With today being my last day of my 200 hours, I spent some with working on recruiting, sitting in meetings, and watching practice. This is a big time week and game for the Skyhawks. It's their chance to get an automatic bid in the FCS playoffs with a win, along with the conference championship, which is the goal every season. It will be no easy task, however, as Jacksonville State is the #2 team in the country, and their defense is the best in the nation. and they have the home field advantage. This practice was a bit different from most of the previous practices I watched. There was a no nonsense, strictly business mindset that went from the coaches down to even the equipment staff. They know what the game tomorrow means, and anything less than their best, most focused efforts will result in an outcome they have worked too hard on the season to have. It's a huge game, and being a Skyhawk alum, I can't wait to see my school bring home the OVC Championship. They've earned it, now they've just got to go take it.
Today, I sat in some meetings with the coaches as well as the players meetings as they continued to prepare for their conference championship game this Saturday against Jacksonville State. They stressed taking care of the football and not turning it over because statistically, Jacksonville State is the number one defense in the country, and they make you pay when they take the ball from you. The practice was smooth, upbeat, and you could tell the coaches and players were anxious to head to Alabama in a few days. It's an exciting time in Martin, and you can tell everyone is ready for the Skyhawks to win their second Ohio Valley Conference Championship.
Today, my hours were spent watching the guys cut up the game film from Saturday’s big home win against Southeastern Missouri State University, 24-10. The win sets up a showdown against OVC opponent Jacksonville State University. I observed how the film guys broke the film down into offensive and defensive plays as well as games against teams both UTM and Jacksonville State have played to see if there were any weaknesses in the Jacksonville State offense and defense that can be exploited. Later on, I watched the first practice of the week as they prepared to play for the first conference championship game in 10 years.
Today was the second to last practice of the week for this Saturday’s game against Southeastern Missouri State University. The team spent a good portion of the time today in the film room correcting errors from last night’s practice as they weren’t as crisp as they had hoped to be heading into this weekend’s game. Before I left, I went out and set up these signs around the stadium to let the team know the whole Martin community supports them before the last home game of the season. The support this year has been really good, and it has helped the team to put together some really good wins. Knowing you have the support of those around you motivates you to work hard and give it your all. Hopefully this Saturday, fans will come out one last time to Hardy Graham Stadium and see the best performance of the season thus far. It will be a huge, much needed victory!
Today’s visit was spent working on recruiting a bit before heading out to practice for Southeastern Missouri State University, whom the Skyhawks will host in their final home game at Hardy Graham Stadium this Saturday with a chance to move to 6-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference before next week’s big road game at Jacksonville State. In year’s past, UTM has had little issue with beating SEMO, but the coaches preached to not get complacent and go through the motions this week during practice because if they lay an egg, it will dash their chance at making the playoffs more than likely. The practice from my perspective was one of the best they have had all year, which isn’t a surprise considering they have a bit of momentum built after back to back wins of 33-3 over Eastern Kentucky and 33-17 over Eastern Illinois. If they finish this week’s practices with more of the same, they will most likely get their 7th win overall and 6th in the OVC.
Today was about finishing up the preparation for conference foe Eastern Illinois University, whom the Skyhawks fell to, 23-21, at home last season. This time, though, they are traveling to Eastern Illinois University in hopes of putting together back to back road wins against the Panthers. The practice was a physical one, and the coaches preached physicality. They mentioned that on film EIU was prone to giving up when they got smacked in the mouth, so they made sure to preach “when one falls, they all fall down.” It’s huge game and with a win, they’re one win closer to winning the OVC for the first time in a decade. With a loss, their chances will be grim, as Jacksonville State would need to lose two games.
For today's hours, I watched the second practice of the week. Throughout the practice, coaches were preaching about holding themselves as well as their teammates accountable at all times after some players had issues last night during Halloween festivities. As practice moved along, I noticed the few players that were, I assume, being disciplined for their antics from last night were being held out in first team reps. If you mess up throughout the week and do something that can stain the reputation of not only your school, your team, your family, but even yourself, you face disciplinary actions, no matter how good you are or how important you are to the team. This proved to me even further that as a coach, it's important to set the standard by showing that no matter if you're a four-year starter or a redshirt freshman, you aren't bigger than the team, and you will be treated as equals.
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AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
November 2016
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