a store owner or shop keeper greets a steady customer and wants to thank that person for their continued business during the year.

So during this joyous time of year the owner wants to do something nice.  Often that person will give a small gift – candy, sweets, cakes etc. to their everyday people.  It is a show of gratitude for what the customers do to support them all year round.

As a parent you walk into the bakery where you buy bread and cakes all year round – the proprietor who is so thankful for your loyal business gives your small child a cupcake or doughnut (beignet if you are in New Orleans!).  That is Lagniappe – the small gift for who you are and what you mean to them.

Well, Frank incorporated this word into football.  He used it in this sense (Or senses I guess)…..to him he wanted out team to do a little extra in everyday life.    In meetings – just a little bit more….at practice a little bit harder…in games – a little bit faster and tougher than our opponents.

So just play a little bit harder every play!

But, a step further…Frank encouraged us to give a little bit extra on the field for your teammate.  prepare just a little extra – for your teammate.  Well – you see what I mean.

To sum up – for you underclassmen who are silly enough to read my words – I ask you for a little “Lagniappe” thru Rivalry Week.  Let’s give a little bit more every day for our Seniors….for the people who we have counted on all year.

Without you knowing it you have received “Lagniappe” from them on everyday since you have known them! It’s the least we can do for them.

Lets have some Lagniappe!

First of all…what a fantastic day to spend here in the Lehigh Valley.  Sun shining temps in the low 50’s.  You can’t find a better day to play a football game.

Senior Day!

                                                      

The game!

Many years ago a friend of mine – Dick Jauron – told me you can learn a lot about your opponent if you watched them warm up.  Dick is a Yale grad and one of the three smartest people I have ever met.  So when he mentioned things I listened.

Dick played defensive back for the Lions in the 70’s (While he was in school he played running back – unusual shift from RB to DB for a true college free agent). Later he was a head coach with the Chicago Bears  and later with the Buffalo Bills.

Trust me a fantastic coach – taught me so much.  But, better yet just had such a great time hanging around with him and the one-and-only George Catavolos.

He was fired from both of those jobs…but one thing about Dick – he never put the blame on anyone else….never complained about the personnel he was given….always carried himself with such grace and class.

I have met many people who have influenced me.  But if there was anyone who I would love to emulate it would be Dick.  I have never heard anyone say a bad thing about him.

So when he would tell me things about football and his observations I really took them to heart.  He saw so much and understood the game so well….was a good person to learn from.

But, back to watching your opponent warm up.  You can learn a lot of things – especially at the Division III level.  Your opponent will almost invariably run the same plays in the game that they run in warm ups.  They will use the same formations, motions and pass plays.

You can see if anyone has an injury taped up and where they might have potential injuries.  Maybe it is something you can exploit??!!  I actually saw a RB sprain his ankle in warmups before we played Minnesota.  I don’t know if it helped us, but we did win the game!

You can truly get an edge if you pay attention.  Many times your opponent will run the same plays – just out of different formations and perhaps wth different motions.  Now you can anticipate some adjustments before the game even starts.

Always look for that slight edge!

***Another one of the three really smart guys I know was my high school and college teammate Eric Butler – he was off the  charts smart – he pops up as one of those three smart guys as well.   Plus he was a fantastic player and a great friend all the way.  By the way you will never ever see my name on a list of smart people!   I actually had a 26% on a mid term for the easiest math class at Muhlenberg. (Might have done better had I attended class more than once a month!)***

We didn’t learn a lot from Dickinson’s warm up yesterday.  But we found out pretty quickly that they would be starting their #3 QB because their starter and his backup were both injured.  We didn’t know that before warmups.

Well, obviously you now know that they would have to simplify their game plan  due to the difference in personnel.  Also opened them up for blitzes because a young inexperienced QB doesn’t have the experience and vision to pick up changes as quickly as a veteran.

We have had a lot of tough games this season….we knew that we would have our hands full with Dickinson because they always play us tough.  The Hounds were fortunate to get off to a great start on Senior Day.

We racked up more than 500 yards in offense despite three turnovers.  (Turnovers are unacceptable and something we have been pretty good about all season – we have to be secure with the ball to be a consistent team).  I know sometimes things happen and we lose the ball….but we have to keep the pressure on our guys during practice so we can win the turnover battle in each game.

Our seniors really stood out during the game – many have been big time players their whole career.  Others have been really big behind the scenes.  Many things they have done go unnoticed – but we know!

           

So happy to watch Aaron Hudson have a giant TD catch and run. to open the second half.  This guy is so exciting and so much a leader…..bang he gets the ball – 75 yards later he scores his 10th career TD on his 118th catch.  (Just imagine if we used him more his freshman year.)

He is an awesome player and he will be a great player in Europe if he decides to go over there with me next year.  This guy can play ball.  But his leadershiskills are unparalleled.

We had Vinny Caporrino play thru a painful injury and do a tremendous job on the line defensively.  We wanted to rest him, but he refused to take time off – fantastic effort.

Fouad Haddad played his usual solid game and always is trying to encourage his teammates to play even better.

Defensively we played a strong and consistent game.  Steve Ewald was all over the field making tackles and dominating the Red Devil blockers.  Between he and Joe Milano early in the game we just over ran Dickinson’s offense.

Was really great to see Tanner Stokes and Will Russell step up and play so well after an unfortunate injury to Joe.  I do have to tease Steven though…..he makes a great interception – clear field in front of him.- yup sure TD!  Then that white yard stripe just jumped up and tripped him preventing a TD!

         

Personally was just so happy to watch all things fall into place as the game went on.  These guys certainly deserve to see success.  But as I have said many times – no one said it would be easy – and no one said it would be fair.

Gotta love this team.  Results are not always what we want, but such a great experience being with them!

Time to become consistent!

This week we will talk a.little about lagniappe.  This is a custom that is practiced in many areas….but is common in New Orleans and the Deep South.

 

In sports, and football in particular there are different levels of coaching.  This positioning is generally based upon how much experience you have and at times your availability.

For instance, there are three sections of NCAA football – Division I, Division II and Division III with DI being regarded as the highest in regards to player talent.  (Also this group of schools like Michigan State, Rutgers and Alabama have the most resources to allocate to athletics).

Almost every coach when they are younger wants to attain a high level for various reasons.  You get to work with some very talented players, coach with knowledgeable peers and of course there is the chance to play in front of large crowds and many times compete on television.

Obviosly there is a lot of glamor involved – plus there can be a great deal of money involved (especially amongst the head coaches).

****Please note – there is a great deal of pressure for the guys at the highest levels.  This year we have seen many guys get “whacked” (fired) already and the season isn’t even into it’s final stage yet. ( My good friend at Texas El Paso – Sean Kugler resigned a few weeks ago, Jim McElwain was fired earlier this week at Florida,  Hugh Freeze at Mississippi didn’t even make it to the season due to his mistakes with his school phone.). But when you get paid a lot you face a great deal of scrutiny.

I assure you more firings are on the way!

Guess what happens when they fire the top guy – yup the assistants will generally all get their walking papers at the end of the season.  You can be a great coach, but you are probably out of work with no more insurance or pay checks coming in – off to try and find another job!****

One question that is always asked by young coaches – how do you get started?  How do I get to be like David Shaw (head coach at Stanford) or Jim Mora (head coach at UCLA) or even Bill Belichick the five time Super Bowl winning coach of the New England Patriots?  How did they start out?

Well, first of there are no guarantees….each path to the upper echelon jobs is a little different – yet they are also similar.  But many coaches have worked their way thru the “system” and never make it into what would be called a “Big-Time” job.  Many coaches never attain a job of a coordinator much less become head coaches.

Often coaches aspire to find their way into high level jobs, only to find they cannot break into those positions.  Sometimes it is just lack of experience, sometimes the wrong experience, and other times it is as simple as being in the wrong place when a job becomes available.

Like I said earlier it is not an exact science and often the trail has a lot of distractions and detours.  For instance you might find an opportunity on the opposite coast.

Wow seems romantic glamorous even.   ….speaking of romance – maybe you find that interesting job in State “X” but the pay is low and your significant other says…..I have a job here making much more money than that and if I move to state “X”  I have no guarantee of a job there!  Well deceisions – hard decisions have to be made.

Maybe that nice job shows up when you are a HS coach with ten years experience  and a district pension plan…plus a family and two kids.  Explain  to your wife you are giving up that nice house and security to take on a lower pay and a much riskier job at a college – just to pursue your dream of a full time coaching job with no teaching.  Guess how that conversation is going to go down?

So I might as well tell my own little story.

My personal path was a lot easier – albeit without any guarantees either.  After two years of coaching as an unpaid volunteer (with my close friend Scot Dapp) at Kutztown State I finally caught what was the eventual “break”.

***Scot and I were both school teachers and that is how we made our living….we showed up at Kutztown to coach football every day after our school day ended.***

After two years of typing about ten resumes per week and mailing them to every school in the NCAA that I could think of I got a call from a coach looking for some help.  By the way no computers or spell check in the mid seventies so those resume’s took a lot of time to type on my old Olivetti Underwood!).  …..In case you don’t know there are a lot of schools in the NCAA.  I finally got ONE SINGLE response.

