I Was a Coach for "One More Game"

Wow, what a weekend.

I really need to thank my good friend, fellow educator, and author Mick Peterson.

He asked me over the summer to coach the One More Game team—which is a group of former players from Pontiac and other schools who come back to the field to play one more game. Trust me; there is some hitting and some very strong juices flowing.

I, as the coach, call the plays. For the first half, that was true. The second half, I let the guys kind of dictate how they wanted to go.

Thank goodness I had one of my all-time favorite students Tommy Green as my quarterback. He was a polite, intelligent, and respectable kid who was always willing to use his intelligence. He was respectful enough to help me draft some new plays for the second half.

I also had another all-time favorite students Kendrique Coates. Thank goodness for Kendrique. Mr. Coates as he liked to be called, was a great student with a positive attitude. He was elevated to a starting tailback his sophomore year, and handled the pressure with grace and class. He never let his studies falter and he acted so mature as a student and a person in our district. I really enjoyed him in my classes.

Rounding out my Pontiac crew of former students in Mike Thorne (who I never taught), Travis Miller, Eric Bauman (who I specifically asked for), Luke Thompson (another request), and Eric Saxton. I also employed at my disposal, Jared Carter (a heck of a receiver), Andy Lauber (a fine full back, Jake Hepner, Seth Siergey, Randy McCloskey, Ryan Mayhew, the incredibly big Ian Scott, and coordinator fullback/linebacker Jeff Schade. We played tough defense, as one of my players left the game with a broken collar bone, and we stopped the run in the second half.

We played more than a little smash-mouth with Tommy, Kendrique, Jeff, Andy, and others.

We refused to lie down as we “went for it” on 4th and two and made a first down, which helped us win the game. I was proud of my guys and glad to help a fund-raiser as Champion Fitness takes the proceeds for various sports programs.

Pictures from the game will be forthcoming.

The guys teased me about my fist-pumping, my yelling, my loss of voice, and my attitude of “we will this (expletive) game.”

We did, as the Orange team won 14 to12 against the White team.

Lots of fun, as I bought each of my players a beer after the game and they chipped in to buy me one as well.

I think I could have had a beer all night.

In other football news, THE BEARS WON! A great defensive stand on the goal line only added to their win. Go Bears! Watch them run away with it now.

The Chicago Bears Season Opener Revisited

“But baby, since I've been loving you, yeah,

I'm about to lose my worried mind…”

--Led Zeppelin from the song “Since I’ve Been Loving You" from the LP Led Zeppelin III.

As most regular readers note, I predicted a resounding victory against the Colts for my Super-Bowl Bound Chicago Bears last week.

As I also clearly stated, Jeff will owe me a beer.

Why do you people doubt me?

That Defense was incredible. The shot on Joseph Addai was fantastic by Lance Briggs. The strip by Charles Tillman was a thing of beauty, added by the luster of Brigg’s run back of touchdown.

Yes indeed, I certainly called a great scheme for the Bears. After that game, we can all shout Ron Rivera who?

Matt Forte was awesome as well.

Orton was efficient.

The Bears Offensive lines were making more holes that a drill.

I would like to see Kyle (Don’t Call Me Cowboy Bob) Orton open up to Lloyd and Davis more, bit wwho is complaining? I also love the two tight end set, as it was nice to see Clark come back with a good win.

As Jen and I watched the victory unfolding, me in my Hillenmeyer Jersey and her in her Urlacher one, I elt as if Sunday was a day of reckoning of sorts for the Chicago faithful.

Next week, do it to the Panthers. As I watched the other NFC Central games, the Bears have a great chance to win it all as the division is ripe for the taking.

The Bears Season Opener Is Sunday

“So close, so close and yet so far…”
--Frankie Valle “My Eyes Adored You.”

So the Season is here.

The Bears will be visiting the Indianapolis Colts in the Colts new Stadium for a rematch of Super Bowl 2006.

Yeah!

Well, there are some exceptions: gone are the prolific running attack of Thomas Jones and the passing attack (?) of Rex Grossman. Gone are the solid catches of Mohammad and Berrian. Gone, too, are the Defensive schemes of Ron Rivera for the Bears.

Gone from the Colts is the running game of Rhodes, the tighten end Pollard, and a receiver or two, whose name I cannot remember.

This time around, The Bears will have Tommy Harris and Mike Brown in the line-up.

This time around the Colts will…well…they really were not missing anyone before, so they should be OK.

The Bears have minor injuries. The Colts have major ones on the Offensive Line.

The Bears have Orton now.

The Colts have Manning as before.

The Bears have Booker and Lloyd now.

The Colts still have Harrison.

The Bears still have their Defense.

The Colts have Feeney.

Do I think the Bears have a chance?

Well, with the return of a decent running game and some key players in the Defense considered; while thinking of the special teams play and the new offensive leader of Orton, I have examined this issue closely.

No, I do not think the Bears have a chance. And I hope I am wrong, but we all face realism at some point in our lives.

Enjoy the game, Jeff (pictured with me above as we went to the Super Bowl in February, 2006.), and I will owe you even more Beer at the end of this one.