FB: American Rivers Conference

[Willie University]

If today is Thursday...and I believe it is...that means 3 weeks from today the IIAC kicks off their 2011 season with Dubuque travelling south 90 miles to take on Augustana.

We have kids in school, so we won't be making that trip on a school night.  Maybe I can convince warthog to go to the game and give me a 1st hand account of how the Spartans look this year

I plan to be there.  I'll have on a Royal Blue shirt and I'll be cheering for the Spartans.  Unfortunately the shirt has "Goodyear" printed on the sleeve rather than "UD Spartans".  I was hoping Coach Kyte might bring along a Spartans Football cap for me.

Coach Kyte or maybe Coach Olson  No reports from camp yet but my prediction on the season is that the Spartans will be better then last year. Take it for what you will. They return the entire offense and I believe can fill the holes on defense by those that graduated. Looking forward to the season!! 

[AZDutchman]

Today is check in day, time to find out who returns and what kind of recruiting season your favorite team had.

I think I've asked this before, but why does a player quit on the first day?
I've never understood this.  

A - Young kid suddenly realizes D3 football is not glorified intramurals and spent a day getting his butt whupped up and down the practice field and quits on the team.

B - Young kid misses his girl friend and mommas cooking and runs back home in a hurry.

C - Thinks those tailgate parties might be more his speed than working out in those hot August Iowa days

+k!

D - Young kid puked 3 times in the first 30 minutes.

E - Heard the college actually has tests, and got his reading list for English 101.

Still don't get it?
More please...

How about:

F - Discovered d3football.com (or d3boards.com) and found out the coach was lying about that scholarship!

G - (Keep the kids away from this one - it is NOT rated G ) - Pulls his groin in a totally different way than his girlfriend did.

Although "G" gets my vote, H - the truth is probably closer to the fact that a kid that was a big fish in a little pond is now in a lot bigger pond and realizes he's not the star anymore.
Ego plays a big part. Too bad since a lot of those kids could make a contribution.

I can understand how the "star" doesn't feel like he's going to be on stage anymore, but to drown in the big pond so quick?
Contribution...Yes, there are many that probably won't have the possibility to start in a game. Playing on the scout team would be a great contribution to the team. Isn't it the responsibility of the coach/recruiter to let the player know what the intention or possibility of what his role will be for the team? 
I know of a young man that will be playing for a D1 team this year  (no scholarship). The recruiter and the coach were straight forward with him that he will be utilized for the scout team only. 

[doolittledog]

We have the Wartburg poster on here that should probably give motivational speeches to incoming freshmen.

4th string as a freshmen, no seniors among the 3 ahead of him, struggles to even get jv playing time that 1st year.  After the 1st day of camp sophomore year the 3rd string guy who is a senior drops out...2nd day of camp starting center goes down with season ending injury and 1st string guard gets moved to center...3rd day of camp the now 1st string guy goes down with a season ending injury and so on the 4th day of camp the guy who 4 days ago was 4th string is now a starter and spent 3 years as a starter.

If more kids hear that story they might be more inclined to stick it out during those hard times as a freshman. 

[footballdaddy]

I'm sure it can be overwhelming the first day of practice. Even kids from 4A schools who are used to the scope of playing in front of thousands can get snowed under when he sees what competition is like on the next level. Everyone knows that 18 or 19 year old boys are known for their mental stability.

[NewKnightDad]

This is even becoming a big problem at the high school level, if they are not a starter by their junior year more and more are hanging it up and not staying out.  It is real bad if a freshman or sophomore gets moved up to varsity to take a spot.

On a related note, a couple of local kids only made it a few days at Iowa Central this year.  But yet they went there to improve their chances of getting a look from a larger program down the road. 

[AZDutchman]

This is even becoming a big problem at the high school level, if they are not a starter by their junior year more and more are hanging it up and not staying out.  It is real bad if a freshman or sophomore gets moved up to varsity to take a spot.

On a related note, a couple of local kids only made it a few days at Iowa Central this year.  But yet they went there to improve their chances of getting a look from a larger program down the road. 