I was able to secure a graduate assistant position at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico (“The Land of Enchantment”).   To this day I love the place because of the people  and friends I made there….and just the experience of living there.  (AND NO – New Mexico is not NEW and it is not in MEXICO – it is one of the 50 states!)

My mother could not understand how I could give up my elementary school teaching job of $11,000  per year (that was a fair salary in 1977 by the way) to take a job that paid $300 per month.  Also to travel to the great southwest where I knew no one and had no connections??!!

My girlfriend had also dumped me and it didn’t look like she was coming back and she was smart enough not to – so I was out the door and on my way across the  Mississippi River for the first time in my life.  No worries – single man with no baggage. So I started out pretty much without having to worry about anything but coaching football and having fun  (I am good at that fun thing by the way.)

A year later I was fortunate to get a full-time job at Arizona State which was one of the luckiest things that ever happened to me.  First of all I was like the fourth choice for the job (My Boss at the time Darryl Rogers -always introduced me to other people…..”Don was our fourth choice but he is ours now and hey we love him!”)  I worked with DR for ten years and believe me he introduced me to MANY people over that time span.

I was lucky in many ways – first – I had just the right amount of experience to  do the job, also just enough to keep my salary reasonable, second  – a few  other fools turned down the job, third – I could get to Arizona State more quickly than anyone else by driving six hours from Las Cruces to Phoenix,  fourth – the fools at the NCAA hadn’t  yet implemented a rule which prevented a coach from working on the  field and also serving as the strength coach (ASU wanted someone who could do two things – that was the versatile me!).

I was able to more than triple my teaching salary and move to a fantastic but very hot southwestern city – Phoenix.  Coach in the PAC-10 (Unlike the Big 10 which has 14 teams – we can you count our teams in the PAC-12 – there are 12).  Single man with cash in a college town – look out!

Five years later I was coaching in Detroit with Darryl Rogers – still introducing me as his “Fourth” choice by the way!  A few decades later sitting at Moravian writing this silly blog.

But, that is kind of one path into a full-time coaching position.

In reality the clearest entry way to a full time coaching job is through a job as a graduate assistant coach. They are hard to come by as I have already mentioned.  But I am pretty sure that finding a grad assistant job now is much harder that when I started out.

As a grad assistant you are offered free graduate level classes, a small stipend to cover your expenses and housing.  (Did I mention SMALL stipend??). In return you get to begin coaching in a college setting.  You begin on the bottom rung of the college football coaching.

***At smaller schools like Moravian we have internships which are the same idea.***

Trust me – although becoming a GA is a right of passage that almost everyone in college coaching goes thru….it can be a very trying experience.  I really enjoyed my experience because the majority of the “Full time” coaches and how they taught me and brought me into their families.

I was a GA at New Mexico State and I can’t begin to thank the men  (who were the major coaches on the NMSU staff) I learned football from – Don Christiansen, Fred Graves and Tony DiBiasse and these men also brought me into their families.  Don’s son Steve and I remain great friends – Tony and his wife Martha had dinner with me every time the Lions played in Cincinnati….Fred and I coached again with the Lions.  Awesome people.

But in some colleges the primary or full-time coaches treat the GA’s as their personal assistants giving them a variety of tedious jobs in the office – sometime involving coaching and other times just using them to run around campus taking care of jobs they should be handling themselves.

Other times they treat you like dirt and just run over the top of you.  This behavior is pretty much tolerated and the GA just has to take it because these are the guys who will be recommending you for jobs later.

Every GA has their story about someone who treated them badly along the way.  Some coach who gave them a thankless “shit” job that you don’t even get a thank you for.  Yet you press on because you want to get one of those coveted full time jobs.  Just shut up and remember not to treat anyone like you were treated!

There were four of us GA’s at New Mexico State during my time.  We developed a strong bond as our head coach Gil Krueger treated us like his personal dogs.  We stuck together and helped each other with some of the shitty jobs he threw at us.

I might have been handed the shittiest job of the GA’s….but it was also the funniest in my opinion.  It taught me very little about coaching football, but it did teach me to laugh at myself and realize that I was just a regular guy and not some high flying college football coach.

I was in charge of the player’s laundry.  In other words I was to make sure that after our practices all the t shirts, jocks, pants, jerseys etc were cleaned and dried for the next practice.  Shouldn’t have been a hard job. BUT – a big BUT!

BUT we had no laundry equipment on campus.  We had to take all of that wet, sweaty, smelly gear three miles downtown into Las Cruces and wash and dry it there.  I was in charge of it….but I had an assistant.

