There is something to be said for perseverance.  The steady and continued action, over a period of time, despite difficulties or set backs.  In football, as in life, we don’t always get what we want or what we deserve.  Sometimes, we simply get what we are supposed to get.  I am reminded of the verse in the Rolling Stones song, “You can’t always get what you want but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.”

We are creatures of habit.  The problem with being such creatures is that we open up ourselves to the same behavior thus earning the same old results.  It is the breaking up of those established patterns that can set us in a new direction and expose us to new things.  Add in the steady application of the new approach and eventually we hope to garner new gains. 

I am reminded of a young player I coached many years ago.  He made every workout, showed up for every practice and did a good job of maintaining his grades.  He was your basic average player who was not a starter and he knew it.  For the exception of real talent, it could have been argued that he had earned play time.  One day he asked if he could work on the scout kick return team.  This was something he hadn’t previously participated in.  When you are dealing with 60 plus kids and on a time schedule, you don’t always have time to make sure everyone is doing everything.  You have to trust the players are going to somewhat insert themselves.

“Of course you can.”  I told him, “no one is holding you back.”

I realized at that moment he was trying something new and of course he now had my attention.  I don’t know if that was his goal but I wanted to see how he was going to fare.  No contact on the first kick but nice hustle, good speed.  Second kick, good speed again, finds his man and gets floored.

“Hey kid, you gotta get low if you’re going to take on that rushing man!”  I yelled.

Third kick, good speed again, he bends at the knees and waist and launches himself into his man and he floors the other guy.  The biggest smile you ever saw came beaming from inside of that helmet.  By now one or two of the other coaches had noted my interactions with this player and were starting to pay attention to him as well.  “Let’s see if he can do that again.” One of them said to me. 

A quick coaching point and we’re off to the fourth kick and again this player does a great job.  At the end of practice I gave mention of his effort that day to the rest of the team.  As a staff, we made sure he got kick return time all that week and the next.  The following week on game day, he started on special teams.

As with many coaches, I lost my gig this year to a new incoming head coach and his staff.  I resolved to get my name in front of a number of college head coaches in the hope of getting to the next level with my coaching.  This was January.  I met one of these coaches, Mark Kaanapu of Menlo College, at the Burlingame NorCal All Sports Clinic, and he expressed some interest in talking further with me.  Meanwhile, I set about getting interviews all over the bay area.  It was a slow and arduous process requiring many call backs on my part to stay in front of these guys, including Mark.  Time and interviews passed without any offers but I persevered.  Now, fast forward to this past week, the end of April.  In a four day period, I received two college job offers and I had to turn one of them down. 

I am most proud and extremely excited to announce that I am the new assistant linebacker coach at Menlo College, Atherton, CA.  I be an Oak!  Thanks, Coach K.

If you have an inspirational story of perseverance, please feel free to share it and post it in our comments section.

Well, heck, why not?  Someone once said “You only get out of a thing what you are willing to put into it.”  So, what do you want from your upcoming season and what are you willing to do to obtain it?  Someone else once said, “The same actions will always yield the same results.”  I think it was my wife, regarding my inability to do the dishes and their remaining in the kitchen sink after dinner.

Look, if you’re not getting the results you are looking for then something has to change.  You either have to rededicate yourself and truly commit or perhaps change the way you have been doing things.  (This is the part I like) Enter LinemenInc Camps.

Just talk with someone, a coach or player, who has attended a LinemenInc Camp.  Read some of the many testimonials posted on our web site.  Watch the video on our home page.  Read one of the newspaper articles reprinted here in the Coaches Corner.  Go to www.gamespeed.net and read Aaron Thigpen’s review or try www.D1kids.com and read the review by Wes Dunbar, whose son attended LinemenInc 2006.  We’re doing something different.  We’re doing something right.

Camp isn’t easy, nothing worth having is.  Yes, you are going to have to step up or fall out.  Hey, we make no bones about it.  Why do you think we call it “the most intense three days of your life”?  However, I can guarantee that when you have completed camp you will walk a little taller, hold yourself a little more proudly and realize you have just come through an experience like no other you have participated in.  That alone is success.

Now add to this equation skill and technique taught by some of the best college coaches in the nation from schools like Cal, Stanford, University of Nebraska, Fresno State, Colorado State, Sacramento State, San Diego State, University of Arizona, University of Nevada Las Vegas and Reno, Humboldt State, Azusa Pacific University, New Mexico Highlands University or Menlo College.  These schools have all participated or will be participating this year and I had to leave some out to save space.

Our price of $275 for three days of camp includes your room, meals, handbook and practice jersey.  Go on line right now and find a three day/two night camp for equal or less money.  I’ve tried. 

So, what is keeping you away this summer?  LinemenInc 2007 is already hosting players from California, Arizona, Nevada, Iowa, New Jersey and Alaska.  These coaches and players have already made the decision to rededicate and try something new.  They’ve checked our record, done their homework and decided this summer they are going to LinemenInc.

LinemenInc Long Beach is now 1/3 full with limited space available.  Get your registration in as soon as possible to reserve your spot.  See you in June!

LinemenInc 2006 has been out for almost ten months.  In that time a lot has happened.  My partner, Dave Reinders, is now the Offensive Line Coach at Los Medanos College, in Pittsburg, CA.  Granada High School, where I coached varsity D-line last year, hired a new head coach, who brought in his entire varsity staff.  I am still interviewing at a couple of colleges…

Our good friend, D-line coach, Jim House, has left Sacramento State for the University of Nevada, Reno.  Jim Michalczik, who along with Coach House, has been with us from the beginning, is the new Offensive Coordinator for Cal.  It’s the nature of the business guys, very transient.

Some other changes that are most note worthy have to do with some of our Gladiator graduates from last year, the Class of 2006.  These guys all had a great camp, worked hard through their season and are now going to reap their just rewards.  The following LinemenInc 2006 graduates who are moving on to the next level are:

Mike Marcisz / Granada High School / Arizona State

Zach Urrutia / Maxwell High School / Southern Oregon State

Jay Martin / Liberty High School / Sacramento State

Marsden Burton / Palisades Charter High School / New Mexico Highlands University

Cameron Burkhart / Liberty High School / Azusa Pacific University

Nick Brown / Dayton High School / Feather River College

Brandon Seymour / Dayton High School / Sacramento City College

Matt Dermody / Maxwell High School / Shasta College

Honorable mention:  Kyle Quinn, currently a junior at Liberty High School, Brentwood, is being courted by the University of Arizona, University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of California, Berkeley, University of Utah, Boise State, Oregon State and LSU.  Way to go Kyle!