I think the best way to sum this up is to say that it depends on the individual. Many times it goes into being groups, because they talk amongst each other and come up with their conclusion that it's best to quit. I think what they do is comfort each other on their decisions.

What I thought was impressive was during the high school football banquet last year, they gave a large amount of recognition to the "scout" team. What the school did during the season was to assign an individual coach to this team. Kind of like a head coach for the scout team.

My boys, just as many, wanted to quit multiple times and for many reasons. Do I force my boys to play ball? No, but quitting really is not an option. My oldest boy gave serious thought to quitting sophomore year in high school. We had a great father son conversation about it and came up with the conclusion to finish the year. He agreed that it was the proper decision to keep on playing. The point...impulse decisions are usually the incorrect ones. I usually give large decisions the time that they need.

Coach Evans and Mac discussed how competition for a spot is good for a player. I agree. My sons position was/is pretty deep with players. He's going to have to compete for the spot and if he's not good enough, he's going to have to make himself better.

[doolittledog]

This is even becoming a big problem at the high school level, if they are not a starter by their junior year more and more are hanging it up and not staying out.   It is real bad if a freshman or sophomore gets moved up to varsity to take a spot.

On a related note, a couple of local kids only made it a few days at Iowa Central this year.  But yet they went there to improve their chances of getting a look from a larger program down the road. 

I wonder how much of that is the player thinks if he isn't starting by then he will never get a college scholarship???

It would be nice if all kids were playing for the love of the game and everything it can teach you.  But I do wonder if kids are thinking about scholarships along the way.

[Willie University]

I will offer my 2 cents to this topic.....I think part of the problem is not the kids but the parents. Too many parents with poor work ethics which is translating into too many kids with horrible work ethics. It's really sad actually. Kids are graduating from college thinking a job should come to them and it better be for this $$$$$ amount of money instead of being thankful for the opportunity to go to college, then working hard to find a job.

It's the same with sports.....kids without strong parental support, encouragement, & DISCIPLINE are the ones that QUIT as soon as the going gets rough. Instead of looking at the guy on the depth chart in front of you and saying, what can I do to get better then him, they take the easy way out.

Some of the greatest life lessons I learned were from NOT being the best. I learned for myself what hardwork was and what it took TO BECOME the best. The journey is just as rewarding as the prize.

Willie U

[NewKnightDad]

Willie, I couldn't agree more.

It is amazing how many parents will go to a coach to complain about their child not playing.  "They are a senior, it is their turn to play."  "My child is better than the ones you are playing."

These are actual quotes from parents to coaches I know.

It is bad when every sport now has to have a preseason meeting with the parents and one of the messages is "We would love to hear from the parents but playing time will not be discussed".

[AZDutchman]

I will offer my 2 cents to this topic.....I think part of the problem is not the kids but the parents. Too many parents with poor work ethics which is translating into too many kids with horrible work ethics. It's really sad actually. Kids are graduating from college thinking a job should come to them and it better be for this $$$$$ amount of money instead of being thankful for the opportunity to go to college, then working hard to find a job.

It's the same with sports.....kids without strong parental support, encouragement, & DISCIPLINE are the ones that QUIT as soon as the going gets rough. Instead of looking at the guy on the depth chart in front of you and saying, what can I do to get better then him, they take the easy way out.

Some of the greatest life lessons I learned were from NOT being the best. I learned for myself what hardwork was and what it took TO BECOME the best. The journey is just as rewarding as the prize.

Willie U

I would put your post more on giving your two dollars and not your two cents. 
You're right on with this one. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

I will offer my 2 cents to this topic.....I think part of the problem is not the kids but the parents. Too many parents with poor work ethics which is translating into too many kids with horrible work ethics. It's really sad actually. Kids are graduating from college thinking a job should come to them and it better be for this $$$$$ amount of money instead of being thankful for the opportunity to go to college, then working hard to find a job.

It's the same with sports.....kids without strong parental support, encouragement, & DISCIPLINE are the ones that QUIT as soon as the going gets rough. Instead of looking at the guy on the depth chart in front of you and saying, what can I do to get better then him, they take the easy way out.

Some of the greatest life lessons I learned were from NOT being the best. I learned for myself what hardwork was and what it took TO BECOME the best. The journey is just as rewarding as the prize.

Willie U

I would put your post more on giving your two dollars and not your two cents.  
You're right on with this one.  

I would dial it back to four cents!  An excellent post, but overestimating (IMO) the impact of parents.  I've seen too many cases of slackers despite good parents (both based on my observations and from their other kids), and too many cases of kids who overcame what I'm pretty sure was horrible parenting (based on observations of relatives, friends of my kids, and many years of coaching youth soccer).  I suspect we parents give ourselves both too much credit and too much blame for our kids.

Both my sons won "most improved player" as sophomores on their hs soccer team.  I did NOT ever say anything to the coaches, but in both cases felt "they didn't really improve that much this year; you just never noticed before".  The older one was eventually recognized as by far the best defender on the team; the younger one quit after his sophomre year because he couldn't stand the coach (I had to agree with him).

(BTW, have I bragged about what wonderful people my kids turned out to be! )

[AZDutchman]

Willie, I couldn't agree more.

It is amazing how many parents will go to a coach to complain about their child not playing.  "They are a senior, it is their turn to play."  "My child is better than the ones you are playing."

These are actual quotes from parents to coaches I know.

It is bad when every sport now has to have a preseason meeting with the parents and one of the messages is "We would love to hear from the parents but playing time will not be discussed".

We heard this in our preseason meeting.

I think when the parent goes to the coach, it causes more harm than good for the player.
I call it the parent with the rose color glasses.

Yoast Yoast, Don't you pull my son!
He's gettin' beat like he stole something!

[footballdaddy]

I will offer my 2 cents to this topic.....I think part of the problem is not the kids but the parents. Too many parents with poor work ethics which is translating into too many kids with horrible work ethics. It's really sad actually. Kids are graduating from college thinking a job should come to them and it better be for this $$$$$ amount of money instead of being thankful for the opportunity to go to college, then working hard to find a job.

It's the same with sports.....kids without strong parental support, encouragement, & DISCIPLINE are the ones that QUIT as soon as the going gets rough. Instead of looking at the guy on the depth chart in front of you and saying, what can I do to get better then him, they take the easy way out.

Some of the greatest life lessons I learned were from NOT being the best. I learned for myself what hardwork was and what it took TO BECOME the best. The journey is just as rewarding as the prize.

Willie U

Holy Crap!!!!!!!!!
I agree 100% with willie on this. I think that's one of the signs of the Apocalypse!

In all seriousness, we live in an age of entitlement. There is no reward anymore for being the best. The "we don't keep score, everyone's a winner" mentality is leaving us with a generation that thinks each and every one is the best at everything because that's what they've been told since they were 5 years old. Well, everyone isn't the best. Some are better than others at different things. But if you're not the best, if you have the passion is to not quit but to work even harder to acheive your goals. You appreciate things more when you have to work to get them.

[Alfredeneumann]

5-5 for Luther?
Waterloo Courier

http://wcfcourier.com/sports/college/college-football-norse-are-at-odds-with-breaking-even/article_2eaa0b3e-c888-11e0-aec1-001cc4c03286.html

[Willie University]

It was nice to receive support from my post board "archrivals" 

Mr Ypsi....I definitely understand your point although I believe you are talking about the "exceptions" and not the "rule". You can't tell me that if you used the same family model with 10 families where the parents led by example; had strong work ethics; and supported, encouraged, and disciplined their children growing up...... that 9 out of the 10 of those kids wouldn't develop similar characters.

Every child may have a rebellious time in their life but most all mature and eventually something clicks where they think back to the childhood and upbringing and remember and apply what they have been taught. The problem is.....as others mentioned....too many people with their hands out thinking they are "entitled" to something instead of getting down and dirty and making it happen for themselves. Too many broken homes, single parent households where one parent isn't involved; basically too many SELFISH parents that aren't prepared to be parents.

The problems we are seeing in athletics nowadays runs deeper into the problems with our society nowadays. There are many exceptions and success stories of course but one could always dream it was more like the days of our grandparents....

Willie U