I had a football player who was injured to take care of the laundry.  He kept his scholarship by taking care of the gear.  I will never forget Dee Taylor – I’m sure he doesn’t remember me – but I will always remember him.

Well, after a few days Dee stopped coming to work.  The laundry stayed wet and dirty one day.  I complained to Gil Krueger – the head coach – that Dee did not show up.

Gil Krueger told me that if the kid wasn’t doing it….well I had to do it!  Actually Gil said this: ” I don’t give a fu*k about Dee Taylor and I don’t give a fu*k about you – get the job done or get the fu*k out of here.”

Those are pretty much his words verbatim….well I looked at my life and where I wanted to go….pretty much knew I didn’t want to turn out like Gil Krueger but knowing I wanted to coach football.  So I shut up and got busy.

So for the entire season I cleaned and dried the laundry for our 100 or so players.

I would wake up at 4:30 in the morning get into a white 1956 Chevrolet Apache panel truck with no front seat or windshield wipers and take the four or five duffel bags of laundry downtown to a laundromat.

My front seat was a 10 gallon carpet glue can with a piece of foam on it.  Didn’t need the windshield wipers because it rarely rained in the southern New Mexico desert.

The owner of the Laundromat met me each morning and gave me a stack of  quarters and I proceeded to place the laundry into ten or so washing machines and get them going with the quarters.  Then after 45 minutes loaded them into the dryers and finished my job.  Every day of the season I did the team’s laundry.

Sometimes I did the laundry in the evenings and had to jostle with some locals and NMSU students for the machines.  Actually met some good friends, met a few girls that I dated….but the best thing there was a bar across the street where I drank a lot of beer those evenings.

The final week of the season I drove the three miles to the do the laundry in an all out downpour!  If my friends could have seen the big-time football coach driving that panel truck with his head sticking out of the front window just to see in a driving rainstorm.

But it really all paid off in my opinion – kept my head from getting to big and met some lifelong friends.

But, let’s get to our GA’s – or interns –  as they are called here at MOCO.

They are all great young guys who have a really good chance to move on to find bigger jobs.

First off you have to understand – our interns are truly not interns or graduate assistants.  In the situation we are working with at Moravian these guys are basically full-time coaches.  They do everything that any one of us older guys do.  Actually I do less work than they do – I am  in charge of drawing the cards for our scout teams.  That’s pretty easy to do.

These guys have to coach a group of guys at their position.  They also have to run meetings and handle problems that come about on campus.  It is not an easy thing to do for a young man who was wearing helmet and pads just a year ago.

We need these guys to be on there game and we count on them to be professional.

Arturo Gyles and Evan Harvey were standouts at Lehigh and work on the defensive side of the ball.  Matt Chiappelli (Shippensberg) and Doug Turrell (Villanova) work for the offense.

They are all competent and capable guys who will be very good as full time coaches somewhere if they hand with the profession.  They also are really gregarious and each very personable.

***I am teaching them how to drink Beer!!!***

To say there is teasing between them in the office – well that is an understatement.  Especially in the week where Villanova and Lehigh played each other early in the season. Quite a few barbs thrown around – the testosterone ramped up etc.

But, that is actually a daily thing now.  Always ragging on each other.   But, I promise you these guys have gotten really close and will always be friends as they move through their careers.

One of the funniest pranks pulled off within their group was by Doug – he invented the “Intern of the Week” award.  Obviously there is no such thing.  But he placed a placard on Evan’s bulletin board declaring that Doug was the “Intern of the Week.”

Well, a few of us spotted this placard and decided to intercede a little.  We found a picture of Doug to add to the award.  It was a “Leave it to Beaver” type shot of a young Doug Turrell from perhaps his freshman year at Nova.  We inked in a front tooth and added it to the bulletin board with the “Intern of the Week” tag.  Nice touch if you ask me.

So Evan, Matt and Arturo had a good laugh about the “Intern of the Week” idea.  But we all found it even more hilarious when Doug walked in the office and saw we added his picture to the award.  Just one of those quid pro quo moments that had us laughing at each other.

 

 

It might not seem all that funny to many people.  But at one o’clock in the morning when you are all working in close quarters with some pressure hanging over your head….it is really funny.

I have no doubt that if these guys stick with it they will become fantastic coaches and perhaps even head coaches!

What a Life!

We prepare this week for the Red Devils from Dickinson College.  They travel to Steel field for a game this Saturday.

In the realm of “Small World” –  My neighbor in Rochester Hills, Michigan – Martha, she actually attended  and played basketball at Dickinson.

The Devils are currently 2-6 with one more victory than we have.  But our guys continue to stay sharp and work to improve each day.

