Sportsmanship can take many forms.  It can be helping an opposing player up after knocking him down.  It can be not taunting the other team after a score, fumble recovery or interception.  Sportsmanship can be not responding to a crude or derogatory statement by the other team.  It can be as simple as shaking hands at the end of a game.

Sometimes, sportsmanship can transcend the game, the ordianary, even that which is expected and go where no others have ever gone before.  Attached is a link to such an event.  As I watched it, not even knowing the players involved, I felt pride in being a coach and a father.  I can only imagine how these players coaches, parents and fans felt about their actions that day.  Sometimes, something more important than the game happens.  Sometimes, something extraordinary happens.

Please take just five minutes out of your busy day to watch something extraordinary.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3380875

FINAL REMINDER:  LINEMENINC CAMP REGISTRATIONS AND DEPOSITS ARE DUE THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 1ST.  http://www.linemeninc.com/registration.php

Everyone has so many things going on over the summer.  There are family vacations, team camps, individual camps, perhaps a college campus visit.  The economy is also going to impact this summers activities.  Rising fuel costs are impacting everything we buy.  What to do?

You have to have options and you have to be realistic.  We realize that athletic programs are going to be experiencing great cut backs this year and as a coach, I realize that if you can only do one camp it better be a team camp.  Belt tightening is one way to cope, another is to plan ahead.  Budgets are going to need a closer look this coming season with an eye to next years wants and needs.  Start now looking at fundrasing options and scheduling them out over greater lenghts of time.  Check out LinemenInc’s Fundraising page for some ideas.  Don’t wait until the last minute and find yourself short.   

If you just can’t afford the cost or the time for LinemenInc’s three day contact camp here’s an option for you.  The San Francisco 49ers one day OL/DL Camp.  This is a non-contact camp incorporating both classroom training and on-field training.  Attendees will receive 2 preseason tickets to a 49ers game, a camp T-shirt, lunch and interaction with current and alumni 49er players.  Total cost is only $75 and the camp is held at the 49ers training facility in Santa Clara.  I’ve placed a link to their web site below.  Obviously, we’re hoping to see you at LinemenInc but a guy’s gotta have options.

https://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=H2HA17E

JUST A REMINDER, LINEMENINC REGISTRATIONS AND DEPOSITS ARE DUE IN JUST NINE DAYS ON JUNE 1ST.  THE RUSH IS ON AND CAMPS ARE FILLING QUICKLY NOW.

Welcome to Coleville High School, Elk Grove High School and Pacific Palisades High School, whose players will be joining us at Long Beach and Stockton next month.

We’re getting down to the wire!  Camp is just 32 to 39 days off depending upon which location you’re attending.  Long Beach will feature college coaches from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of Arizona, University of Redlands, Azusa Pacific University, Whittier College and Los Medanos College.

Stockton welcomes college coaches from the University of Nevada Reno, South Dakota State University, Sacramento State University, San Jose State University, Menlo College, San Jose City College, Shasta College, American River College and Los Medanos College.

Registrations recently received for the Long Beach LinemenInc Camp include the following high schools: Banning, Brea Olinda, Foothill – Santa Ana, Otay Ranch and Santiago!

Registrations recently received for the Stockton LinemenInc Camp include the following high schools: Amador Valley, Freedom, Laguna Creek, La Salle, Loyola, Manteca, Wheatland and Manalapan – New Jersey!

REGISTRATIONS ARE DUE JUNE 1ST!  THAT’S JUST 12 DAYS AWAY.  DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT OF THE WEIGHT ROOM AND ONTO THE PRACTICE FIELD THIS SUMMER.  DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE!