One More Game III: One More Chance To Live A Dream
“Play the game, everybody play the game…”
--Freddie Mercury of Queen.
Two weeks ago, I coached One More Game, Volume III. The picture provided above is courtesy of Jim Dunning.
My good friend and former teaching tag team member, Mick Peterson asked me to coach again this year, as I won last year. Now that I understood the program, my expectations were high. Mick coached at PTHS for over twenty years and brought a State Championship home. Another of his team made it to the State’s championship, only to lose to a polished and heavily recruited Northern Catholic team—more on that some other time.
Mick gave me my plays the week before and I ran through an aggressive game plan. I had a desire to combine long range passes with some tight end plays and some quick pitches to the running back, using trap blocks and options for the running back to throw or run slants. I was “into it” this year, trust me.
Here is a link to the article and very cool slide show on the game:
http://www.champfit.com/news-events/one-more-game-2009
The One More Game idea is akin to a fantasy football camp where everyone practices, runs through plays, and then plays a game. One of my all-time favorite students was quarterback last year, in Augustana’s former standout Tommy Green. This year, Tommy was on the other team. I had a key running back returning to my squad in Andy Lauber and a beefy offensive line, anchored by former student Brian Johnson. Former students and quality player Ryan Miller was my Quarterback, along with many other former students in Tommy Allen, Chad Nelson, Drew Peterson, DJ Wallace, Jess Butcher, Mike Thorne, and Chris Green. Many of the other players from the Twin City Dawgs, a traveling football team, sprinkled both teams.
--Freddie Mercury of Queen.
Two weeks ago, I coached One More Game, Volume III. The picture provided above is courtesy of Jim Dunning.
My good friend and former teaching tag team member, Mick Peterson asked me to coach again this year, as I won last year. Now that I understood the program, my expectations were high. Mick coached at PTHS for over twenty years and brought a State Championship home. Another of his team made it to the State’s championship, only to lose to a polished and heavily recruited Northern Catholic team—more on that some other time.
Mick gave me my plays the week before and I ran through an aggressive game plan. I had a desire to combine long range passes with some tight end plays and some quick pitches to the running back, using trap blocks and options for the running back to throw or run slants. I was “into it” this year, trust me.
Here is a link to the article and very cool slide show on the game:
http://www.champfit.com/news-events/one-more-game-2009
The One More Game idea is akin to a fantasy football camp where everyone practices, runs through plays, and then plays a game. One of my all-time favorite students was quarterback last year, in Augustana’s former standout Tommy Green. This year, Tommy was on the other team. I had a key running back returning to my squad in Andy Lauber and a beefy offensive line, anchored by former student Brian Johnson. Former students and quality player Ryan Miller was my Quarterback, along with many other former students in Tommy Allen, Chad Nelson, Drew Peterson, DJ Wallace, Jess Butcher, Mike Thorne, and Chris Green. Many of the other players from the Twin City Dawgs, a traveling football team, sprinkled both teams.
I coached against some of my former students as well. My football mind was pitted against Pontiac Mayor Bob Russell’s mind. Bob is a great guy with a zest for life. He and I got along very well in our practices s we helped one another. He said he knew my Dad and remarked that I had a character with my students that would do my Dad proud, as I have taught his granddaughters. Nice thing to hear.
Born with a bad heart valve, I missed the competition of contact sports as a kid. I love football, watch it incessantly, and have become a student of the game. I know how defenses line up, I can throw subtleties and wrinkles into offensive schemes, and I can predict and figure out the other team’s offenses by watching tendencies. I mean if the Chicago Bears Assistant Coaches Ron Turner and Bruce Babbich can do it, how difficult can it truly be?
Proceeds for the game, based on the fees that participants give, go to supply local schools with athletic equipment from Pontiac’s Champion Fitness Sports Center. Owner Jeff Shade plays and is active in the community promoting healthy choices and healthy lifestyles. He is also a heck of a linebacker and is the anchor and Captain on the defense, as I have learned for the two years he has been on my team.
In our first few series on offense and throughout the first quarter, we were aggressive, moving the ball seventy plus yards on two series and scoring once. I actually thought my team would score two more times. Then fatigue sets in, fumbles happen, I call a stupid run when the pass was open long, then I move to having the QB throw the long ball to see interceptions, and I quickly learn that pitches to running backs have to be quick exchanges or fumbles can occur or defensive linemen arrive in the backfield all too often.
We played three more quarters and discovered that we are tied, and in double overtime, my guys run the ball on the first play, when I thought we had two plays, as the other team scored on their first pass, and we lose. Oh well, it was fun.
The men who played were great. I was called “coach,” I was slapped on the back, and some former players who played football for the district when they were high-schoolers remarked, “you really know what you’re doing…you could coach for real.” I just smiled to them and said, “Nah, I am a football fan. Your coaches teach character and skills that go beyond the field, remember that and thank them some time.”
Mick and I always have fun with this program, just as we did when we taught together. Mick never had the respect he deserved as a teacher, because he did a great job, particularly with students who did not like high school. I always respected and admired his intellect and his enthusiasm. I appreciate his trust in me with the guys he brought up the ranks to be men.
One more Game, Part IV, I am there when called upon whether to participate or to become a fan once again.
Born with a bad heart valve, I missed the competition of contact sports as a kid. I love football, watch it incessantly, and have become a student of the game. I know how defenses line up, I can throw subtleties and wrinkles into offensive schemes, and I can predict and figure out the other team’s offenses by watching tendencies. I mean if the Chicago Bears Assistant Coaches Ron Turner and Bruce Babbich can do it, how difficult can it truly be?
Proceeds for the game, based on the fees that participants give, go to supply local schools with athletic equipment from Pontiac’s Champion Fitness Sports Center. Owner Jeff Shade plays and is active in the community promoting healthy choices and healthy lifestyles. He is also a heck of a linebacker and is the anchor and Captain on the defense, as I have learned for the two years he has been on my team.
In our first few series on offense and throughout the first quarter, we were aggressive, moving the ball seventy plus yards on two series and scoring once. I actually thought my team would score two more times. Then fatigue sets in, fumbles happen, I call a stupid run when the pass was open long, then I move to having the QB throw the long ball to see interceptions, and I quickly learn that pitches to running backs have to be quick exchanges or fumbles can occur or defensive linemen arrive in the backfield all too often.
We played three more quarters and discovered that we are tied, and in double overtime, my guys run the ball on the first play, when I thought we had two plays, as the other team scored on their first pass, and we lose. Oh well, it was fun.
The men who played were great. I was called “coach,” I was slapped on the back, and some former players who played football for the district when they were high-schoolers remarked, “you really know what you’re doing…you could coach for real.” I just smiled to them and said, “Nah, I am a football fan. Your coaches teach character and skills that go beyond the field, remember that and thank them some time.”
Mick and I always have fun with this program, just as we did when we taught together. Mick never had the respect he deserved as a teacher, because he did a great job, particularly with students who did not like high school. I always respected and admired his intellect and his enthusiasm. I appreciate his trust in me with the guys he brought up the ranks to be men.
One more Game, Part IV, I am there when called upon whether to participate or to become a fan once again.
posted by Eric Sweetwood at 9:42 AM
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