The weight room remains full – the guys continue to work hard in the classroom.  No stepping back here.  All oars remain in the water and the guys are putting their back into each stroke.

Coaches keep working hard and teaching the guys…no backing down here.  We have watched our roster continue to change due to injuries – yet the coaching continues.  Lucky to be around this talented group of guys.  Each of our guys are committed to getting the job done.  They work countless hours in the office watching film….studying tendencies and also learning new techniques.

 

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Under first year coach Brad Fordyce Dickinson has also faced some injuries.  Early in the season their quarterback Billy Burger (#8) went down with the injury and although he played a little bit two weeks ago he did not play last week.

No way to find out what has happened at their QB situation at Dickinson.  Hey I get it,  theDickinson coaches don’t want us to know who their QB is going to be.  But in general you can’t find out anything about a CC team unless you do the research yourself.

Like most things in the Centennial Conference all information is shrouded in secrecy.  Trying to get up to date information from the sports information people at any school is nearly impossible – most of these guys (girls too I suppose) must be preparing for jobs in the secret service.

It’s amazing how difficult it is to get an accurate 2-deep depth chart from these people.  They are generally late in giving the information and many times they are inaccurate.

Most of these people would be amazed what a real PR department is like in Division I or professional sports.  Sometimes you have to get up off your ass and do some work.

Burger (#8) has been replaced by Freshman Robert Geuss.  Except that Robert Geiss is not a Freshman he is a FY…..(Fancy Dan schools now refer to  Freshman as FY or First year people….god forbid you refer to them as FreshMEN – the word MEN on the end of fresh must offend some people …let’s get politically correct!)

Geiss (#7) has played well since entering the lineup and appears to be a passer first and runner second.  He has completed 51.3% of his passes hitting 80-156 for 779 yards and is 10th among the Centennial Conference signal callers.  His favorite target has been Daniel Salmone (#21) who has 37 catches for 270 yards which is 8th in the CC.

Interestingly enough Salomone (#21) only averages 7.3 yards per catch which shows that he is an underneath receiver.  Most of his catches have been in ball control situations as the coaching staff is trying to make sure their young QB has manageable throws.

Their offensive line has been improving as the season moves along.  They have allowed sophomore Jeremy Walsh (#9) to get loose for 473 yards and a 3.5 yards per carry average.

Last weekend Sam Peck (#14) a sophomore ran for  121 yards in the loss to Juniata.  Walsh (#9) also ran for over 100 yards to build a productive running game.

Defensively the Devils are similar to us.  They have spent a lot of time on the field and rank as one of the lower teams statistically.

Finding consistency has been a problem plaguing Dickinson throughout the year.  Having a youthful roster and new coaching systems is often trouble on game day.  This has been apparent in most of their games to date.

Defensively the Devils have had trouble creating big plays and their tackling has been spotty at times.  But one thing about Dickinson they always play hard and show great effort in getting to the ball.

Dickinson has trio of very solid defenders.  Sophomore linebacker James Turner (#26) has 10.5 tackles for losses on the season and is one of their top defenders. He is joined by Thomas Nocka (#55) who has 4.5 sacks and one of their best overall players in Tyler Heisey (#33).

The Devils have one of the best facilities in the Centennial Conference and it is a fantastic school.

Their new stadium locker facilities are excellent and the additions they have made to their athletic complex have mad the school one of the most attractive schools in Eastern Pennsylvania.

          

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I am really looking forward to watching our guys play this weekend.  They have prepared hard and are really finding their groove.  I especially like the way our young defensive line is continuing to make progress every day.

We are lucky to have seniors like Connor Rooney, Fouad Haddad and Vinnie Caporrino for leadership in that room.  Really big contributors, but even better young men.  These guys are all going to be an impact wherever they land after graduating.

    

Love these guys and everything they have done at Moravian over the last four years.  Can’t find better people!

The defense continues to create turnovers, but we have to play better on third down and get off of the field.  Like Dickinson we have found it hard to play consistently on every play.  Yet there is continued improvement and it is visible as we practice.

Defensively we have to “win” on first down….in other words hold the opponent to less than four yards.  This puts the offensive team into a second and long situation and it allows you to be more flexible with your defensive calls.  When you get to third down we have to find a way to get off the field – players have to make stops….knock down passes at the line – break up throws – create turnovers etc.

Sounds easy when you say it that way….but obviously it is not easy to do.  But we will keep working to get it right.

Again….nice to see how supportive family and friends are of this team.  It is great to see how much backing all of our guys have.  Between this support group and former players coming back to Steel Field and lending their help it is obvious that it is only a matter of time until we get our program back on track.