So, sometimes ideas come to you out of the BLUE. Today I was wandering around downtown Thun, Switzerland waiting to sign some papers at the immigration office so I wouldn’t be tossed out of my second homeland.
I’m staring out across the River Aare and its beautiful BLUE waters (seriously this color BLUE is a little different than the Lehigh River I grew up with in eastern PA.) Looking at the Thun Castle … also the entryway to Old Town and just being pretty happy to be hanging out as a broken down old football coach here in this postcard-like country in the Alps. Honestly, what more could you want?
The vivid BLUE waters of Lake Thun are created in the Bernese Alps which eventually empties into the River Aare. The Aare then snakes down around the city of Thun and pushes on to circle around the Swiss capitol of Bern 
flowing under eighteen bridges (source = Wikipedia) and out to eventually become a tributary of the mighty Rhine River.
****Just an aside here … apparently the people of Thun and I would imagine her visitors as well… will often jump into the Aare from its bridges and float along from different parts of the city. They will get out and visit local bars and restaurants. This is something I can’t wait to see! (or maybe try).
Oh yeah – one more thing to my pal Carl Clapp who is in the Phoenix area and told me he was going to take a “tube” ride down the great Salt River like we did hundreds of times together – Hey here in Switzerland – they actually tube the River Aare through Bern! “Nomad” my goal is to “tube the Aare!” (They can’t be as sophisticated as we were tubing with a keg of beer can they??!!)****
So … back to me looking out over this fantastic cityscape along the BLUE waters of the River Aare. I think back about how I am able to be here. Yup .. goes back to football and everything it has allowed me to do. The people along the way. Coaches, players, friends – obviously family and the boss (wife) allowing me to do what I just like to do.
Pretty damn lucky.
Then a lightning bolt hits me. Last night a good friend of mine Steve Saulnier joined our football Zoom with the Thun Tigers to talk about football. Specifically, offensive line play – I will say this he is an expert – no doubt. But I know this man is too humble to acknowledge that compliment although it is true.
He gave us so many ideas … shared anecdotes … showed videos that reflected his blackboard (I guess we use whiteboards now with those markers instead of chalk …damn!) coaching he gave us.
Often you forget the people you have been along the way and how they have colored your life. Although Steve and I haven’t talked very much over the last few years I have certainly followed his career. His team the West Florida Argonauts advanced to the NCAA 2017 Division II championship only to lose. But they moved to that final game again in 2019 to defeat Minnesota State and become National Champs! How awesome is that?!
But, he has never lost touch with who he is — a grounded man. Just a fantastic person. For me, just lucky to have him in my lifetime.
Again, he was just great with our coaches and players and will join us again. (If any of my coaching friends out there need some great ideas – let me know Steve is awesome). A great big THANKS Steve. You re now the Patron Saint of Offensive Coaches in Switzerland.
But, the lightning bolt that I mentioned a few paragraphs earlier. Well, have been thinking of this for a little while. Getting more US coaches to share their knowledge and experiences with my friends on the Tiger staff. So, anyone looking for a little fun just let me know.
I am the prime example of – you never know where it can lead!